Vision 2025: update in 2019
What is Vision 2025?
Hamilton County Tourism made a deliberate effort to vision strategically and identify six areas of focus in 2015 when it began long-range planning: Wise Investments and Fiscal Responsibility, Digital Marketing and Connectivity, Groups and Visitor Experience, Community and Product Development, Marketing Intelligence and just recently added, Strategic Alliances & Advocacy.
In 2016, HCT adopted the 10-year Vision 2025 plan designed to propel the organization toward a national standard of operating excellence while supporting visionary place-making in its communities.
Major Wins
Some of HCT’s accomplishments over the first three years of the plan include:
- Adopted a robust financial software platform
- Renewed international accreditation with distinction
- Recognized as Best Places to Work designation
- Gained $338 in visitor spending for every $1 spent on advertising
- Became a national leader in Google Travel Products activation
- Formed comprehensive sales and service departments
- Created a welcome program for hotels and events and an at-your-door ambassador training program
- Supported experiences such as the White River Vision Plan, Nickel Plate Express, Zagster bike share, US Bike Routes and the Monon Trail
- Evaluated market valuation of sports facilities to leverage sponsorship dollars
- Led study trips for best practice and inspiration planning
To continue to build on Vision 2025, last year HCT hosted four community meetings throughout the county where more than 150 people attended and gave input on their vision for the county, which included areas of transportation, upcoming projects, night life, the local arts and more. Karen Radcliff, vice president and chief strategy officer for HCT, led the meetings and analyzed the results.
“There is no shortage of inspiring ideas in this community,” exclaimed Radcliff, “and most of them align well with tourism. Our challenge will be to apply resources efficiently to new projects and communicate our efforts broadly.”
Next up
A few of the new ideas resulting from the community update meetings include:
- Contract with the Hamilton County Economic Development Corporation for talent attraction
- Develop sponsorship sales program for sports
- Convene a destination development investment team to shepherd big ideas
- Share marketing assets such as photography and video with city marketing teams
- Create top 10 lists to package Hamilton County’s quality of life experiences
- Position and package around trails and nightlife
- Create a Hamilton County Sports Authority strategic plan
- Generate group business leads using a regional strategy
- Help recruit volunteers for communities
- Implement the White River Vision Plan
- Create brand enhancements for the 4-H Fairgrounds
- Provide free survey program and iPads for visitor surveying at special events
- Research transportation cost analysis for special events
How can I be involved?
Radcliff encourages partners and stakeholders to work with us by subscribing to our emails and news alerts, collaborate with our teams and connect with us regularly by attending our events.
“It is a joy to represent such an innovative community,” said Radcliff. We welcome your input anytime.”
For the complete Vision 2025, visit here.
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