When you become a member of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau (BCTCB), you become part of a county-wide initiative that promotes your business. Funded by a 3% bed tax collected by hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts, the Bureau works to make Butler County, PA an appealing destination for tourists and meeting planners.
Our mission is to support businesses that enhance consumer experiences and promote economic development through a coordinated marketing effort, defining our county, as an exceptional place to live, work and visit. That’s why we need your participation. When we meet our goal, we benefit the local economy and quality of life for the entire county.
Benefits of Membership
Listing in the Official Visitors Guide (OVG)
An Official Visitors Guide is produced annually by the bureau staff. This 52-page full-color guide is distributed in response to requests for information. As a member, you receive a free listing in the OVG and can increase your exposure by advertising. You also have the ability to offer additional discounts to visitors through our Val-U-able Treasure discount card. 150,000 copies of the OVG are distributed annually by the following means:
- Toll-free Call Requests
- Over 25 County-wide Brochure Racks
- Distribution Service to 85 AAA Offices
- Distribution Service to 210 Travel Agencies in PA, WV, NJ, MD and OH
- Leads from advertising
- State Welcome Centers
- Trade & Travel Shows
- Fairs & Festivals
- 800-VisitPA
- Pennsylvania Visitors Network
- BCTCB website requests
Web Exposure
BCTCB members receive a listing with three photos and description on the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau’s website, www.VisitButlerCounty.com. In addition, members are linked from BCTCB’s website and may make additions and changes to the calendar and their listing through personalized passwords. An online calendar of events provides each member an opportunity to publicize Butler County events year round. Online banner advertising is available. BCTCB’s website is linked to the state tourism website, www.visitpa.com, and other county and regional sites. Bureau staff also utilizes social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube to further promote the county.
Cooperative Advertising
BCTCB members can participate in cooperative advertising which helps stretch your marketing dollars. In addition, the Bureau contracts with various publications, radio, TV, billboard, online media and mobile app for advertising. Using budgeted Bureau funds allows individuals and groups to combine resources for ad placement.
Targeted Print Media
We also produce brochures targeted to specific segments of the industry: Arts, Barn Trail, Washington’s Trail, Bed & Breakfasts, Campgrounds, Golfing, History, Dining, Shopping and our Calendar of Events.
Public Relations
A Public Relations Specialist sends out monthly events press releases, which are distributed to regional media. Major events are sometimes highlighted in regional and state publications, such as Pursuits and Where & When. The Bureau also conducts writer familiarization tours, and other media outreach is conducted to support members when applicable.
Communication
To keep members well-informed about what BCTCB is doing, a variety of communication tools exist. As a member, you will receive frequent emails, have access to a members-only section of the website, get a monthly newsletter, and have opportunities to attend monthly board meetings and quarterly membership meetings. Advertising via E-newsletter is available.
Toll Free Number
BCTCB’s toll free number, 866-856-8444, enables tourists throughout the United States and Canada to contact us free of charge and is listed in all BCTCB advertisements, including PA Pursuits, the state travel guide. Phone conversations give the staff opportunities to refer your business to a visitor.
Group Marketing
BCTCB participates in regional marketing initiatives designed to attract visitors from across the USA and Canada. BCTCB promotes its members to the group tour market. A Group Sales Committee exists to create packages, itineraries and special offers to entice groups to the area.
Professional Networking
As a BCTCB member, you will have opportunities to meet and network with other members as well as travel and tourism leaders.
Event Representation
BCTCB staff represents the bureau and its members at a wide variety of fairs, expos, festivals, conferences, luncheons and speaking engagements throughout the year.
Promotional Web Pages
Special web-pages are created to promote holiday sales, events and other promotions. This gives members ten more opportunities for additional exposure.
Brochure Distribution
Members are given the opportunity to distribute their materials through our office brochure rack. We ask for approximately 250 brochures for the office to be mailed out with information requests. BCTCB also offers a Brochure Rack Program. For $50 per year, we will add member brochures to a portion of our 28 county-wide racks. Participants must provide 1,500 brochures to start.
Grant Program
A grant program enabling members to apply for monies to implement a project or improvement has been established. Funds are awarded once a year and applications are available in the tourism office.
Membership Criteria & Responsibilities
To be considered for BCTCB membership, your business must be a tourism-based industry. BCTCB Bylaws qualify tourism-based industries as businesses that fall into the following categories:
- Agritourism
- Arts & Culture
- Bed & Breakfasts
- Campgrounds
- Fairs, Festivals & Attractions/Family Entertainment
- Golf
- Great Outdoors
- History & Heritage
- Hotels & Conference Services
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Supporting Member
All of these groups bring in overnight guests who contribute to the 3% bed tax collected by hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts. BCTCB reserves the right to reject your membership application if we determine your business is not tourism-based.
Members are asked to provide support through dues payment, voting and participation in meetings and other relevant activities. In addition, professional conduct through good customer service, ethical business practices and clean, well maintained facilities is expected.
Membership Levels
$165 Standard
Includes the following
- Name, address, phone number, website and 25 word description listed in the Visitors Guide
- Listing on website (name, address, phone, description, web link and photos) and social media links, map system, tagging capabilities)
- Brochure distribution at the BCTCB office
- Networking opportunities
- Use of the Bureau’s toll-free number to provide company information and brochure distribution
$110 Non-Profit
Includes the benefits of Standard Membership
(A 501-C3 or equivalent form is required to document status.)
Additional Options:
$50 Brochure Rack
Based on availability, the Bureau will distribute standard tri-fold brochures in racks throughout the county. At
least 1,500 brochures are required to initiate the program.
$50 Additional Category
For increased visibility, members may opt to list their business in categories besides their primary category (See
membership criteria for categories).
$75 Additional Location
Members having more than one location may prefer to have more than the primary location listed in the visitors
guide and on the website. Additional locations are represented by one person and do not get a vote in BCTCB
elections.
Membership dues are renewed annually on your anniversary date.
Whenever you're ready to become a Member please give us a call Toll Free at 866-856-8444
