Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council Membership
Reach millions of potential customers annually ...
JOIN THE TOURIST COUNCIL — IT’S FREE!
There is no easier way to make your advertising promotions more impactful than joining the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council (SWMTC) — and you can do so at NO COST. With your membership, you'll connect with millions of potential tourists from all 50 states and countries around the world. You'll instantly be on the radar of people who want to come here to relax and play — people who will become your customers.
WHY IS MEMBERSHIP FREE?
The Tourist Council’s marketing funds come from room assessments at hotels in Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and Stevensville. The more people who stay at these hotels, the more money there is to invest in additional marketing for the region. Our strategy is to get more people to stay over.
That’s where you come in! It would be more enticing for tourists if we could add your business or organization to our list of reasons for vacationing here. The more things we can offer tourists to do, the more experiences we can suggest and the more places we can direct them to eat, shop or find entertainment — the more dollars we can invest in making Southwest Michigan the premier tourism destination in the Great Lakes region.
HOW THE TOURIST COUNCIL HELPS BRING MORE CUSTOMERS TO YOU
Our goal is to find the most cost-effective ways to reach the most people in our Great Lakes States target market. That's not to say we don't reach beyond our region, but we know Southwest Michigan is primarily a drive-to destination and that there are millions of people living nearby. We base our marketing strategy and tactics on analyzed data, testing, solid industry trends and a passion for our area. Tourists know we genuinely love where we live.
CONNECT WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY ONLINE
Hundreds of thousands of people visit swmichigan.org throughout the year. Our marketing strategies keep increasing our website visitors and retaining them.
ATTRACT CUSTOMERS WITH THESE ONLINE ADVANTAGES
- Visitors will find you. Your listing on the Tourist Council website describes what you offer, contact details, your website link, map and directions, payment options, wheelchair accessibility and if you are pet friendly.
- Tourists look here FIRST for events. As one of the most popular tourism websites in our region, most site visitors come here first to learn what's going on. That's a strategic reason to list your special events throughout the year on our site. We'll give you a member ID so you can enter our portal to upload your events anytime. But our site isn't the only place we feature local happenings. We mention members' events on our social media pages (such as Facebook and Instagram) and in blogs and e-newsletters, too.
- We strengthen relationships daily through social media. Followers know they can turn to our Facebook page for nearly daily updates on our region, Tourist Council members and their events. We also run campaign ads on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok to drive more prospective customers to our site and members. Plus, we have a following on YouTube which gives Southwest Michigan and our Tourist Council members a full range of social media coverage.
- Tourists keep in the know with twice-a-month e-newsletters. We publish news about our region and members two times each month. Years of analysis and testing have helped us determine what stories subscribers want to read. As a result, our average open rate is higher than the national average open rate for travel e-newsletters.
- They connect to our site through Google Ads. Using Google Ads, we're able to reach people as they search online using keywords and phrases or as they browse tourism-related websites. For example, our online ads bring brides searching for Lake Michigan reception venues to our Southwest Michigan Weddings Landing Page. That page directs them to our members who can help them create a perfect day.
- We help you reach the growing mobile market. People connect with businesses and organizations using their phones and tablets, so we design our website and e-newsletters for mobile viewing. And our downloadable Visit Southwest Michigan app makes it even easier to plan a vacation, weekend getaway or celebration using a phone.
- Get valuable leads. When visitors to Travel Michigan and West Michigan Tourist Association websites express an interest in Southwest Michigan destinations and events, they are redirected to our website. We'll pass any pertinent leads on to you.
MORE WAYS WE CONVINCE TOURISTS TO COME ... AGAIN AND AGAIN
Southwest Michigan Travel Information Center, 2300 Pipestone Road, Benton Harbor, Michigan, is conveniently at I-94, Exit 29. Travelers and locals stop in for help with selecting lodgings, reunion and meeting locations and entertainment ideas as well as brochures and itineraries.
700,000+ brochures reach fun-seekers. Visitors get them by mail, online and from racks throughout Michigan.
Outdoor boards target travelers in key markets. Year-round we maintain a presence on the highly trafficked Chicago-Detroit I-94 corridor. During our fall promotion, we increase our exposure in key markets such as Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis through additional billboards, transit ads and bus wraps. All of our outdoor media have a clear call to action to visit swmichigan.org to learn more about our members.
Digital television spots appear where people are watching. These streaming Southwest Michigan TV and video ads connect with smart TV and favorite network broadcast app viewers.
Print ads keep Southwest Michigan at the top of visitors’ minds. We follow a media plan that uses timely monthly publications and those with longer seasonal or annual shelf lives. Our campaigns stand out from other ads in these publications and successfully increase traffic to our website. Look for our ads in publications such as Pure Michigan Travel Guides, USA Today-Escape, Chicago Magazine, Long Weekends, Crossings Magazine and Grand Rapids Magazine.
Travel and trade show booths provide face-to-face conversations. We talk with brides-to-be, meeting planners and tourists at popular shows in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.
Event sponsorships raise your visibility with thousands of fun-loving people. The Tourist Council sponsors several local events, festivals and shows throughout the year. We also support the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship held biennially at Harbor Shores Resort.
Wedding, meeting and group tour marketing bring more visitors to our area. Locals and visitors turn to us for help in choosing lodgings and planning their weddings, reunions, conventions, corporate gatherings and bus tours. Our website’s Group Planner page makes that even easier and is one of the most engaging pages on our site.
We share your story regionally and nationally. Travel writers, bloggers, photographers and videographers are always clamoring for new material about Southwest Michigan. They come to us for the information and connections they need. We also give personal tours to familiarize them with our area. That’s how members appear in blogs and itineraries as well as on regional and national travel websites, in print publications and on radio and television shows. We'll help you get your story out!
Glean ideas and collaborate on tourism programs with regional and state organizations. Members of the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council and Shoreline Hotel/Motel Assessment Association work with statewide and regional organizations to enhance our services and develop cooperative programs together. If you would like to work with any of these organizations or learn more about them, talk with us. We’ll connect you!
Michigan Economic Development Corporation/Travel Michigan • Michigan Department of Agriculture • Michigan Department of Natural Resources • Michigan Department of Transportation • Michigan State University • MSU Cooperative Extension • Michigan Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus • Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan • Michigan Lodging & Tourism Association • West Michigan Tourist Association
BE PART OF THIS ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP AT NO COST TO YOU!
As you can see, joining our numbers will give your business a stronger voice and broader reach. The cost? You get all of this exposure for FREE. There is no better promotional value in Southwest Michigan.
REGISTER TODAY
Complete and submit the online application form.
Once we approve your application, you will receive access to the member portal so you can post your events and update your information.
Do you still have questions? Please call Brandi at 269-925-6301 to set up a time to learn more. We're excited to bring more customers to your doors soon.