About the Bureau

The Berkshire Hills Conference was incorporated in the spring of 1938 to aid the economic development of Berkshire County. Today known as the Berkshire Visitors Bureau, the organization is the official, state-recognized tourism promotion agency for all of Berkshire County. It is comprised of approximately 700 dues-paying member businesses that benefit directly or indirectly from the vibrant Berkshire tourist trade.

The Bureau is funded by both the private and public sectors, with about 35% of the $1,450,000 budget coming from state-related public grants. Corporate sponsorships, advertising revenues, programs and member investments account for the private portion of the income. More than 70% ($1,015,000) of the total revenue ($1,450,000) is spent on marketing and marketing related activities.

In addition to its goal of increasing the number, length and frequency of tourism visits to Berkshire County, the Bureau also seeks to insure a positive economic impact in the region by maximizing tourist expenditures. This is accomplished in six major ways:

1. Advertising: Placement of both seasonal and cooperative advertisements in major, upscale, travel and culture-oriented newspapers and magazines.
2. Public Relations: Instigation and support of articles in printed and electronic media domestically and internationally.
3. Publications: Producing a variety of high quality, printed and digital materials including 200,000 copies of our Official Visitors’ Guide, distributed worldwide, and a consumer e-mail newsletter that reaches more than 40,000 subscribers.
4. Trade Shows and Sales Missions: Promoting the Berkshires at domestic and international shows and sales missions.
5. The Internet: Hosting www.berkshires.org, an interactive, comprehensive website promoting 700 Berkshire County businesses and cultural organizations.
6. Visitors Centers and Central Reservation Service: Operate Visitor Centers in Adams and Pittsfield serving thousands of travelers annually, and providing a lodging reservation service for travelers to the Berkshires.

The Visitors Bureau has successfully branded and marketed the Berkshires worldwide. The Bureau effectively provides an array of member services, including marketing and networking opportunities, seminars and exposure for county businesses. The organization has fostered cooperation and collaboration among cultural institutions countywide. The Bureau garners $900,000 for county promotion from outside business sponsorships and state grants.

Tourists interested in visiting, or who are visiting the Berkshires, are assisted by the organization’s trained personnel, who help the public with travel plans on a daily basis and continually disseminate tourist materials and information. Within Berkshire County, the Bureau has raised the community’s awareness of the region’s tremendous cultural richness and the economic importance of the tourism industry. Today, the Berkshire Visitors Bureau is one of the most respected regional tourism councils in Massachusetts.