Benefits
THE BERKSHIRE'S OFFICIAL VISITORS' GUIDE
FREE Descriptive Listing: Your membership includes one free descriptive listing in The Berkshires Official Visitors’ Guide. 200,000 copies are distributed at tourist attractions, visitor centers and other venues, and mailed to travelers who make direct inquires about visiting the Berkshires. This invaluable guide is also used by local residents, relocated employees, second home owners and prospective buyers as a resource for where to stay, dine, shop and enjoy leisure activities.
Additional Guide Listings: Gain additional exposure by purchasing additional listings. Additional listings with identical text are available in different categories at a cost of $90 each. Additional listings with different text are available in different categories at a cost of $135 each. Contact Debbie Mossman at ext. 200, e-mail: admin@berkshires.org.
Display Advertising: Maximize your exposure in The Berkshires Official Visitor’s Guide by placing a display advertisement in the Guide. For sizes, costs and deadlines contact Debra Johnson at ext. 218, e-mail: advertising@berkshires.org.
Target Mail Program: Put your brochure into visitors’ hands as they begin planning their Berkshire vacation. The Berkshire Visitors Bureau receives over 100,000 requests annually for The Berkshires Official Visitors Guide to be mailed directly to visitors, prior to their arrival, for the purpose of planning their itineraries. Our target mail program offers you the exclusive opportunity to have your brochure inserted into those guide mailings at a nominal fee of $0.19 per piece for up to 2500 pieces. For additional rates and information contact Kathy Tomasi at ext. 224, e-mail: inquiries@berkshires.org.
WWW.BERKSHIRES.ORG
FREE Descriptive Listing: Membership includes one free descriptive listing on the Berkshire Visitors Bureau website www.berkshires.org. Nearly 500,00 unique visitors explored 2.7 million pages of member listings last year. Your web listing includes a free hyperlink driving interested visitors to your website. If you choose to purchase an additional Guide listing you will also receive the same additional listing on the website at no extra charge.
FREE Calendar Listings: Direct more visitors to your event, workshop, performance or program and gain additional website exposure for your business or organization by listing them our comprehensive website calendar. These listings include your contact information and a hyperlink to your website. Please send name of event, start and end dates and a 60 word description of event including times to Debbie Mossman at admin@berkshires.org or by fax 413-743-4560.
FREE Getaway Deal Listings: Gain the competitive edge and drive more visitors to your website by offering visitors a value added Getaway Deal for lodging, dining, shopping or attractions. These additional listings include your contact information and a hyperlink to your website. Deals are listed and organized by season. Copy is limited to 60 words per deal. There is a limit of two deals per member per season. Getaway Deal must represent a value of at least 15% off the usual price or be a gift or premium equal in value. Send deals to Debbie Mossman at admin@berkshires.org or by fax 413-743-4560.
VISITOR CENTERS, TOLL-FREE INFORMATION and LODGING SERVICE
FREE Brochure Distribution: Put your brochure or menu in front of approximately 40,000 people who stop at the Berkshire Visitors Bureau’s Adams and Pittsfield Visitor Centers looking for information on lodging, shopping, dining, attractions and other community information. Make sure that we have your most current brochure or event poster. You can drop off your brochures at either Visitor Center location. Contact Kathy Tomasi at ext. 224, e-mail: inquiries@berkshires.org.
FREE Referrals: A staff of more than 55 volunteers and fulltime employees answer questions and give out member information to more than 75,000 people each year through our Visitors Centers and toll free information service. While on hold, callers to the Bureau can hear about your business in a 20 second professionally produced announcement. Cost is $49 for three months. Contact Debra Johnson at ext. 218, e-mail: advertising@berkshires.org.
Lodging Reservation Service: List your lodging rooms in our central reservation system. There is a onetime set up fee of $15 per room. Contact Linda Beach at ext. 321, e-mail: lodging@berkshires.org.
ADVERTISING
Cooperative Advertising: Maximize your advertising budget by taking advantage of the market research and buying power your Bureau membership provides. We purchase discounted pages in a diverse collection of targeted publications and pass those savings on to our members who purchase a portion of the ad page. By advertising collectively with other members you benefit from both the savings and the magnified presence of the Berkshires as a destination of numerous activities and choices. For a list of publications and rates contact Debra Johnson at ext. 218, email: advertising@berkshires.org.
Adventure & Culture in the Country: Reach the right customer for you by advertising in one of these two targeted brochures distributed throughout the county at lodging establishments, attractions, visitor centers, information booths and mailed to travelers who make direct inquires about adventure or cultural activities in the Berkshires. Cost is $175 for a listing and photo in each brochure. Contact Ray Smith at ext. 217, e-mail: marketing@berkshires.org.
Discover The Berkshires Consumer Email Newsletter: Drive traffic to your website and maximize your exposure to 35,000 consumers who have requested biweekly Berkshire updates. Each month, the Bureau emails timely events and promotional information to this eager and growing traveling audience. Rates start at $99 per newsletter for a banner advertisement linked directly to your website. Discounted rates are available for repeat advertisers. Contact Ray Smith at ext. 217, email: marketing@berkshires.org.
Website Advertising: Maximize your exposure to Visitors who explore more than 2.7 million pages on our website, www.berkshires.org, by placing a tile advertisement on heavily visited pages with a direct link driving visitors to your website. Rates start at $200 per month with discounted rates for yearly advertising and sponsorships. Contact Kara Thornton at ext. 299, e-mail: development@berkshires.org.
FREE coupons in the Berkshire Eagle’s Discover our Berkshires: Build your local clientele and encourage local residents to try your product or services by offering two coupons in our Discover Our Berkshires supplement, printed each spring in cooperation with the Berkshire Eagle and distributed in 33,000 copies of the newspaper. Contact Debbie Mossman at ext. 200, e-mail: admin@berkshires.org.
MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS
FREE Member Promotion & Support: We promote your news and information to local, regional and national publications and broadcasters and provide you with ongoing promotional opportunities through media leads and media FAM tours. Let us assist you in developing a media strategy, plan press campaigns and compile targeted media mailing lists. Contact Nick Noyes at ext. 223, e-mail: pr@berkshires.org.
FREE Marketing & Strategic Planning: Take advantage of the Berkshire Visitors Bureaus marketing experience. Our professional marketing team will help you strategize and forge a marketing plan on any budget. Contact Ray Smith at ext. 217, email: marketing@berkshires.org.
FREE Local & Regional Media List: Make sure you are getting the most out of free press coverage by using this up to date listing for sending out press releases and calendar information to media contacts in Berkshire county and the surrounding areas. Contact Nick Noyes, e-mail: pr@berkshires.org.
FREE Photo & Video Library: Save money by using our professional digital images in your advertising, brochures or on your website at no charge. Consider sharing your images with us as well. Photos are used by the Bureau on its website, in advertising campaigns and in the Visitors Guide as well as by travel writers and media publications requesting images to accompany editorial coverage and articles about the Berkshires. Contact Ann Claffie at ext. 214, e-mail: fams@berkshires.org.
FREE Monthly Member Newsletter: Take advantage of ongoing opportunities, keep track of upcoming events and stay up to date on the marketing and promotional campaigns driving tourism to your door. Your comments and ideas are always welcome. Contact Nick Noyes at ext. 223, e-mail: pr@berkshires.org.
FREE Networking & Educational Opportunities: Promote your business through networking opportunities at our annual meeting and member mixers. Join your colleagues while learning about tourism related issues and how they affect your business and community through our monthly Tourism Tuesday lunches. Discounted cost of lunch is $15 for members. Contact Debbie Mossman at ext. 200, e-mail: admin@berkshires.org.
Mailing Labels: Get your message to those businesses that do business with you. Bureau Members labels are available for only $25 for the full membership or $10 for each sector (lodging, restaurants, cultural, etc.). Contact Debbie Mossman at ext. 200, e-mail: admin@berkshires.org.
Graphic Design: Staff graphic designer, Regina Burgio, is available to design an ad, assist you with your collateral materials or help out with your website needs at very reasonable rates. Contact Regina at ext. 226, e-mail: graphics@berkshires.org.
GROUP SALES (Meetings, motor coach & international)
Group Sales Committee: Network, learn about and participate in marketing decisions and educational programs involving the domestic and international motor coach and meeting markets by becoming a member of the Group Sales Committee. Contact Robin Peck at ext. 212, e-mail: bvb@berkshires.org.
Cooperative Trade Shows: Put your brochure in the hands of group tour and meeting decision makers and receive leads and contacts at minimal cost or, in some cases, for free. The Berkshire Visitors Bureau presents the Berkshires as a choice group tour destination to tour operators, group leaders and meeting planners at 10 different regional, national and international tradeshows each year. For rates and tradeshow schedule contact Robin Peck at ext. 212, e-mail: bvb@berkshires.org.