The future holds many great things for the Wilson Hotel. There are so many different elements to the rehabilitation process we are working through and many considerations for the future when the hotel is up and operational after the rehabilitation is complete.
Recently we have been doing extensive research on effective marketing techniques for independent “boutique” hotels. Gathering data on the processes that other independent properties use to reach their niche markets, primarily in historic districts similar to downtown Centralia.
Our research overlaps in many aspects to the recent efforts of the Centralia Downtown Association path of progress as the group works through the Main Street approach to further the outreach to the target group of our local visitor base through the marketing process. Marketing the Wilson Hotel is synonymous with marketing historic Centralia as we shared in a recent post here.
Our branding process is also interrelated with the promotion of downtown and creating a significant draw through our web site to increase the traveling public to choose historic downtown as their hotel accommodations while in Centralia, Lewis County and southern Washington.
We have been working through the following outline in creating marketing ideas for our web site. The initial approach we are following in developing an effective marketing plan is to inventory the attractions in our community and Lewis County has to offer visitors/tourists and feature them on our web site.
This “community assets” inventory outline was developed through the economic development and community development departments associated with the University of Wisconsin and the state Main Street office. Unfortunately, I do not know who to attribute credit to for the outline outside of the reference provided here.
Here is the outline – it is simple and highly effective:
A community must know what it has to offer or sell before plans can be laid for marketing the product. These can include natural, manmade, historical, cultural or ethnic, festivals, special events and recreational attractions. A complete inventory of attractions must be developed before any further plans are made.
Recently we have been doing extensive research on effective marketing techniques for independent “boutique” hotels. Gathering data on the processes that other independent properties use to reach their niche markets, primarily in historic districts similar to downtown Centralia.
Our research overlaps in many aspects to the recent efforts of the Centralia Downtown Association path of progress as the group works through the Main Street approach to further the outreach to the target group of our local visitor base through the marketing process. Marketing the Wilson Hotel is synonymous with marketing historic Centralia as we shared in a recent post here.
Our branding process is also interrelated with the promotion of downtown and creating a significant draw through our web site to increase the traveling public to choose historic downtown as their hotel accommodations while in Centralia, Lewis County and southern Washington.
We have been working through the following outline in creating marketing ideas for our web site. The initial approach we are following in developing an effective marketing plan is to inventory the attractions in our community and Lewis County has to offer visitors/tourists and feature them on our web site.
This “community assets” inventory outline was developed through the economic development and community development departments associated with the University of Wisconsin and the state Main Street office. Unfortunately, I do not know who to attribute credit to for the outline outside of the reference provided here.
Here is the outline – it is simple and highly effective:
A community must know what it has to offer or sell before plans can be laid for marketing the product. These can include natural, manmade, historical, cultural or ethnic, festivals, special events and recreational attractions. A complete inventory of attractions must be developed before any further plans are made.
List below all attractions found in your area.
1. Natural Attractions
2. Manmade Attractions
2. Manmade Attractions
3. Historical Attractions
4. Festivals
5. Cultural or Ethnic Attractions
6. Special Events
7. Recreational Attractions
We wanted to share this outline since so many of our readers are either local and a part of the Centralia Downtown Association, interested in the revitalization of downtown historic Centralia or blog friends who have shared that they are going through a similar process of revitalization and we thought this survey was a good place to start for creating an effective marketing plan. Time to put on our thinking caps!
