Bentonville Discount Program To Aid Tourists
22.09.2011, 11:01
A woman from New York City pops in once in a while at The Cottage of Bentonville.
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Business owner Connie McManus said the woman has relatives in Bentonville and guesses the woman represents a Wal-Mart supplier.
"She noticed our sign from the square. Our sign is hot pink and black. She was coming out of The Station Cafe and happened to look down the street" and found The Cottage, McManus said.
Not many tourists visit The Cottage, McManus said, but this could change in March when her business will be listed among more than 25 others in a discount brochure from the Bentonville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The bureau has partnered with various businesses -- including gift shops, restaurants, clothing boutiques, hair salons and day spas -- to develop a brochure that offers travelers discounts on products and services.
McManus and her business partner, Dianna Dobbs, will have a coupon worth 15 percent off a gift purchase in the brochure.
People naturally want to visit specialty shops while in a new city, McManus said, noting the coupon is an added "nudge" for tourists to come in the shop and buy.
The bureau will distribute the brochure to visitors in Bentonville for an overnight meeting, conference, sports tournament or other event, said Blair Cromwell, the organization's community and event development director.
"If we know about the event ahead of time, we can send them with our Bentonville Visitors Guide" during the registration process, Cromwell said. Otherwise, the bureau will include them in information packets at events, regardless of whether the bureau is sponsoring the event.
Cromwell hopes that the brochure will capture the sales tax dollars that might otherwise be spent at popular and easily accessible retail centers like the Village on the Creeks and the Pinnacle Promenade in Rogers.
"We don't expect them to only shop here (in Bentonville). But if we can show them what we have, our thought is to provide incentives," Cromwell said.
The bureau previously offered discount cards for sports events only, as an incentive for athletes and their families to eat in Bentonville restaurants.
Concern that tourists are unaware of the types of products and services in Bentonville prompted the bureau to expand the sports discount card to include many types of business that offer services they think are useful to tourists and event groups. The list of participating businesses includes medical clinics, bars, a pet day care facility, consignment shops, museums and a promotions company.
Cromwell considers the expanded discount program a part of Building Bentonville, a name associated with cooperative efforts to boost economic development. Those who participate in this effort are the bureau, Bentonville, Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Bentonville Inc.
"All four entities have a vested interest in growing business," said Rich Davis, vice president of economic development for the chamber. While the chamber focuses on marketing, and Downtown Bentonville focuses on redevelopment in that area, "from the big-picture standpoint, Building Bentonville is working collaboratively to promote Bentonville."