The Dayton Convention & Visitors Bureau receives a significant number of convention and meeting/event leads and business from Helms Briscoe (HB) associates (third party meeting planners who are literally located throughout the U.S.) In order to stay “top-of-mind” with the HB associates the Dayton CVB sends our top 200 HB associates (those who give us the most event business and who plan meetings in the Midwest), an eye-catching annual direct mail package. In 2022 we sent them a mid-sized white cardboard box (with Dayton CVB logo labels on it) which included a Dayton aviation-themed gift: a Dayton CVB logo’d tin of colorful airplane paperclips, along with a matching themed direct mail card. The direct mail card had images of the airplane paper clips on it and also was designed in a manner that encouraged/allowed the recipient to fold it into an actual paper airplane for flying. The CVB included some Destination Dayton event destination selling points in bullet format on the direct mail card. All of this helped to differentiate Dayton via our unique brand as the Birthplace of Aviation, in a fun and playful way. The CVB received a lot of calls and emails and compliments/thanks for the fun direct mail package – further building our relationships with the HB meeting planners and continuing to keep destination Dayton “top-of-mind” with the planners for their next events. The direct mail package was a huge success! Our HB RFP leads have increased 20%.
