Visit Canton Shows Off Area to Tour Operators
Canton Repository
Jan. 29, 2017
By Rich Desrosiers
The largest event in Cleveland since last summer's Republican National Convention occurred earlier this month, and few people heard a word about it.
Fortunately for Stark County and its tourism industry, Visit Canton - the county's Convention & Visitors' Bureau - worked alongside the Akron/Summit and Tuscarawas County visitors' bureaus to make sure our region's attractions were brought to the attention of a group that can bring big dollars to our communities: tour bus operators.
The American Bus Association held its annual convention over four days in mid-January. The event drew more than 3,500 tour operators, suppliers and exhibitors to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
Allyson Bussey, president of Visit Canton, said group tours brought about 2,000 buses to Stark County last year, and the goal is to exceed that number this year.
"Getting this kind of exposure is a big deal," she said, "and not just for Cleveland, but for the entire region."