SIDNEY — As has been its mission since inception in 2002, increasing the regional visibility of Sidney and Shelby County as a recreation travel option continued as the primary focus of the Sidney Visitors Bureau last year. Bureau activity in 2022 saw significant growth over the previous two years now that leisure and businesses travelers alike have resumed more traditional travel schedules.

Jeff Raible, president, Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, has submitted the following report:

Promotional messages of the Bureau reached more than 8 million people in 2022 based on conservative estimates for both digital and print advertising impressions. Social media, eNewsletters, search engine optimization, and web banner advertising were heavily employed to connect with consumers receptive to digital suggestions on how to best spend their leisure travel time in Ohio.

The best promotional tool in our toolbox continues to be the Visitors Bureau web site. www.visitsidneyshelby.com saw a high volume of traffic and site engagement in 2022 as evidenced by data gathered using Google Analytics. Search Engine Marketing strategies using keywords and broadcast email also contributed significantly to enticing web site traffic to the site. In total, visitsidneyshelby.com had over 37,900 site sessions and more than 51,300 page views in 2022.

Social media was also a high impact strategy for the Bureau last year. Facebook Views totaled more than 112,000 in 2022. Particular items of interest last year were postings related to weekend getaway options in Sidney, the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, the opening of the Airstream Heritage Center, and resumption of Airstream Factory Tours.

In late 2021, early 2022 the Bureau developed a two sided, full color rack card to replace the eight-panel travel brochure it had been distributing for the past several years. This card along with the remaining inventory of brochures were distributed in 2022 at traveler rack locations along major interstate highways in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. In addition, they were strategically displayed at select Ohio Department of Transportation Travel Information Centers both southbound and northbound on I-75 and on display at the consumer travel shows in Detroit, Michigan, Sandusky, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, and Hershey, Pennsylvania.

In June of last year, the City of Sidney and the Visitors Bureau played host to the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure welcoming hundreds of participants from around the country for a two-day, two-night stay where they enjoyed our local attractions, restaurants, and drinking establishments. Compliments of Sidney Alive and Raise the Roof for the Arts, our guests were also treated to a wonderful downtown Sidney Music & Arts Festival featuring great food, cold drinks, and outstanding live entertainment.

Ongoing collaborations with the Shelby County Historical Society, Sidney Alive, and the Great Miami Riverway were also very successful in 2022. In addition the Bureau helped expand the promotional reach of many area events and attractions to include those of the Historic Sidney Theatre, Gateway Arts Council, Shelby County Fair, local community festivals, and more.