Drumheller marketing group moves forward

    Drumheller has taken its first steps towards creating a marketing organization specifically for promoting the valley.     Members of the Drumheller Valley Buying Group recently briefed council on a meeting they had with another marketing organization, Chinook, which serves the area of Lethbridge. Leanna Mohan of the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the town’s economic development officer Ray Telford spoke to council last Monday about the initiative, which was put in motion by the Tourism Master Plan completed this year. The buying group has been responsible for researching the project and all their suggestions at this point are only recommendations given to council.
    “The most important thing right now is that we have to come up with a draft budget, how we are going to fund it, a list of recommendations on how it will be self sustainable,” says Telford.
    The Drumheller Marketing Organization (DMO) has been recommended by the buying group to offer a fee based service for valley attractions to contribute funds for promoting Drumheller in the media and online.
    The recommendations offered on how to run the DMO are only suggestions, and the final function of the DMO will be agreed to by both the town and the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce.
    Mohan told council the Chamber of Commerce has said they are interested in providing office space for the DMO.
    “Our goal right now is to have a manager in place for the DMO by the fall, I’m going to say October,” said Telford, adding they will have a plan on how to fund and operate the DMO.
    “It will be arm’s length from the town and the chamber, it will be run by a board of directors. That is one of the things we have to work towards,” said Telford.
    “We’re looking to bring in more people. We’ll be doing good marketing to bring people to the valley, whether its spending time at the museum, the convention centre, or just having a good time in Drumheller.”
    They will also look to bring in operators to take advantage of the DMO’s marketing.
    The research group is recommending that the DMO be self sustainable, to not rely on member fees.
     “It’ll be an organization that focuses solely on marketing Drumheller. We’ve done well the last 20 years for tourism, but it's not at the point where you need someone full time to be doing it.”
    “Tourism is really good for economic development because people visiting Drumheller may make it their home in five, ten, twenty years.”