CVB capitalizes on public's attraction to river

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau has capitalized on the public's fascination with the Mississippi River to market the community to visitors, CVB director Chuck Martin said Friday.

Martin said the CVB's marketing slogan, "Where the River Turns a Thousand Tales," has focused attention on what first draws visitors to the city.

"The one constant in our community is the Mississippi River," he told about 130 people at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center.

He recalled an Australian traveler who couldn't resist sticking his hand in the Mississippi River during a visit to the riverfront.

Cape Girardeau once carried the nickname "City of Roses."

A 10-mile stretch of road between Cape Girardeau and Jackson was lined with rosebushes. But by the 1960s, the "City of Roses" was little more than a memory, Martin said. "If you wanted a city of roses, we couldn't deliver," Martin said.

But Cape Girardeau has a rich history, he said. The Missouri state flag was created in Cape Girardeau. The first long-distance telephone call west of the Mississippi River occurred here.

"It's all about packaging," Martin said of tourism advertising. "It's not just putting sterile facts out there."

Martin said the CVB markets the city primarily to visitors from throughout Missouri, as well as in the Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas region.

The CVB's marketing efforts include billboards on Interstate 55 that draw on Cape Girardeau's history, such as the fact that Gen. U.S. Grant stayed briefly in the river city during the Civil War. "Stay the night in Cape Girardeau. Grant did," one billboard reads.

Martin said the billboards have drawn a positive response. The CVB plans continue using such advertising.

The CVB also has created numerous visitor guides and brochures touting local attractions.

About a year ago, the CVB also changed its online address to ease access for would-be visitors, Martin said. The word "Girardeau" was left out of the Web address intentionally. The word is difficult even for some residents to spell, he said.

The tourism bureau's new Web address is www.visitcape.com.

"It certainly is a great time to be marketing Cape Girardeau," Martin said.

Kara Clark, director of sales for the CVB, was scheduled to make Friday's presentation. But Martin gave the presentation because of criticism suggesting it would be electioneering for Clark to do it, chamber president John Mehner said.

Clark and Jackson Mayor Paul Sander are in a heated Republican primary contest for county clerk.

But Mehner said Clark's appearance at First Friday Coffee had been scheduled for months. He said the presentation had nothing to do with her campaign for county clerk.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123