#SportsTourismStrong in Charleston, WV
Posted on: April 13 2020
Hint: Swiping is disabled on videos, use the right arrow to advance and view images.
Our members at the Charleston, West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau have been hard at work providing online resources and information to local businesses and employees, take a look:
Our organization acted early to support the community; a few days into the release of social distancing guidelines in mid-March we launched Team Charleston, an online resource and information portal that supports local businesses and employees, as well as provides ideas for socially responsible activities. We update this page most days a week across a range of topics: ways you can help the community from home, a full list of restaurants that deliver carry-out, financial aid resources, and a webpage that allows you to send virtual tips to bartenders.
We also keep it updated with social distancing activities. Mountain Stage, produced by WV Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music, is our music radio show with a live audience that has had to be canceled, but they have released Spotify playlists featuring their artists that we promote. We have a social distancing-friendly driving public art tour, pages with local books, local movies, recipes to try at home, and other virtual tourism opportunities that all have Charleston and West Virginia flavor.
On social media, we try to keep a smile on people’s faces by engaging the audience in conversation, whether that’s about local landmarks or “correct” colloquialisms (on a West Virginia hotdog, do you call it chili or sauce?), or just posting inspiring photography to offer a respite from the news. Once a week, we’ve been holding takeovers by local businesses to help support them and give them exposure, as well as entertaining our audience with something a little different. We’re also holding “Team Charleston Challenges” every week to send out Team Charleston swag. Our minor league baseball team, the West Virginia Power, held a Restaurant Takeout Week last week—our first challenge was to post a photo of your carryout orders.
Keep it up Charleston. Together, we are #SportsTourismStrong!