KEY Magazine Fort Worth

GUEST SERVICES

Riding High in Tourism Marketing
by Don Patterson

Multiple careers aren’t new to Billy Huckaby, Executive Director of the Glen Rose Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has served as rodeo contestant, radio announcer, reporter, writer, and publisher. He competed in rodeo bull riding from high school, through college, and afterward. Ending his career as contestant, he served as an officer in The Texas Rodeo Association, produced rodeos, and still performs as a rodeo radio announcer. His l5 year career in print media included serving as newspaper reporter, editor and publisher. “That gave me a solid background in the advertising and marketing media arena,” Huckaby explains. Consequently, he understands the challenges of tourism marketing.

“Everybody’s competing for tourist dollars. We’re not only competing with local and regional attractions like Six Flags and Sea World, we’re competing with national venues like Disney World and Disneyland,” Huckaby says. The tourism market is flooded with options. Patrons only have so much leisure time, so we have to publicize our local standout attractions. Tourism marketing is expensive so we have to stretch our advertising dollar, selecting the most advantageous means for promotion. Key Magazine is an inexpensive way for Glen Rose, a small town, to reach a huge market within easy driving distance.”

Trade show participation is another way Huckaby promotes tourism. Women’s Visions Expo held in Dallas is such an outlet. It’s annual two-day run draws over 30,000 visitors. “This is the 4th year we have participated in the show and the 3rd year we’ve done it cooperatively with other cities,” Huckaby reports.

Billy Huckaby’s multi-career success has perhaps culminated in his role as a convention and visitor’s bureau director. He no longer climbs atop a feisty bull or sits astride a horse. He continues instead, riding the tourism circuit, and wisely promoting the many varied entertainment venues offered in Glen Rose and Summerville County.

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