Think about the last amazing trip you took. Maybe you were walking barefoot in the sand on a lakeshore or browsing shops along a cobblestone street when you thought, “What if I lived here?” Destination marketing is that first taste of what life can be like in a community. Here’s a breakdown of how tourism helps attract new residents to the City of McHenry and boosts our community’s growth.
Love at First Like
People rarely find a place by chance. It usually finds them on their social feeds or along other digital avenues thanks to destination marketing. A well-placed ad holds a lot of power when it stops the scroll, educates the viewer, and entices them to explore the City of McHenry further. Think of these ads as the first crucial step in getting people to step foot in our city. But a lot of other steps must be taken before that view, like, or follow on social media can turn into our new neighbor.
Come for the Attractions, Stay for the Amenities
If destination marketing has done its job, people will look into a place further. Investing in modern attractions plays a huge role in moving the needle from curiosity about a place to planning their first visit. When they arrive, they’ll experience the cadence of life here, shop along the Riverwalk and dine across our three downtowns, see how connected we are to major city hubs, and experience everything our vibrant community has to offer — all signs that point to a higher quality of life and help us capitalize on that “what if?” moment during their visit.
Opening the Door for Opportunities
Now that they’ve seen our city and have fallen in love with it, we need to show the foundation they can build a life from. The City of McHenry has plenty of room to grow, with business parks, redevelopment sites, and a TIF District encompassing the Riverside Drive and Green Street downtown areas. This paves the way for more companies to open their doors here and create jobs that visitors-turned-new residents can fill. Some of the attractions that draw visitors in — outdoor recreation and our charming downtown streets — set the scene as a perfect place to raise a family. These are markers of stability that make the City of McHenry an ideal place to put down roots.
More Is More
As shown in the figure below, more eyes on the City of McHenry can lead to more visits. More visits lead to more visitor spending in our community, or inspire visitors to become a part of our community as neighbors or business owners. More local spending powers our economy, while new residents and businesses contribute to long-term community growth. Stronger revenue streams allow for more reinvestment in our attractions and amenities, which helps bring in more visitors and future residents. One visit can become a life-changing experience for the visitor and a significant ripple in the continued revitalization of our community.
With the right destination marketing and amenities in place, every visitor has the potential to become a new member of our community.