Press Releases
Get Wheeling with the new bike Holland & Grand Haven Map!
Trails, Tracks and Cycling Fun in Ottawa County
Holland, MI – Exploring the greater Holland area on two wheels just became easier with the new Bike Holland & Grand Haven map. Available just in time to plan for National Bike Month (May) and summer recreation, the new map highlights trails, tracks and cycling fun throughout the county.
“Pedaling through the beautiful destination that is Holland is another way visitors can enjoy our scenic community,” commented Sally Laukitis, Executive Director, Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This new map allows all visitors, and residents alike, the resource to enjoy Holland’s variety of bike trails, paths and events.”
The new map features events and activities for all abilities, county-wide bike trail maps, information on the Holland area bike path network, popular biking areas along the Grand Haven lakeshore, tips for safe biking and more!
Bike Holland & Grand Haven highlights include:
• Bike the Lakeshore – showcasing ten bicycle events and activities for all abilities, from the Holland Hundred Tour to weekly rides with the Macatawa Cycling Club.
• Bike Trails – stretching 30 miles along the coast of Lake Michigan, Ottawa County’s extensive network of bike paths offer a wide range of cycling opportunities. Routes include miles of shoreline, sand dunes, quiet rural roads, woodlands, farms and unique area attractions.
• Hubbing in Holland – Holland’s bike path network includes several looped routes incorporating some of the area’s most popular parks.
• Gearing up in the Grand Haven Area – Grand Haven’s spectacular waterfront can be accessed from the south via Lake Avenue or Grand Avenue through Duncan Park.
The map is also a great resource for area accommodations, attractions, dining and of course, bike shops. To order a copy of the Bike Holland & Grand Haven map, visit www.Holland.org or call 800-506-1299.
Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Touches Down at Superbowl XLVI with Prominent Advertising Placement
As over 67,000 fans gear up inside Indiana’s Lucas Oil Stadium this Sunday to watch the showdown of Super Bowl XLVI firsthand, they’ll have a little piece of Pure Michigan before their eyes.
For the first time ever, the Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau will be featured in the
Official Super Bowl Program as a prominent advertising sponsor. In cooperation with Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, Holland is showcased in a full-page, full-color advertisement, branded under the nationally acclaimed Pure Michigan campaign.
Boasting the simple tagline, “From the east coast to the west coast… It’s pure magic,” this striking full-page ad features Holland’s iconic De Zwaan windmill at sunset, juxtaposed with the lush, rolling fairways of Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, showing the range of leisure travel opportunities that span the State of Michigan.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Holland, Michigan to gain national exposure and reach a captive audience of sports enthusiasts and leisure travelers. By partnering with the Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB and leveraging the power of the Pure Michigan brand, we were able to secure this prominent placement for our region and launch our regional tourism brand to an entirely new audience,” says Sally Laukitis, Executive Director of the Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Apart from being seen by the thousands of fans in attendance at this year’s Super Bowl, the Holland Area CVB’s full page advertisement will also be shared with over 590 million people expected to view the Official Super Bowl Program online.
Beachtowns Association Reveals Heritage Route Plans
Michigan’s Beachtowns Inc., an association of nine lakeshore convention & visitors bureaus announced today that plans to certify US Route 31 as a heritage route, are well underway. Working in conjunction with the Michigan Historical Center, a division of the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries, the group obtained a $160,000 Preserve America Grant plus a $50,000 matching grant from the Michigan Council of the Arts and Cultural Affairs, to meet Federal and State guidelines to fulfill qualifications for participation in Michigan’s Heritage Route Program.
The Heritage Route Corridor under consideration will extend from the Indiana border to Ludington along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The route also known as Blue Star Highway or the West Michigan Pike was built between 1911 and 1922. It was the first continuous, improved road between Chicago and Mackinaw City and opened West Michigan to automobile tourism. According to Beachtowns organizers, historic route designation does not “make” anything happen but “allows” things to happen by qualifying the area to tap into Federal and State grant opportunities such as transportation enhancement grants, private foundations, Michigan transportation funds and potentially scenic by-ways grants. Heritage Trail designation does not add any layers of government, presents no additional liability issues or land use issues; however, it has great potential to attract and keep visitors coming to the area. The State’s Heritage Trail Program aims to find “linear” destinations that become global destinations by setting mutual goals and collaborating with neighboring communities.
The certification process takes approximately three years. The Beachtowns Organization has already completed a substantial portion of that process and is currently applying for a Corridor Management Planning Grant through the Michigan Department of Transportation for 2009. Next steps include meetings with all municipalities along the route to secure resolutions affirming local government support for the concept of the Heritage Route. The Beachtowns corridor management team will also work with a variety of organizations and governmental groups to develop a corridor map identifying assets along the route that should be promoted and liabilities that should be improved or enhanced through private/public partnerships or through grant resources.
The Beachtowns Association formed in 2001 to promote nine southwest Michigan lakeshore communities as a major regional tourist destination. In partnership with the State of Michigan Beachtowns has launched spring and fall advertising campaigns in Chicago, Indianapolis and Michigan at a combined cost of just over $1.5 million dollars. The group initiated a public relations effort in cooperation with PBS throughout the Midwest that netted the organization close to $36 million dollars worth of free publicity in 2006. The Heritage Trail project will create additional promotional opportunities and draw attention to the areas cultural and historic assets.
For further information contact Sally Laukitis at the Holland Convention & Visitors Bureau at 877-469-3821 or click here to send Sally an e-mail.
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Holland DVD Released for Christmas
The Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau recently teamed up with local production studio, Grooters Productions, to produce a promotional DVD of the Holland area. Set to uplifting music and shot in high definition, this four-minute DVD showcases Tulip Time, the Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival, Dutch WinterFest, local attractions, downtown Holland, and our beautiful white sand beaches.
“While the purpose of the DVD is to promote Holland as a destination for visitors, meeting planners and the motor coach industry, this professional DVD makes the perfect stocking stuffer for Holland residents and business,” said Sally Laukitis, Executive Director of the Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The DVD can be purchased for $5.00 at the Visitors Bureau office, 76 East 8th Street, in downtown Holland, 616.394.0000.
