Yakima Valley Membership

Join the VCB!

The Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau provides a resource for Yakima Valley businesses to aggressively market their business while taking advantage of the many member benefits the Bureau offers. It is through the support of our members that the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau can competitively market the Yakima Valley as a tourist destination.

Membership Department Mission Statement: "To provide our member organizations with marketing tools, networking opportunities and benefits that will enhance and grow their business."

Membership contributes to the stability of the Bureau and provides members with quality benefits and outstanding customer service. If you would like to receive additional information regarding membership or request a membership application, please contact Michelle Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.

Membership Benefits

Official Yakima Valley Visitors Guide

The official guide to the Yakima Valley, it's full of helpful information on sightseeing, restaurants, attractions, museums, accommodations, and much more. Our latest guide features a three page pull out Wine Tour and Attraction map of the Yakima Valley. Visitors will be able to quickly find great places to stay, eat, shop and play. 90,000 of these guides are distributed annually throughout Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, Northern California, and in response to visitor inquiries. Advertisers will be placed in premium easy-to-view locations.

Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center

Washington State’s premiere visitor information center features a hands-on computer and a 10-minute video featuring the valley and its attractions on the plasma screen. The center attracts up to 30,000 visitors annually. Marketing opportunities available to members include brochure racks, city/county map, display boxes, and light boxes.

WWW.VISITYAKIMA.COM

This interactive planning tool features Bureau members while creating a variety of opportunities for visitors to the Web site to research and complete their trip planning directly on the site. Our Web site contains a membership directory and highlights attractions, facilities, and events in the area.

As a member you will receive a FREE listing on visityakima.com under the section that you specify. If you have your own Web site, we can make arrangements to link your membership listing to your Web site.

WWW.WASHINGTONWINE-COUNTRY.COM

This Web site is available for all members to create their own travel packages to the Yakima Valley. This allows members to team up with fellow members to create exciting package deals to reach potential tourists. This is a new complimentary service provided to all members that is a prime opportunity to market yourself and the Yakima Valley.

Group Travel Guide

Members who wish to host groups at their establishment can be included in the Bureau's Group Travel Guide that is sent out to nearly 1,000 travel industry professionals. This guide is filled with information about the Yakima Valley to assist group travel planners in creating exciting tours to our region. Members receive a free listing of their business that includes contact information, location, brief history and much more.

Convention Digest

Market your products and services to convention and meeting planners with our members-only convention digest. This valuable guide is provided by the Bureau to help members pinpoint groups coming to our area that might bring you new business. Click here to request more information.

Yakima Valley Facilities Guide

This reference book is distributed biannually to meeting and event planners throughout the Pacific Northwest, and mailed directly to professional meeting planners with plans to bring their next event to the Yakima Valley. This all-in-one book is the ultimate resource for every aspect of the planning process, and when more information is required, the Facilities Guide includes an arsenal of contacts for easy reference.

Yakima City/County Map

Maps are used as a reference guide for shopping, dining, lodging, general points of interest, as well as directions. Our four-color, easy-to-read map will be provided FREE for those who request it. The Yakima City/County Map will be the official map distributed from the Visitor Information Center and the Visitor & Convention Bureau.

The map will also be included in general information packets and provided with pre-registration packets for conventions coming to the Yakima Convention Center. 10,000 maps will be published and distributed FREE to visitors requesting information prior to visiting.

Membership Newsletter

This member benefit allows the Bureau to inform members of current and future Bureau events, new and renewing members, upcoming sporting events, and future conventions. The newsletter offers advertising opportunities for members.

Network at Member Events

The YVVCB hosts several events for members. They include the Annual Meeting, which allows the YVVCB to show their appreciation to their members for the continued support through a brunch or luncheon. The Holiday Reception is also another networking opportunity for members. These events are put on by the YVVCB staff and are a great opportunity to meet and greet not only the staff, but also other business’ official members. Network with community leaders and peers through the Bureau Membership Directory.

Holiday Reception and Silent Auction

This popular community event draws 600-800 people. Sponsors are recognized for their support. A description of your donated item(s) printed in more than 2,000 event programs, provides guaranteed visibility.

Annual Meeting

Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of the Bureau during this annual event. The Bureau conducts its annual meeting each spring. This meeting combines the Yakima Valley's tourism industry along with meeting planners, economic development officials, and local businesses to learn about the industry's newest trends and receive special reports. Regional and national experts will often serve as key note speakers for the event.

Priority Referrals

Members are given priority referrals when visitors, travel agents, travel writers; convention delegates, advertising industry professionals, and fellow members make inquiries.

Familiarization Tours

Complimentary tours allow the Bureau to showcase the Yakima Valley, and market various member businesses as a destination to qualified meeting planners, tour operators, travel agents, travel writers and various forms of media.

Market Your Business with Our Tools

Membership provides opportunities to market your product or service to thousands of visitors, travel professionals, and meeting planners and unites your business with the Bureau. Members are automatically listed in Bureau publications based on membership category. Additional advertising opportunities are available to increase your exposure in these publications.

Basic Membership [$237/year]

Members receive the benefits listed above.

Members can also benefit by sponsoring our Visitor Information Center

Silver Level Partnership [$1,000/year]

A 10" x 10" decorative framed picture on an engraved plaque displaying the name of the business. The picture may have awards, address, etc. incorporated within the picture. Display will be in the business' choice of Visitor Centers plus all preceding membership benefits.

Gold Level Partnership [$2,000/year]

Identification as a member in a 14" x 12" display case. Sponsors can display products, awards, brochures, etc. Display will be created and maintained by sponsor. This level receives all preceding benefits.

Platinum Level Partnership [$3,000/year]

Photograph or label of choice mounted on the prominent illuminated display board surrounding the regional location map. Three-year term. This level entitles Membership Level benefits described at the Basic level.

Diamond Partnership [$5,000/year]

Four-year term to support the purchase of a Wine Country Display Board. This partnership also allows each business partner all of the preceding benefits.