Explore St. Louis - Tourism Promotion Agency

gary kreie · PostNov 20, 2007#12007-11-20T04:52+00:00

I don't think I've seen this posted yet. The Explore St. Louis site has been updated. Looks pretty good -- I like the photos in the Tour St. Louis.

http://www.explorestlouis.com/visitors/index.asp

stlgasm · PostNov 20, 2007#22007-11-20T12:52+00:00

I didn't know Ted Drewes and the Botanical Garden were in "Midtown/Clayton." I realize the idea is to simplify the geography of the city for tourists, but such a fib is downright misleading, and it makes the CVC seem unfamilar with their own city.

Photos I would add:

--Cherokee Street Antique Row

--Outdoor cafes in the CWE

--Pride flags on South Grand (let's put out the welcome mat as so many other cities do)

--Washington Ave. streetscape

Showing that there's actually life in the city is a good thing, don't you think?

I may sound overly critical of the CVC, but considering they lobbied to tear down the Century Building (because parking garages are more attractive than beautiful edifices, don't ya know), coupled with their sub-par marketing campaign, I have reason to be disappointed.

As long as the CVC plays it safe, St. Louis will be viewed as a suburban, wholesome Midwestern diversion, and we will never be the destination city that we should be. I realize that big convention business is important, but why not market to gays and lesbians, artists, college students, etc. and show the rest of the country that we're a progressive-minded city that is worth a visit?

threeonefour · PostNov 20, 2007#32007-11-20T13:39+00:00

STLgasm wrote:I may sound overly critical of the CVC, but considering they lobbied to tear down the Century Building (because parking garages are more attractive than beautiful edifices, don't ya know), coupled with their sub-par marketing campaign, I have reason to be disappointed.

As long as the CVC plays it safe, St. Louis will be viewed as a suburban, wholesome Midwestern diversion, and we will never be the destination city that we should be. I realize that big convention business is important, but why not market to gays and lesbians, artists, college students, etc. and show the rest of the country that we're a progressive-minded city that is worth a visit?

Why aren't we doing this? And why are we lumping Ted Drewes into Midtown/Clayton for simplicity's sake when it would be more appropriate in the South section? More importantly, shouldn't we market as many of our city's unique neighborhoods (the CWE, Lafayette Square, etc.) and some of the better inner suburban destinations (University City Loop, Maplewood) as possible? The site may look nice, but like you, I see many missed opportunities here.

stl63101 · PostNov 20, 2007#42007-11-20T14:12+00:00

STLgasm wrote: but why not market to gays and lesbians,

There is a rainbow resources section already on the site....not a very good resource, but at least there is an effort.

Alex Ihnen · PostNov 20, 2007#52007-11-20T15:35+00:00

It's very challenging to keep up-to-date with your own city, though a few dozen of us here do a decent job! Maybe I'm not the typical family weekend getaway-er, but I wish they would include places like the Lemp Brewery, The Grove, ONSL, etc. for the "urban adventurer". When you're in a new city it's nearly impossible to find the up-and-coming areas, or places that really unique. It's one thing to find the signature beautiful historic neighborhood in a city - every city has one (or more) and they're all great, even sometimes unique. But from experience, people are most surprised and intrigued by the off-beat, the potential and the unique.

bonwich · PostNov 20, 2007#62007-11-20T15:39+00:00

Now, now. The Business Journal is going to editorialize that we're all just so "critical" and don't give new stuff a chance.

Far be it from all those pro-CVC people to question why Ted Drewes is in "Clayton/Midtown," while the "County" section (there is no "South," just a massive "everything else" called "County") has narrative about Clayton.

Don't complain. Just do what they tell you to do, and everything will be fine.

ecoabsence · PostNov 20, 2007#72007-11-20T15:52+00:00

When one divides the region into a few catch-all areas, everything does seem within reach.

But there doesn't seem to be many things to reach for.

debaliviere · PostNov 20, 2007#82007-11-20T16:09+00:00

bonwich wrote:Now, now. The Business Journal is going to editorialize that we're all just so "critical" and don't give new stuff a chance.

Far be it from all those pro-CVC people to question why Ted Drewes is in "Clayton/Midtown," while the "County" section (there is no "South," just a massive "everything else" called "County") has narrative about Clayton.

Don't complain. Just do what they tell you to do, and everything will be fine.

Since I live near Ted Drewes, does that mean I'm in the Clayton School District?

stlmike · PostNov 20, 2007#92007-11-20T18:35+00:00

I think they should at least rename it to "City Neighborhoods and Inner Suburbs" or something that is a little more accurate. I'm fine with the region breaks as long as they aren't deceptively labeled.

bonwich · PostNov 20, 2007#102007-11-20T18:49+00:00

A great selling point of this region from a tourist/hospitality standpoint is that it's a city of neighborhoods (and a county that has numerous distinct and interesting municipalities). For the CVC to put out such an abominable (and demonstrably inaccurate) oversimplification is nothing short of incompetence.

phoaddict · PostNov 20, 2007#112007-11-20T19:46+00:00

STLgasm wrote:
I may sound overly critical of the CVC, but considering they lobbied to tear down the Century Building (because parking garages are more attractive than beautiful edifices, don't ya know), coupled with their sub-par marketing campaign, I have reason to be disappointed.

As long as the CVC plays it safe, St. Louis will be viewed as a suburban, wholesome Midwestern diversion, and we will never be the destination city that we should be. I realize that big convention business is important, but why not market to gays and lesbians, artists, college students, etc. and show the rest of the country that we're a progressive-minded city that is worth a visit?

Amen brother. I don't think you're being overly critical at all. If people aren't critical, they will just continue as is, marketing the city as a suburban family wholesome every other midwestern town. I think you're thinking...

stlmike · PostNov 20, 2007#122007-11-20T19:52+00:00

I think someone deleted my post without notifying me. I will post again since I have no way of knowing if this was a glitch or if someone deleted it.

^^

I don't think they can do a neighborhood by neighborhood breakdown because then they would have to find something unique and tourist-friendly for every neighborhood in the city. Some neighborhoods are not as advertisable as others from a tourist standpoint.

bonwich · PostNov 20, 2007#132007-11-20T20:02+00:00

stlmike wrote:I think someone deleted my post without notifying me. I will post again since I have no way of knowing if this was a glitch or if someone deleted it.

^^

I don't think they can do a neighborhood by neighborhood breakdown because then they would have to find something unique and tourist-friendly for every neighborhood in the city. Some neighborhoods are not as advertisable as others from a tourist standpoint.

See also: Skyscraper thread. You were apparently two places at once and forgot where you were.

That said: I'm not saying to use the entire CIN map. But "Midtown" is a defined neighborhood near SLU, and it's ridiculous to use it with "Clayton" to summarize the entire non-downtown area of the city.

stlmike · PostNov 20, 2007#142007-11-20T20:42+00:00

Ha! I have no idea how that happened.

Okay then. I agree. As long as they aren't being deliberately confusing.

juiceinkirkwood · PostNov 20, 2007#152007-11-20T21:27+00:00

Is Royale Dump downtown still open? Cause it's not listed under "Dinner theater."

stlgasm · PostNov 20, 2007#162007-11-20T22:30+00:00

I emailed my friend at the CVC with my criticisms, and she forwarded it to the marketing dept. Hopefully they'll fix it.

quincunx · PostSep 18, 2025#172025-09-18T16:59+00:00

Stl Mag - Explore St. Louis CEO says targeting 6 new markets produced big gains this summer

Hotels were full this summer in part because Explore St. Louis consciously set out to target six markets that were a little further away from where they’d previously advertised, but had affordable, direct flights: Denver, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. (They continued to seek visitors from what they consider the region’s core markets of Chicago, Memphis, Kansas City, and Indianapolis.)

https://www.stlmag.com/business/explore ... s-tourism/

dbInSouthCity · PostSep 18, 2025#182025-09-18T17:12+00:00

I met with Brad Dean recently, he’s the real deal and will be significantly better than Kitty was.