On Aug. 20, the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce hosted a grand opening of the California Welcome Center. The newest center designated by the California Travel and Tourism Commission, it’s now part of a network of 14 welcome centers located throughout the state.
Held in conjunction with a Truckee Donner Chamber Mixer, the event drew a large crowd. The festivities were held under a state-of-the-art tent provided by Crux Events of Truckee, complete with video screens, circular bar and log furniture.
Benefits of being a CWC include prominent blue freeway signs complete with a recognizable Golden Bear, directing motorists to their location. In addition, smaller ‘trailblazer’ signs appear on local streets to further direct motorists off the freeway to the center. Research indicates that 64 percent of all CWC visitors learn of the location through freeway signage.
Truckee, along with other CWCs, will be promoted through California’s Official State Visitor’s Guide and Travel Planner, which has a global circulation of 500,000 (with an additional 100,000 downloads from visitcalifornia.com). All CWCs are included in an ad on the widely distributed Official State Map and are also featured in various itineraries on the state’s visitor website, which receives an average of 7 million hits each month.
The Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce is partners with the Town of Truckee on the management and operation of the CWC.
‘Truckee is the first and only CWC in the High Sierra region,’ said Lynn Saunders, president/CEO of the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce. ‘We think this is going to be a very popular CWC with our direct and easy access off I-80. It should be a huge asset for Truckee, the North Lake Tahoe and High Sierra region, as well as the entire state.’
Other Chamber members partnering in the evening’s mixer included: the Town of Truckee, Switchback Public Relations + Marketing, Inc. (celebrating their 10-year anniversary), Crux Events, Tahoe TV, JAX At The Tracks, Drooling Dog Bar BBQ and FiftyFifty Brewing Company. Wine tastings were provided by Lone Buffalo Vineyards and Grace Patriot Wines.
Contact the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce at 530-587-8808 or visit truckee.com for further information.
