Tag: tourism

DISCOVER SOUTHERN INDIANA ANNOUNCES THE EXPANSION OF THE REGIONAL TOURISM BRAND

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD (May 22, 2024) – Discover Southern Indiana is significantly expanding its regional tourism brand for the first time to include Owen County and Perry County.

Discover Southern Indiana is a region-wide tourism brand under the umbrella of Radius Indiana providing an identity to the eight rural counties making up the Radius Indiana region in south-central Indiana (Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington).  Within the eight-county region, visitors can find one-of-a-kind resort experiences, Indiana State Parks, Hoosier National Forest, unique cultural events, culinary delights, a multitude of natural resources including karst, vast caving systems, rivers, and lakes, up-close animal encounters, indoor water parks, prestigious golf courses, and so much more.  Radius established the regional marketing brand in 2018 in recognition of the importance of tourism to the regional economy, where hospitality and tourism provides nearly 2,400 jobs. The addition of Perry and Owen Counties will bring the expanded region’s total visitor spending to $435 million annually, as of 2022.

Discover Southern Indiana rebranded and launched a new website and marketing campaign in Spring 2023 which included increased visibility and engagement on social media platforms, partnerships with county Destination Marketing Organizations and Visit Indiana, and an overall increased awareness of the assets and attractions that make Southern Indiana a unique tourism destination.  Discover Southern Indiana acts as a catalyst to drive regional tourism partnership and cooperation between the counties to strengthen and leverage each county’s marketing efforts by providing support, resources, and opportunities to broaden and expand messaging.

“With the success and momentum Discover Southern Indiana has experienced through the rebranding process it made sense to consider expanding the tourism region to include neighboring counties that fit with the rural profile and abundance of natural resources already included in the region”, said Kristal Painter, Discover Southern Indiana COO.  Owen County to the northwest of the region and Perry County to the southeast of the region have signed on to become members of Discover Southern Indiana officially expanding the tourism region to now include 10 counties in southcentral Indiana.  “The assets and attractions that each county brings to the table will help elevate the regional profile making the expanded Discover Southern Indiana region an enticing destination where you could easily spend several days exploring the abundance of offerings”, said Painter.

Owen County is home to Indiana’s first state park, McCormick’s Creek, and the Cataract Falls State Recreation Area which features the largest waterfall in the state. Over 800,000 visitors each year discover Indiana’s abundant natural resources that show off the ravines, steep cliffs, and hemlock forests that provide adventure in every season.  The outdoor recreation, unique shopping, dining experiences, and events will add to the Discover Southern Indiana portfolio that current and prospective visitors are seeking out.  “Owen County‘s partnership with Discover Southern Indiana will not only take Owen County’s quality of attraction to the next level, but will put it on the map like never before,” said Marce King, CEO of the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corp

Perry County is nestled between the rolling hills of Hoosier National Forest and the banks of the mighty Ohio River, offering visitors nearly 60,000-acres of forest and direct access to the Ohio River Scenic Byway.  Wineries, breweries, pubs, and numerous dining options add to the offerings for romantic getaways in a cabin tucked away in the forest, or a family friendly adventure exploring the outdoors by boat, foot, or horse.  “Perry County joining Discover Southern Indiana is a monumental step forward in showcasing our vibrant community, rich heritage, and stunning natural beauty. This partnership will amplify our local attractions and offer an inviting gateway for tourists to experience the unique charm and warmth that Perry County has to offer,” said Casey Stutsman, Executive Director of the Perry County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

 

For more information about things to do in the Discover Southern Indiana region, click here.

Follow Discover Southern Indiana on social media at @DiscoverSouthernIndiana on Facebook and Instagram.

Discover Southern Indiana launches new branding

Posted on by Radius Indiana

Discover Southern Indiana begins a new era with visual branding reveal, new website, and more

BEDFORD, Ind. (April 5, 2023) — You don’t visit Southern Indiana–you Discover it.

That’s the premise behind the new look and feel for Discover Southern Indiana (DSI), a regional tourism organization aimed at fostering a welcoming visitor experience within an eight-county region of south-central Indiana. First established in 2018, the organization sought a visual identity that would fully represent the broad range of outdoor recreation, food and drink experiences, and cultural significance that are present in the region that includes Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington counties.

“Our goal was to develop a look and feel that could be as resonant to the rolling hills of Spring Mill State Park in Lawrence County as it is to the wineries and culinary experiences around Patoka Lake in Crawford County or the world-class resorts of French Lick West Baden in Orange County,” said Misty Weisensteiner, chief operating officer of Discover Southern Indiana. “We exist to ‘break down’ county lines and help visitors understand just how much there is to do in this area.”

The main logo is reminiscent of an Indiana license plate, encouraging explorers to take a road trip and see what they discover, while other elements of the brand highlight outdoor recreation, food and wine experiences, and more. The elements are tied together with a cohesive, earthy color scheme that evokes the region’s natural landscape and gently curving lines that nod to Southern Indiana’s rolling hills.

These new elements made their debut on DSI’s new and improved website, which launched in March. The website has been reorganized to improve the user experience and make it simpler for viewers to plan a visit uniquely tailored to their specific interests.

Discover Southern Indiana is the tourism arm of Radius Indiana, which supports economic development in Southern Indiana by enhancing awareness of the unique assets in the region and positioning the region competitively for the retention, expansion, and attraction of jobs and investment. DSI’s founding was the result of a collaborative development process that brought together 10 stakeholders from around the region to share their vision for the future of tourism and hospitality for this unique part of the state. Discover Southern Indiana is the only regional tourism brand in the Hoosier state that is overseen by a regional economic development organization–a nod to the importance of quality of life as it relates to the importance of growing the local economy. In 2021, visitors to the region contributed more than $175 million to the local economy, and tourism is now the fifth-largest employer in the Radius region.

“Discover Southern Indiana was born from the conviction and passion of many people who believe that a rising tide lifts all ships. We are confident that when a traveler experiences a taste of what Southern Indiana has to offer, they’ll want to come back again and again, and explore further” said Jeff Quyle, Radius president and CEO. “This new branding conveys both the breadth of experience available here, and the seamless way in which visitors can travel among the counties, painting a true picture of who we are.”

The brand was created by Indianapolis-based marketing agency The Basement, which serves as Discover Southern Indiana’s agency of record for marketing and strategic communications. These brand elements can be seen on Discover Southern Indiana’s newly updated website, its social media platforms, and monthly newsletters.

To sign up for Discover Southern Indiana’s newsletter, visit the website here.

To stay up-to-date on Discover Southern Indiana, follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook.

View Discover Southern Indiana’s new brand here.

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About Discover Southern Indiana: Headquartered in Bedford, IN, Discover Southern Indiana is a regional tourism initiative serving eight counties in south-central Indiana. The initiative invites visitors and prospective residents to discover all the bustling region has to offer, from outdoor adventures, cultural and historical destinations, and world-class experiences. Build your own itinerary to include family-friendly excursions, five-star accommodations, Indiana’s finest State Parks, prestigious golf courses, and much more. You don’t visit Southern Indiana–you Discover it.

Discover Southern Indiana Launches Sweets And Treats Trail

Posted on by Radius Indiana

Discover Southern Indiana – Tourism organization welcomes locals, visitors to participate in this sweet adventure across eight counties

BEDFORD, Ind. (July 21, 2022) — Discover Southern Indiana has launched its new Sweets and Treats
Trail, which invites locals and visitors to check out more than 25 participating businesses across the
region to receive special offers and earn prizes.

Consumers are encouraged to download the free Sweets and Treats Trail mobile passport by visiting
https://discoversouthernindiana.com/sweetsandtreatstrail/ and check-in to as many businesses as
possible. At each location, participants will be given a unique PIN code to enter into the passport and
track their progress. Participants will be eligible to win special prizes after checking in to various locations.
Prizes include a sticker after five check-ins, a branded ice cream scoop after 10 check-ins, and a branded
tote bag after 20 check-ins. Those who make it to all locations on the trail will receive a special treat from
one of the participating trail locations. All prizes will be mailed to winners.

“We have so many local businesses across our eight counties that offer some of the best desserts you
can get your hands on,” said Misty Weisensteiner, Chief Operating Officer of Discover Southern Indiana.
“The Sweets and Treats Trail is a fun way for both visitors and those who have lived in the area for their
entire lives to find a new favorite treat.”

Radius Indiana launched Discover Southern Indiana, making it the first region-wide tourism initiative of its
kind. Tourism is the region’s sixth-largest economic driver. The initiative bolsters the commercial interests
of the region by highlighting the opportunities, attractions and events for visitors traveling to Crawford,
Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Martin, Lawrence, Orange and Washington counties. Discover Southern
Indiana’s Sweets and Treats Trail, originally named the Ice Cream Trail, launched in 2020 and is returning
with even more delectable desserts.

For a full list of trail stops and to download your mobile passport, visit: https://discoversouthernindiana.com/sweetsandtreatstrail/.

About Discover Southern Indiana:
Headquartered in Bedford, IN, Discover Southern Indiana is a regional tourism initiative serving a total of
eight counties. The initiative aims to boost awareness of all that Southern Indiana has to offer, inviting
visitors and prospective residents to explore the charming spirit of the bustling region while indulging in
thrilling world-class experiences. Travelers have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of
family-friendly, one-of-a-kind experiences, including five-star accommodations, Indiana’s finest State
Parks, prestigious golf courses, and much more. Your pleasant surprises await.

Crawford County Tourism and Crawford County Economic Development Receive $22,500 Through Region’s First Cooperative-Advertising Program

Posted on by Radius Indiana

ENGLISH, Ind. (Aug. 17, 2021) — Representatives from Crawford County Tourism, Crawford County Economic Development, Radius Indiana and Discover Southern Indiana will hold a press event Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Crawford County Welcome Center, 5935 S. State Road 66 in English. The group will discuss the county’s participation in a new cooperative advertising program created by the region’s tourism initiative, Discover Southern Indiana, which will provide $22,500 in funding to bolster tourism advertising.

Discover Southern Indiana is a regional tourism brand launched in 2019 by Radius Indiana, the eight-county economic development organization representing Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington counties. Since its inception, Discover Southern Indiana has launched multiple advertising campaigns, outdoor ads and the region’s first Ice Cream Trail, which takes visitors on a 15-stop, region-wide tour of locally owned ice cream shops. Its new cooperative advertising program allows counties to receive matching funds of up to 150 percent to promote local attractions along with Discover Southern Indiana.

“We are delighted to have Crawford County join in our efforts to bring new visitors to our southern Indiana region,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “By working together to showcase our attractions, we are strengthening the tourism industry that is so important to our region, especially in Crawford County. Through the co-op advertising campaign, we will be able to expand our visibility and reach to cities and states and a new audience of visitors.

This program will allow Crawford County to attract more tourists by highlighting and promoting Crawford County’s already existing attractions through mixed media advertising. Tourism is the biggest industry in Crawford County and it is important to utilize tools that will help continue growth in that area. A portion of this contribution will support Discover Southern Indiana’s regional tourism efforts through the purchase of advertising in publications, digital and social media marketing, paid written stories, and sponsorship of regional promotion in travel agent conferences.

“As our economic development has consistently indicated, we will collaborate with any person or organization committed to prosperity in Crawford County,” said Michael Thissen, executive director of the Crawford County Economic Development Partnership. “Our long-term partnership with the Tourism Commission has paved the way for boosting our profile for visitors and potential investors. I am excited for the next steps and am grateful to our regional partner in Radius Indiana for this unique opportunity.”

“We are excited to continue our attempts to strengthen tourism in the county by partnering with Crawford County Economic Development and Radius Indiana to increase advertising and attract people from all over the state of Indiana and beyond,” added Mark Stevens, Crawford County Tourism Board President and County Councilman.

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About Crawford County Tourism: Crawford County, IN is home to Marengo Caves, Cave Country Canoes, Patoka Lake, O’Bannon Woods State Park, Sycamore Springs, and many other popular attractions. For information on Crawford County attractions, events, and lodging, visit crawfordcountyindiana.com or contact us at 812-739-2246 or info@crawfordcountyindiana.com. We Are Outdoor Recreation!

About Radius Indiana: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington. Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana also serves as a point of contact in Indiana for Naval Support Activity Crane and leads regional collaboration by leveraging the diverse assets of the region to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

About Crawford County Economic Development Partnership: The Crawford County Economic Development Partnership (CCEDP) serves Crawford County Indiana to meet business, employment, and quality of place needs. The CCEDP is a collaborative organization to assist businesses, entrepreneurs, employment seekers, and quality of place initiatives to generate increased assessed value for the new generation economy. The CCEDP is committed to growing a prosperous Crawford County… together. Visit selectcrawfordcounty.com for more information or contact us at info@selectcrawfordcounty.com or 812-739-4479.

Discover Southern Indiana, NOW!

Posted on by Radius Indiana

Regional tourism website features hundreds of attractions across eight counties.

 

BEDFORD, Ind. (May 6, 2020) — As the state begins to re-open, Discover Southern Indiana has immediate opportunities for those ready for a change of scenery, while keeping in mind social distancing as we navigate travel and recreation in this post COVID-19 environment.

DiscoverSouthernIndiana.com is up and running to welcome travelers from all over to the Radius region. The region-wide tourism drive is the first of its kind for the area and gives an identity to the opportunities the Radius region has to offer to its visitors.

Natural explorations allow families the opportunity to get outside of the house while still maintaining distance from others. While this is not a complete list of activities, it is meant to serve as a starting guide and more options can be viewed at DiscoverSouthernIndiana.com. We encourage travelers to check with specific attractions for hours/updates before heading out to visit any location.

“Often, when families think about vacation, they think about traveling outside of the state, and we have so much to discover in southern Indiana. The beauty alone of the rolling hills and landscape is enough, but then add on top of that two phenomenal four-star resorts, spas, casino, water park, lakes, state parks, unique lodging, a ranch where you can have hands-on experiences with elephants and giraffes, see bears, sloths, lemurs, not to mention the natural explorations or our trails, woods, and caves. Not all are open at this time, but the closed attractions will re-open as conditions allow,” said Radius Indiana’s Director of Tourism and Quality of Place Blaine Parker.

The website serves as a one-stop-shop for all and any resources that tourists may need to plan a trip to the Radius region. With sections dedicated to food and drinks, events, shopping, sports, art and culture, heritage, and outdoor recreation, the site features a vacation planning tool that allows tourists to plan a trip and offers suggestions on a mileage-based radius to help plan a manageable trip.

Creating Discover Southern Indiana was a regional, collaborative development process. Unifying the tourism initiative across the region allows community leaders and tourism businesses to cost-share practices to more effectively implement the branding because multiple counties are likely to be visited by a single visitor. The communities recognize the need to work together to invite travelers to the Radius region, which includes Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington Counties.

Parker led a team of 10 committee members to create a unified tourism effort for the Radius region. The committee is made up of members of the region’s eight counties, the French Lick Resort, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The Tourism Strategy Team met throughout 2018 to bring the idea of a region-wide joint tourism venture to life. 

The plan continued into 2019 by working with Blueline out of Bloomington to capture photography and videography from each county. Blueline also designed the new site.

In addition to the new website. Discover Southern Indiana has also launched profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to grow a following. The accounts will get behind the scenes looks at attractions across the region to entice tourists to visit the region.  

“Southern Indiana is where you can go to have that once in a lifetime experience without ever crossing the state lines. With everything that’s going on in the world right now, personally, I have been looking at what there is to do close to home, where can I go with my family where I know I can be safe and still have fun, and Discover Southern Indiana has those options,” said Parker.

To learn more about ‘Discover Southern Indiana’, visit www.discoversouthernindiana.com.