The Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) announced it will open a satellite Visitors’ Center on High Street in downtown Morgantown. The center, expected to open in May, will be located inside the Arts Monongahela gallery space at 201 High Street.
“The new satellite office is part of our strategic growth plan,” said Peggy Myers-Smith, GMCVB president and CEO. “The downtown is just one area that draws a number of visitors and we’re set to direct them to all of the fantastic amenities and lodging in Monongalia and Preston counties.”
Kay Fanok, community services manager, will be responsible for managing the new satellite office, assisting visitors, coordinating volunteers, and promoting area hotels, attractions and events. The new center will include an interactive visitor reception area and informational brochures on the area.
The City of Morgantown is committed to the strengthening of downtown so we are thrilled to see this partnership between Arts Mon and the CVB,” said Jennifer Selin, Morgantown mayor and GMCVB board director. “It’s a win for the two organizations, the city and visitors to the area.”
“I am excited to see the growth of the CVB. As we see more hotels opening in the Morgantown area, the Bureau needs to be poised to be able to be ready to assist a larger volume of customers,” said Pete Hornsby, chairman of the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. “The satellite location on High street has been talked about for some time, and I am glad to see that we have found a location we can work out of.”
The GMCVB currently operates two visitors’ centers: Donley Street in the Wharf District, which houses the organization’s administrative offices, and Main Street in Kingwood. The GMCVB owns a mobile information center (MIC) as well.
The greater Morgantown area is a growing tourism destination. Since 2007, several festivals have been added to the region’s calendar of events that draw a significant number of overnight visitors. Today there are more than 360 additional hotel rooms than in 2007; another 376 hotel rooms will be added by 2015. Two major event centers have opened in the past six years as well.
