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The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
Travel Promotion Division
The Travel
Promotion Division’s programs are designed to increase awareness of Oklahoma as
a destination while fostering understanding of the economic impact and
importance of the state’s travel and tourism industry.
The
division operates 11 Tourism Information Centers; works with communities, events
and attractions to improve and develop new tourism products; oversees numerous
public relations and information programs; conducts direct sales efforts for the
trade and consumer markets; operates the department’s web site, TravelOK.com;
fulfills information requests for tourism materials and brochures; administers
the multicounty matching funds program; produces the Discover Oklahoma
television program; and coordinates annual spring and fall advertising campaigns
and related cooperative advertising ventures.
Tourism is
a vital economic development tool for
Web Site
TravelOK.com is the state’s official Internet site for
If you wish to be listed free of charge in our database, or
in our Deals and Coupons section, please e-mail us at Update@TravelOK.com.
If you need assistance using the new data engine to update
your listing, or if you don’t have Internet access, please contact Rose Bemo.
Contact:
Rose Bemo, Web Marketing Assistant
(405) 230-8410 or Rose@TravelOK.com
Travel Guide
The annual Oklahoma Travel Guide is the essential publication for travelers to
and within Oklahoma. This guide highlights points of interest all across the
state and includes a directory of things to do, lodging, and restaurants listed
by city. It is distributed to more
than 400,000 prospective travelers.
Your
tourism-related attractions can be listed in this popular publication free of
charge. City listings are sent to
chambers of commerce or convention and visitors bureaus each spring to review
for changes and additions.
Contact:
405-230-8414 or Lindsay@TravelOk.com
Brochure Advertising
The
Oklahoma Travel Guide and other statewide tourism promotional tools are also
excellent advertising vehicles for travel and tourism organizations. Reasonable
rates and a targeted audience promise results for advertisers. The annual deadline for advertising in the
travel guide is April 1.
Contact:
405-230-8414 or Lindsay@TravelOk.com
Co-op Advertising Programs
Travel
and tourism-related businesses can optimize advertising dollars by taking part
in the Tourism Department’s cooperative advertising programs, available through
a variety of media. Program options include magazine publications and a
newspaper insert. Other options are
also made available when possible.
We are encouraging publishers to offer added value with these coop programs,
i.e., a web presence) in addition to the ad space.
Contact: Barbara
Johnston, Ackerman McQueen
405-843-7777 or barbara-johnston@am.com
Tourism Information Centers
Located at various points of entry to the state, as well as in the State Capitol
and two metropolitan areas, Oklahoma’s 12 Tourism Information Centers provide
tourism materials and travel counseling to more than 1.5 million auto travelers
every year. Tourism businesses also may arrange to display their promotional
brochures at the centers. An application and guideline info is included in this
book and on travelok.com.
Contact:
Bill Byer, Jr., Director of Tourism Information Centers
405-478-4637 or BByer@TravelOK.com
Bulk Brochure Orders/Warehouse
The Oklahoma Travel Guide, highway maps, and other OTRD publications are
available in bulk quantities for chambers of commerce, convention and visitors
bureaus and other tourism-related organizations. Although there is no charge for
brochures to these groups, we request every effort be made to pick up materials
at the
Contact:
1-800-652-6552
Speaker’s Bureau
Our Speaker’s Bureau program provides professional tourism
industry speakers as a service to organizations, fostering good civic relations
and further promoting the
We are
also interested in hearing from tourism industry professionals who are available
to speak to key civic and professional groups about the economic importance of
tourism to
Contact: Debra
Shumate, Executive Assistant
405-230-8402 or
Deb@TravelOK.com
Press Releases & Media Relations
Travel Communications and Publications staff regularly prepare worthy news and
feature stories about travel destinations, events and attractions in the state.
Staff members also regularly work with state, national and international news
media interested in tourism and recreation news and information. Please share your story ideas and press
releases with our division so we can take advantage of media opportunities as
they arise.
Contact: Austin
Tackett, Travel Communications Coordinator
405-230-8413 or Austin@TravelOK.com
OklaTravel Newswire
Our staff
will distribute your prepared press release to our extensive media database.
The press releases are also posted to a special page on TravelOk.com where they
are available to the media and the public.
Contact: Austin
Tackett, Travel Communications Coordinator
405-230-8413 or Austin@TravelOK.com
E-Momentum
This
communication tool is a great way to distribute industry news to the
Contact:
405-230-8413 or Austin@TravelOK.com
Radio
Public Service Announcements
Events around the state
are highlighted each week through 60-second taped radio messages. These Travel
Minute segments are professionally produced and available to download on the
TravelOK.com web site.
Contact:
Ron Stahl, Discover
Group and Trade Marketing
Our
group travel staff is
Contact:
405-230-8407 or
Todd@TravelOK.com
Kerry Barrick, Consumer and Trade Marketing Coordinator
405-230-8408 or Kerry@TravelOK.com
Consumer Marketing
Consumers are reached through boat, sport and travel shows, and other consumer
exhibitions in primary and secondary markets. Division staff helps organizations
incorporate travel shows into their marketing programs. Plus, staff maintains
valuable contacts with the American Automobile Association and Canadian
Automobile Association through direct mail and by telephone and Internet.
Multicounty associations, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce
and other organizations can work with division staff to develop their own
consumer marketing programs.
Through
the OklaStrong cooperative program,
tourism organizations can partner with the department to have a presence at
several consumer trade shows throughout the year.
Contact: Charlie
Wallar, Consumer Marketing Coordinator
405-230-8417 or Charlie@TravelOK.com
Authentic Oklahoma (AOK) Product Line
Authentic Oklahoma, or AOK, is a thoughtful line of
distinctive products selected by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.
Many AOK items were created by Oklahomans, while others were chosen because they
represent Oklahoma’s spirit and sense of place. The AOK brand reflects
Oklahoma’s legendary stories, gracious people and epic landscapes and is meant
to inspire people to experience our state for themselves through an Oklahoma
vacation or getaway. Some items are available for wholesale to retailers.
All items are available to purchase.
Contact:
Kerry Barrick, Consumer & Trade Marketing Coordinator
405-230-8408 or Kerry@TravelOK.com
Destination Development
The Destination
Development program’s mission is to work with communities, existing attractions
and other tourism suppliers to expand and enhance tourism products and programs.
Staff assists in locating the best resources for tourism development and in the
role of liaison to local, state and federal agencies. Utilizing
expertise in target marketing, packaging, tourism product assessments and
regional program initiatives, the Destination Development staff is prepared to
assist those who request it.
A
Destination Development Resource Manual is available upon request. This book assists a community or destination
in getting started, planning tourism, assessment and development of product,
market development, group tour planning, packaging, hospitality and
beautification, and provides an extensive resource list.
Special
programming involves Cultural & Heritage program development, database of
potential tourism product and program grantees and an Oklahoma Artisan database.
Staff works
with other state agencies and organizations to support tourism efforts and
coordinates four annual training camps at the OTRD headquarters for interested
industry members.
As an
additional outreach program for tourism product development, several grant
writing workshops are scheduled across the state each year.
Contacts:
Barbie Elder, Destination Development Manager
(405) 230-8409 or Barbie@TravelOK.com
Melyn Johnson, Destination Development Field Representative
(405) 613-8553 or Melyn@TravelOK.com
Sustainable Initiatives/ECO Travel Program
ECO
(Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma) is a dynamic partnership between the
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and the Oklahoma Department of
Environmental Quality. Our mission is to provide a sustainable travel program
that promotes, educates and encourages sustainable travel in Oklahoma. ECO
offers education, certification and marketing support that engages our partners
in sustainable travel practices for a minimal economic investment with maximum
return. Oklahoma has a legacy of conservation, preservation and innovation –
qualities that are fundamental to sustainable travel. ECO has developed a
multi-faceted program to help sustainable travel flourish in Oklahoma. Learn
more at www.travelok.com/eco.
Contact:
405-315-6661 or Jessica@TravelOK.com
Fulfillment Program
Save time and
get your brochure in front of more people through our Fulfillment Program. OTRD
can offer your brochure to thousands of potential visitors through our
Contact:
Charlotte Andrew, Fulfillment Coordinator
405-230-8422 or Charlotte@TravelOK.com
Discover
Integris Discover Oklahoma is dedicated to the promotion of
Contact:
405-230-8431 or Shel@TravelOK.com
Dino Lalli, Producer
405-230-8433 or Dino@TravelOK.com
Our
Our goal
is to stay as familiar and up-to-date with
Contact: Fonda
Bean,
405-230-8419 or Fonda@TravelOk.com
Other OTRD
Resources
Oklahoma
The
Oklahoma Film & Music Office is committed to promoting the state as a desirable,
film-friendly environment for the production of motion pictures, TV shows and
videos. We assist both in-state and
out-of-state companies by providing assistance with locations, equipment, crew,
permits and facts about
The OF&MO
must be able to respond to a location request very quickly or run the risk of
missing out on the opportunity.
Once a location is chosen, OF&MO serves as a liaison between the production
company and the selected community or city and the state to ensure that
everything runs smoothly.
We would
love to enlist you and your community to work with us. The first step is to provide us with
up-to-date digital photos of your community. Some photo ideas are your main
streets, schools, buildings and homes with interesting architecture, local color
(diners, soda fountains, old gas stations) and any nearby tourist attractions.
Please contact us so we can discuss how to maximize your time photographing
locations for our database. We look forward to working with you.
Contacts:
Jill Simpson, Director
405-230-8441 or Jill@OklahomaFilm.org
405-230-8446 or Julie@OklahomaFilm.org
800-766-FILM, www.OklahomaFilm.org
State Parks, Resorts & Golf
Contact:
405-230-8476,
kmarek@OklahomaParks.com
Group Sales
State parks also offer industry partners with unique and
memorable meeting venues. We offer groups and organizations flexible terms
and affordable rates for day and overnight workshops, retreats and conferences.
Imagine your meeting attendees experiencing the best of
Contact:
Roberta Helsley, Director of Sales
405-230-8390, sales@oklahomaresorts.com
Federal Grants
The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation
Department administers the Land and Water Conservation Fund Program (LWCF) and
the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).
They are both federal reimbursement-type grant programs.
The LWCF Program, managed through
the National Park Service, encourages conservation of key open spaces, such as
riverfronts, forests, and wetlands and the development of community parks.
Development projects can vary widely: from trails to boating facilities to
nature centers to picnic facilities and from improvement of park landscapes to
development of basketball courts or swimming pools or ball fields. The LWCF provides for a 50 percent federal
share for each project and requires a 50 percent local share.
The RTP Program is managed through
the Federal Highway Administration and funds all types of public use trails and
trail facilities. These include
walking, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian, motorcycle, ATV, and 4-wheel drive
trails. The RTP provides for an 80
percent federal share for each project and requires a 20 percent local share.
State and local government
organizations, Indian Tribes, public schools and Universities are eligible to
apply for these federal funds. The
RTP Program also allows federal land managers and 501 (C) (3) non-profit
organizations to apply. Project
applications and guidelines can be found on our website at www.oklatourism.gov
under Conservation and Planning.
Contact:
405-230-8490 or shenry@oklahomaparks.com
Oklahoma Today Magazine
Oklahoma Today is a general interest consumer magazine, published
continuously by the State of
Oklahoma Today has distinguished itself as one of the finest regional
consumer magazines in the country for its award-winning editorial, design,
printing, and photography. A five-time Magazine of the Year honoree by the
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA), Oklahoma Today has also received the coveted national EDDY, OZZIE,
MAGGIE, and Wilbur awards. On a regional level, Oklahoma Today has received numerous ADDY, GRAPHEX, Katie, and SPJ
awards in multiple categories.
Contacts:
Joan Henderson, Publisher
405-230-8450 or Joan@OklahomaToday.com
Louisa McCune-Elmore, Editor in Chief
405-230-8450 or mccune@OklahomaToday.com
Brian Brown, Advertising Director
405-230-8450 or Brian@OklahomaToday.com
Colleen McIntyre, Production Manager
405-230-8450 or Colleen@OklahomaToday.com
