Although some events are now being postponed because of another spike in positive coronavirus cases throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, the executive director of the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau is optimistic the new year will prove even more plentiful in the number of tourists that visit the region.
Frank O’Brien, who will celebrate 16 years with the CVB tomorrow, believes travelers have learned how to protect themselves during trips, and he knows owners and managers of local attractions have implemented a plethora of precautions to increase confidence.
“We have a feeling people are really wanting to travel and to come to this area again as long as they can do that in a same manner, and I know the people who managed our attractions in this area have been doing a great job doing just that,” he said. “A lot of them have made those precautions in their business models and probably will never go away because of what we have learned about this virus.
“I believe we’re pretty much used to what we have to do to remain safe, and those attractions are doing what they have to do so people will come back,” ‘O’Brien said. “I know the numbers have really increased following the holiday, and that was expected because people are living their lives, but when it comes to tourism and attracting people to this area, they should know that it is very safe to come to visit this area.”
Marketing the Wheeling Area
The Wheeling CVB is funded with tax dollars collected by hotels and motels in Ohio County, and O’Brien and his marketing manager, Olivia Litman, advertise attractions like Oglebay, Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, Heritage Port, and the Wheeling festival season in regional markets like Columbus, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Charleston.
O’Brien and staff don’t stop there, though, because packaging destinations have proved successful, and Marshall and Belmont counties are home to several attractions, as well.
“We’re still working on our marketing plan for this year, but I can tell you that we have come a long way since this pandemic started, and everything was immediately shut down,” the executive director explained. “We’re still dealing with some of the issues that have been prevalent around the world for almost two years now, but I see a very positive future because of how people reacted in 2021.
“That’s why we’re getting excited because we are approaching the deadlines for the end of construction on Interstate 70. We all thought that was going to be a nightmare, but it worked out that the timing of it was perfect because of the virus,” he said. “If there is such a thing as a silver lining to a pandemic, that’s about it. The interstate project was supposed to be a real issue, but Swank (Construction) has done an excellent job.”
At the time when the $215 million Interstate 70 project began in November 2019, O’Brien feared the extensive construction would have a negative impact on tourism in Ohio County. As it turned out, though, the pandemic began in March 2020, and “stay at home” orders were in place throughout the region anyway.
Swank Construction has approximately nine months left before completing the replacement or renovation of 26 bridges and ramps along the 15 miles of I-70 in Ohio County.
“The fact that we’ll have a fantastic interstate for our visitors to take to their destination is definitely something to look forward to, and we are looking forward to our festival season, and for there to be more events at Heritage Port,” O’Brien said. “I know the folks with Roxby Development have been working hard on the McLure Hotel, and that will lead to more and more people staying in downtown, going to the riverfront for entertainment, and spending their dollars at local businesses.
“Now, one thing that did not suffer because of the virus was Oglebay’s Festival of Lights. I know last year they have a tremendous turnout, and from what I have been told, the traffic has been great this year, too. We won’t have those numbers for a bit because the festival does not end until Jan. 9, but it has brought a lot of people to Wheeling,” he continued. “We know what has been happening with tourism throughout the world, but we are planning to go full steam ahead when the warmer weather returns.”
Necessary Vision
When the Ohio County Commission announced in 2017 that a $30-million athletic complex would be constructed at The Highlands, the late Orphy Klempa, Tim McCormick, and current president Randy Wharton were the elected officials that made the decision.
The idea was that such a multi-sport complex would attract travel teams from all over the region and that the extra traffic would increase the amount of brick-and-mortar commerce at the retail development.
The pandemic, of course, delayed its full operation once complete in late 2020, but O’Brien believes those commissioners were 100 percent correct because he has seen the influx in tax collections at the hotels at or new The Highlands.
“The plan for the Highlands Sports Complex, I believe, is coming to fruition, and that’s why I suggest local residents take a look at the tournament schedule for that facility because it’s been a very busy place,” he insisted. “The events at that complex have had an impact, and that means the Ohio County Commission is delivering a positive economic impact for the whole county.
“They are doing a great job up there, and the commissioners should be applauded for having the vision to add to the customer flow at The Highlands, and in many ways, they are doing that through tourism,” O’Brien added. “We have a plan to work with the management at the sports complex so those visitors are aware that there are a lot of things to do in this area while they are visiting for whatever reasons because they want to get a round of golf in or see something they’ve never seen before while they are visiting.”
