[November 16, 2008]

Chamber, visitors bureau refresh Web sites: More information on living, working, doing business and event planning to be offered

Nov 16, 2008 (The Hutchinson News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Hutchinson Convention/Visitors Bureau have launched redesigned Web sites at www.hutchchamber.com and www.visithutch.com.

The new chamber site features an updated look and expanded information about living, working and doing business in Reno County. The new CVB Web site provides additional access for convention groups and meeting planners.

"The planning for this Web site began in November of 2007, when the chamber board saw the need for the sites to be upgraded," said Dave Kerr, president of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce. "Our goal was to create a user-friendly, attractive and informative 'front door' to our community. I believe that these sites accomplish that goal."

The new chamber Web site brings the previous economic development site, hutchecodevo.com, under the umbrella of hutchchamber.com, by creating a special section titled, "Do Business." The section provides comprehensive information for existing businesses and site selectors considering the community. It also includes a searchable commercial real estate section.

The chamber site also features a "Get Connected" section for chamber members and community businesses and a "Live and Work" section, which provides information for individuals and families who already live here or are looking to move here.

"As we see an increased need of workers in our community, the chamber realizes that many job seekers are looking to the Internet to find information about prospective jobs and communities that interest them," said Holly Schmidt, director of communications/special events for the chamber. "The new Web site provides them a complete tour of what our community has to offer."

The Greater Hutchinson CVB Web site includes a more user-friendly format to better assist visitors as they research travel destination and convention sites, said LeAnn Cox, director of the CVB.

Its "Calendar of Events" is now featured in a scrolling list on the home page. A new feature is the "Latest News" section, which will enable the CVB to make announcements about happenings important to visitors. The virtual visitors' guide, which was created last year for the CVB, is continued on the new site.

Another goal of redesigns was to create Web sites existing staff members can administer.
"This new site can be regularly updated, which has come to be expected in the Internet world," Cox said. "We'll be able to update stories and incorporate new photographs as needed without having to wait for an outside agency."

In early 2009, the chamber and the CVB plan to roll out interactive features, such as a blog and a Members' Only section. The CVB also will introduce a new feature that will provide suggested itineraries for visitors and how they could spend a day in Hutchinson and Reno County.

The agencies worked with Logicmaze Web Design, a local Web development firm, to improve the pages.
In addition to the enhanced features on the chamber and the CVB sites, there are also advertising opportunities. Interested businesses for either site should call the chamber office at 662-3391.

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