TMCnet News
Chamber hears about tourism app during Quarterly Luncheon Tuesday [Palestine Herald-Press, Texas :: ](Palestine Herald-Press (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 23--PALESTINE -- Thanks to a new mobile app, "Visit Palestine, TX," tourists and even local residents can take advantage of its information to find places and things to do such as "Eat, Stay, Shop, Events, Art Tracks, Experience and Attractions." City of Palestine Marketing/Visitors Center Manager Breezy Lake-Wolfe discussed the new mobile app and its potential during the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce's Quarterly Luncheon Tuesday at the Ben E. Keith Community Room. "What we did is create an app that is not just for tourists but for the locals. All throughout the year, you can can find out where to go, where to stay, what to do next -- all at your fingertips," Lake-Wolfe said. The free app is available for Android, iPhone and iPad users. The app is called "Visit Palestine TX" in the Apple store and "Palestine Texas" in the Google Play store. "Do you know what's going on this weekend in Palestine?" Lake-Wolfe asked the audience. "Check out the events tab on our app to find out. It's updated every Friday, so there's always new content." Lake-Wolfe encouraged those attending the luncheon to spread the news about the mobile app. Not only does it help locals know what is going on in their own community, but if a tourist or person from out-of-town were to ask what there is to do in Palestine, there's a valuable resource to point them toward. "Have you ever been in a town with a couple of hours to spare and wanted to know what to do? An app like this would help you figure out things you could do," Lake-Wolfe said. Under the "Eat" tab, users can find a list of Palestine area restaurants listed by category, and under the "Stay" tab, users can see a list of hotels, beds and breakfasts and resorts. The "Shop" tab includes a list of stores and antique shops, for example, and the "Experience" tab includes ways to experience Palestine through music, outdoors, and places such as day spas, golf courses, wedding venues and wineries. The "Events" tab has a list of updated events for locals and tourists and the "Art Tracks" tab offers photos, address and information about sculptures placed around town through the Art Tracks program. The "Attractions" tab includes photos and information about tourists attractions such as the Anderson County Courthouse, Anderson County Historic Jail, Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot and more. "Did you know that Palestine is second in the state for its number of historical markers? We are second next to Galveston. Also, our city was recently recognized for having one of the top Main Street programs in the United States," Lake-Wolfe said. Noting Palestine's central location between Dallas and Houston, many visitors end up in Palestine for weddings and other events and are often looking for something to do while staying temporarily in our city. "This app can help them find something to do or somewhere to shop," Lake-Wolfe said. The City of Palestine's marketing department is planning to put up table tents advertising the "Visit Palestine TX" app at local hotels. A large sign advertising the app sits near the entrance of the Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot. According to an article in Forbes magazine, 87 percent of connected devices sales by 2017 will be tablets and smartphones -- calling for a need for businesses -- and city marketing departments, for example -- to have mobile information available for today's technologically-savvy consumers. As president-elect for the Texas Forest Trail Region, a tourism initiative developed by the Texas Historical Commission, Lake-Wolfe said Palestine is "ahead of the game." Tourists have already been sharing Palestine's experience with others through social media, and Lake-Wolfe talked about the importance of communicating with those people and continuing the conversation online. Many use the hashtags #palestineTX and #palestinemainst, for example. "I try to take the time to re-share, respond, re-Tweet and thank them because they took the time to share our experience," Lake-Wolfe said. "They are telling our story through the power of images (discussing photos of dogwoods taken by a tourist and put up and shared on Instagram). They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Palestine is a gold mine for photographers -- the courthouse, our architecture, the train and the landscape." Lake-Wolfe reminded locals to send in their event information that can be added to the "Events" tab of the "Visit Palestine TX" app to the Palestine Visitor Center via email at [email protected] Chamber Executive Director Marc Mitchell reiterated the importance of sharing the app with others. "It's a great resource for folks trying to find a restaurant, hotel or just visiting our town," Mitchell said. "We are very fortunate to have it." Also during the Chamber quarterly luncheon, awards were presented for Business of the Quarter and Ambassador of the Quarter. Texas First Title Company, LLC, owned by local attorney and philanthropist Jackson Hanks, was named the Business of the Quarter for January. Oxbow Bakery & Antiques was named the Business of the Quarter for April. Delilah Malone was named the Ambassador of the Quarter for April. Here is a little information about each person and/or business receiving an award: --Texas First Title Company, LLC -- Jackson Hanks was born in Palestine and graduated from Palestine High School in 1970. He furthered his education at The University of Texas in Austin and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1974. He obtained his law degree from Bates College of Law, University of Houston in 1977 and was admitted into the State Bar of Texas. He returned to Palestine to practice law and is board certified in residential real estate law and farm & ranch real estate law. He also is past president of the Anderson County Bar Association. Realizing that the future of any business is the development of exceptional customer service, Hanks began the dream of Texas First Title Company, LLC, a computerized title plant built on helping its clients to obtain the American dream of owning real property. The company's policy is to treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. Hanks also has served the City of Palestine as mayor from 1989 to 1995. He attended the Palestine Leadership Institute in 1988. He has been past president and board member of the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a former chairman and member of the Texas Area Fund Foundation and is founder of the Blankets & Bears organization. Hanks is a proponent of the Action Fund. Hanks also was given the Road Hand Award from the Texas Department of Transportation in 1991. He was a former member of Caring People of Palestine, Crime Stoppers of Palestine, Texas Municipal League Legislative Policy Committee on Public Safety, Texas Municipal League Resolution Committee, Texas Municipal League Resolution Committee on Public Safety and Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education and past president of the Palestine Library Memorial Inc. He also has worked with the American Cancer Society, the United Way campaign and Associated Charities. --Oxbow Bakery & Antiques -- Oxbow Bakery & Antiques, owned by mother-son duo Becky Wolfe and David Wolfe, opened four years ago, mainly as an antique vendor mall and shop. In order to entice people to come buy antiques, coconut and chocolate pies were offered. Almost overnight, the pies became a hit, and new pies were added on a regular basis. A dozen different pies, brownies and assortment of cakes are now available. The Oxbow has had people eat their pies and visit the bakery from across Texas, other states and countries around the world. Much of their success is owed to Becky Wolfe's parents and David Wolfe's grandparents, J.D. and Eugenia Dorman, and Becky's husband and David's father, Chip Wolfe, who have established many of Palestine's present restaurants (Little Mexico and Chip's Burger Village). --Delilah Malone -- Born in Hugo, Okla., Delilah Malone moved to Palestine at an early age along with her three siblings, David, Donnie and Jack. She lived in the Westwood area and graduated from Westwood High School in 1983. She first worked as manager of Oates Oil Company and then for Palestine Petroleum Products. She is now office and property manager for Security Storage, a position she has filled for more than 19 years. "She has a heart of a servant and shows this daily in her interaction with clients. She sees her work as a ministry, which it is. She knows many people in the Palestine area, but more importantly, she cares about them," a Chamber news release said. "She joined as Ambassador for the Chamber one year ago and loves helping others." Malone previously was named Ambassador of the Quarter in January. ___ (c)2014 the Palestine Herald-Press (Palestine, Texas) Visit the Palestine Herald-Press (Palestine, Texas) at www.palestineherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |