May 15 Travel Rally Debuts New Mascot, First Annual Golf Guide
and Adventure Montco Brand

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- Today, the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) gathered 200 members and guests at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Montgomery County, Pa., for its annual travel rally. The celebration – part of National Travel & Tourism Week – promoted the numerous attractions and tourism highlights in the region.

The rally coincided with the VFTCB’s second annual Destination Montco Golf Classic and was held in conjunction with the nationwide salute to travel and tourism organized by the U.S. Travel & Tourism Association.

In keeping with the 2017 rally theme established by the U.S. Travel & Tourism Association, Faces of Travel, the VFTCB introduced a new face of travel and tourism for the county: Montgomery “Monty” the Fox. Monty will appear at summer events alongside the board’s kiosk, a travelling mobile visitor center that appears countywide.

“We are so excited to officially introduce Monty the Fox, a new face of tourism in Montgomery County and a crucial new member of our tourism and promotions team,” says Mike Bowman, President & CEO, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board.

“We are also thrilled to debut our First Annual Golf Guide, which highlights the county’s 54 golf courses. Produced in collaboration with Sports Illustrated magazine, it will be distributed to more than 10,000 golfers,” says Bowman.

During the rally, the VFTCB also revealed a new summer TV campaign. It showcases the faces and stories of industry professionals who enable tourism in Montgomery County to thrive. The organization also launched its new Adventure Montco brand.

“Our new ‘We’re Ready’ TV campaign spotlights the variety of attractions to experience in Montgomery County this summer. We are showing what’s new in the county, such as LEGOLAND® Discovery Center in Plymouth Meeting and the ‘Trail of the Jaguar’ exhibit at Elmwood Park Zoo. The spot also invites visitors to other key attractions – as well as our golf, dining and history.

“We are particularly eager to tell our story out of market, especially in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Baltimore and New York,” states Edward Harris, VP of Marketing and Communications, VFTCB.

“We’re also excited to launch Adventure Montco today, which will highlight the numerous action-oriented things to do in Montgomery County. A series of videos will be shared on our social media channels to highlight indoor activities such as iFLY King of Prussia indoor skydiving, Philadelphia Rock Gym and go-kart facilities. We’re also featuring outdoor adventures, of course, that include hiking, biking, horseback riding, hot-air balloon rides, paintball, canoeing and ziplining,” concludes Harris.

Montgomery County Commission Chair Dr. Valerie Arkoosh praised the efforts of the VFTCB in marketing the county. “They are always moving ahead in new and exciting ways,” she complimented.

She also cited healthy statistics related to 2016 visitor-spend data from Tourism Economics, a global consulting firm:

  • $1.5 billion spent in Montgomery County in 2016, a 3.2% increase over 2015
  • Total economic impact attributable to tourism of more than $2.2 billion, an all-time high
  • Tourism industry supports 20,000 jobs in Montgomery County, 2% higher than in 2015
  • Labor income of those jobs is more than $960 million
  • Local, state and federal tax receipts related to the tourism industry are more than $300 million.

Arkoosh also cited several Montgomery County golf courses – including the event’s host, the Philadelphia Cricket Club – for demonstrable progress in the effort to operate in an environmentally friendly manner.

Once the formal program concluded, 160 golfers, the most ever for this event, took to the tees in pursuit of par.

To learn more about Monty the Fox, VFTCB’s new face of tourism, visit: valleyforge.org/monty.

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The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pa., as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 500-plus member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The Board’s award-winning website, valleyforge.org, serves visitors, meeting planners, tour operators and residents, as well as hosts The Pursuit, a nationally recognized blog. The VFTCB oversees a portfolio of brands that include Valley Forge Sports, Montco 360, Destination Montco Weddings, Patriot Trails and Destination Montco Golf. It is also the publisher of the new dining magazine Crave, issued twice yearly.