PODCAST 055

How Tourism Marketing Drives Economic Growth in Greater St. Cloud

SUMMARY

In this episode of Behind the Brand, Taylor and Kelly from Moxie Creative sit down with Rachel Thompson, Executive Director of Visit Greater St. Cloud, to explore the broader impact of tourism marketing. The conversation unpacks what a Convention and Visitors Bureau actually does, how destination organizations support business and community growth, and why marketing strategy matters in building a region people want to visit, invest in, and experience. The episode also touches on the importance of digital presence, including the recent Visit Greater St. Cloud website redesign, and how storytelling shapes regional competitiveness.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome to Behind the Brand
00:55 Meet Rachel Thompson
01:29 What a CVB Does
03:16 Rachel’s Tourism Journey
07:10 How Tourism Is Funded
09:17 Who They Market To
10:59 Why Locals Don’t See It
14:36 Helping People Relocate
15:47 Working With Local Businesses
18:08 Using Visitor Data
25:03 What St. Cloud Still Needs
29:42 Children’s Museum Impact
34:41 Events That Bring Visitors
36:00 Tourism Trends Today
40:27 Supporting Local Businesses

Takeaways

  • Tourism marketing supports far more than travel. It contributes to local business success and regional economic growth.

  • Convention and Visitors Bureaus play a strategic role in attracting events, promoting community assets, and shaping destination perception.

  • Strong storytelling and digital strategy help communities compete, grow, and create lasting engagement.

Key Topics Covered:

  • Visit Greater St. Cloud and its role in the region

  • What a Convention and Visitors Bureau does

  • Tourism’s connection to economic growth

  • Event attraction and regional promotion

  • Supporting local businesses through destination marketing

  • Website strategy for visitors and event planners

  • Storytelling as a tool for community branding

  • How digital marketing helps regions compete and grow