Visit Santa Barbara is the local tourism agency that promotes the Santa Barbara South Coast as a premier destination. Whether you operate a hotel, attraction, restaurant, retail shop, or visitors service, Visit Santa Barbara is your ticket to more business. Your membership allows for a unique opportunity to collaborate with other businesses in the county. In doing so, your influence multiplies and reaches broader markets.
Benefits Summary
Your membership with Visit Santa Barbara (VSB) is your connection to this $2.2 billion tourism market. As a member of VSB, you’ll have the expertise of our entire marketing, sales, and pr team working for you to promote your products and services to visitors, meeting professionals and travel trade, media, and the film industry.
Web Site & Business Microsite – Your business is included on SantaBarbaraCA.com, Google’s #1 source for travel information in Santa Barbara which is viewed by visitors, meeting planners, and professional tour operators. The website provides a 360-degree user experience for our online guests, supplying all of the necessary travel planning tools needed to research, plan and book their trip to the Santa Barbara South Coast. Our website offers advanced microsite features that provide even more information on your business (photos, maps, social media channels, events, special offers, Trip Advisor reviews, and more) to further promote your business to online travelers.
Member Extranet – Our password-protected Member Extranet gives you complete control over what visitors see about your business on our website and an efficient way for you to upload any promotions and offers under Special Offers. Plus, you have exclusive access to the most current versions of our Membership Directory, a powerful tool for member-to-member networking and business development.
Publications – Visit Santa Barbara produces the Santa Barbara Visitors Magazine. Based on business specialty, members are listed in our annual publication, which has a circulation of 70,000 copies. Distribution is facilitated through visitor inquiry fulfillment, State Welcome Centers, airports in nonstop flight markets, travel professionals, and local distribution sites, including Santa Barbara Airport, Santa Barbara Visitor Center, and meeting and conference attendees.
Referrals – Visit Santa Barbara refers member businesses to meeting and event planners, tour operators, travel writers, residents and local corporations who request products and services.
Cooperative Programs – Exclusive to members, Visit Santa Barbara’s cooperative marketing programs provide maximum reach and exposure to targeted national and international audiences. As a Visit Santa Barbara member, several free and paid marketing programs are at your disposal to help support and enhance your individual marketing activities. From web sponsorships to trade shows and print advertising, there is something to fit every budget. Co-op marketing programs include Advertising (website & newsletters), Publications, Media Relations, Sales, and participation in marketing promotions.
Networking & Events – Make new business contacts at VSB events which are designed to educate the local hospitality industry. Members receive discounted pricing at meetings with a registration fee.
Monthly & Quarterly Newsletters – Information about the local hospitality industry and past, current and future Visit Santa Barbara programming.
National & Local Research Access – Advertising statistics, visitor surveys and conversion studies, monthly occupancy reports and average daily rates.
Promotional Opportunities – Visit Santa Barbara destination marketing programs and international public relations including FAMiliarization tours, travel writers, meeting planners, travel agents and film scouts.
Tradeshow Representation – through Visit Santa Barbara participation in key markets, members get access to meeting and tour & travel buyer contacts made at the Santa Barbara, The American Riviera® booth.
Community – Your affiliation with VSB shows support of the local tourism industry and the importance of your business contribution to local tax revenue.