August 30, 2010
Hannibal CVB Receives Creative Honors

The Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau along with Poole Advertising and Table 16 Productions has been honored with two prestigious “Telly Awards”. The awards are a national recognition of two projects taken on by the HCVB at the direction of HCVB Executive Director, Beau Hicks. “Over a year ago we decided that it was time for a fresh new video profiling Hannibal and promoting our community. I worked with Sally Poole and Chris Kelley to come up with this continuing series of Hannibal videos, which is unlike anything we have ever had before.” Hicks says that the videos are both about 5 minutes long and are contained on promotional CD’s that the HCVB is now using for national and international promotions.

The videos entitled, “Hannibal Adventure – part one” and “Hannibal Adventure – part two” both received Bronze Telly Awards at the recent awards presentation. Hicks says that copies of the videos will soon be available to watch online or interested parties can stop by and watch them at the HCVB offices. “This was a great partnership of creative minds here in the Tri-State area and I could not be more proud of the end result and the comments we are receiving.” Hicks continued with indications that, “Hannibal Adventures – part three” will soon be in the works.

The Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web. Since 1978, their mission has been to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting, and supporting creativity. The 30th Annual Telly Awards received over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents.

For more information contact Beau J. Hicks at 573-822-6970 or beau@visithannibal.com

August 30, 2010
Haunted Hannibal - History and Mystery in America’s Hometown
by Ken & Lisa Marks

Ken and Lisa Marks have experienced firsthand that Hannibal, Missouri, is indeed haunted. Through historical research and eyewitness accounts, the authors share Hannibal’s colorful stories of unexplainable phenomena, both past and present. Hannibal’s own Mark Twain held a lifelong fascination with paranormal activity after experiencing an uncanny premonition of the death of his brother in 1858. Even skeptics will find it hard to resist the marvelously strange history of the limestone cave made famous in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer where the real-life, macabre Dr. McDowell experimented with his own daughter’s corpse. Stories of the town’s notorious red-light district and Hannibal’s larger than- life lumber barons provide even more spine-tingling evidence of the haunting of America’s Hometown.

Beau Hicks, Executive Director of the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau says he is excited about what the book could do for Hannibal’s tourism industry, “Lisa and Ken are filling up busses every night for mystery and ghost tours of Hannibal and with the fall season just ahead their timing on this book is perfect for Hannibal.” Hicks says the HCVB looks forward to working with the Marks for a book signing and “Haunted Hannibal” event later in the fall season.

Media review copies, high-resolution photographs and interviews available upon request.

Ken and Lisa Marks were born and raised in St. Louis but are now official Hannibalians. Through their company, Historic Hannibal Tours, LLC, they offer guided historic tours and Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tours™. They also own The Gilded Age, an antiques and collectibles boutique in Hannibal’s Main Street Historic District. Lifelong history fanatics, they are members of the Friends of Historic Hannibal and the Marion County Historical Society and are lovingly restoring their 1885 Second Empire home located in the Central Park Historic District in Hannibal. They are committed to historic preservation and are working with other Hannibalians to preserve and protect the precious structures in Mark Twain’s hometown.

For more information, please call Ken and Lisa Marks at (314) 494-2918

June 21, 2010
Hannibal B&B Receives National Recognition

Judy and Norm Reagan have been opening their doors for guests to Hannibal from around the world for over ten years.  Now they are set to welcome even more guest after being featured in the June/July issue of “Country” magazine. 
           
The magazine, which boasts a one million subscriber base, features five full pages on Reagan’s Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast in Hannibal.  Not only do readers learn about Hannibal and the story behind this award-winning B&B, but you’ll find six of Judy’s prized recipes.  Beau Hicks, Executive Director of the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau says this kind of advertising can’t be bought. “This is pure as the driven snow…I think for many locals Reagan’s is an unknown treasure, but to anyone who’s stayed or enjoyed Judy and Norms breakfast…well it’s worth five pages of raving!”  

Reagan’s Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast has previously enjoyed the 2008 honor of being named one of the Top Ten Inns in North America along with numerous accolades from travel journalists around the world.  Hicks says the CVB would like to congratulate the Reagan’s on this honor but points out that with the national exposure it’s really the local economy that benefits.  “I would invite locals to book a get-a-way right here in Hannibal and experience this treasure that we are so lucky to have here in Mark Twain’s hometown.”  Hicks continues, “This is the type of advertising that money just can’t buy and our B&B owners just continue to blow me away with their efforts and results.”

For more information please contact Beau Hicks at 573-822-6970 or
Judy/Norm Reagan at 573-221-0774

 

April 14, 2010
Exclusive Unveiling to Honor Year of Twain

A nationally recognized and acclaimed company will join the celebration of the year 2010 as the “Year of Twain” with an exclusive unveiling in Hannibal, at Picture Perfect gallery & framing, on April 23rd at 5:30 pm. The unveiling event is open to the public and will begin at 5 pm with refreshments and a short program sponsored by the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau and The Hannibal Chamber of Commerce. 

The event will feature speakers and special guests including: Cindy Lovell, Executive Director of the Mark Twain Museum; Beau Hicks, Executive Director of the Hannibal CVB; Terry Sampson, Executive Director of the Hannibal Chamber of Commerce; Richard Garey as Mark Twain Himself; and many others to celebrate another milestone in this year long celebration. 
           
The public is invited to attend and hear the story of how this process evolved into the unveiling that you will participate in at 5:30 pm, on April 23rd at Picture Perfect gallery & framing, 101 North Main Street in Downtown Hannibal. To purchase this collectible, visit The Picture Perfect website.

For more information please contact Beau Hicks (573) 822-6970, or Judy & Ken Barnes
(573) 221-4090

 

April 14, 2010
Hannibal CVB Addresses State Legislators

The Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau is launching their own campaign to try and influence tourism funding for the Missouri Division of Tourism which has been facing the wrath of the Missouri Legislature, as the state’s budget debate continues.  The HCVB plans to launch a billboard effort this Monday and an online effort to try and turn the tide of cuts to the state’s tourism budget, by addressing legislators in a different way.

Beau Hicks, Executive Director of the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau says the effort comes after lobbying efforts seem to be falling short.  “I have made several trips to the capital in recent weeks to visit with Legislators and our tourism lobbyist are working their tails off but they are in a match with hundreds of other lobbyist at the door of each legislator…all singing the same tune.”  Hicks says that “tune” is the cries to not have budgets cut any further, while state tax revenues continue to come in slower than estimated.

Hicks’ says he and others in the industry understand the deep cuts happening at all levels of state government and services but cutting a small budget that returns millions back into the state just doesn’t make sense to him.  Hicks says, “The message is simple, from Branson to Hannibal and St. Joe to Cape Girardeau…tourism equals money and money equals jobs.  Tourism rivals agriculture as the biggest industry in the state of Missouri.  To pull the Division of Tourisms advertising budget is the same as posting a ‘Sorry, We’re Closed’ sign beneath the welcome to Missouri signs at our great state’s borders.”

This campaign comes after numerous attempts to explain that further cuts would hinder the Division of Tourism's ability to market the state; the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee has decided to cut about 5.9 million dollars from the agencies Proposed budget. That is on top of the one million dollars the House of Representatives cut from the governor's recommended Division budget of 20.4 million dollars. The Appropriation Committee's budget blueprint now goes to the full Senate for final consideration. Then the industry is hoping for a revival as the house and senate work over the next weeks to reconcile their differences before a final state budget is put to rest.

Not since 1998 has the General Assembly appropriated this little money for tourism. At that time, the state's cooperative marketing program was funded at a level of $1.6 million.

For more information contact Beau Hicks at (573) 822-6970 or visit http://www.moneedstourism.com/

 

March 18, 2010

Music Festival Expected to Draw Thousands
Tickets on Sale Now

At 6pm, the event kicks off with the first of two gospel and bluegrass greats, The Booth Brothers. This trio has been gracing fans and blessing audiences with their appearances on the Gaither Homecoming tour and their own fairly heavy touring schedule over the last several years. They are known for their high energy and humorous yet touching concerts, but their deepest desire is to show God’s love, grace and forgiveness through the song God has given them to sing. The Booth Brothers’ dedication to the music they love has rewarded them with multiple awards and recognitions. Included among these are Trio of the Year, Male Group of the Year, Best Live Performer of the Year, Song of the Year and various other honors.

Then, straight from the top of the bluegrass and gospel billboard charts comes, The Isaacs. The Isaacs, a multi-award winning family group who began singing 30 years ago, are based out of LaFollette, TN (30 min north of Knoxville). The vocalists are Lily Isaacs, Ben Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs and Rebecca Isaacs Bowman. Playing their own acoustic instruments and joined by other band members, The Isaacs have a unique style that blends tight, family harmony with contemporary acoustic instrumentation that appeals to a variety of audiences.  Their musical influences immerge from all genres of music including bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, and country, contemporary acoustic and southern gospel. They perform frequently at the Grand Ole Opry, are active members on the Gaither Homecoming Videos and Concert Series and travel throughout the year performing internationally. The Isaacs have been honored with over 20 national awards and currently have a CD and singles at the top of billboards Gospel and Bluegrass record sales.

The last performance of the evening will be the The Oak Ridge Boys, return to America’s Hometown for a concert event that will conclude with fireworks over historic Clemens Field. During their career, The Oak Ridge Boys have lent their distinctive harmonies to recordings by a diverse list of artists that includes Paul Simon, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Brenda Lee, Roy Rogers and George Jones. The Oaks have won over 40 awards in their career including two Grammy’s and five ACM awards and have been honored with Lifetime Achievement awards for their contribution to gospel and country music.

Beau Hicks, Executive Director of the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau says he is expecting record crowds for July 3rd, “Everyone will win from this event…the attractions, the Jaycees, Arts in the Park, restaurants and my hotels!” Hicks also is announcing that the National Tom Sawyer Day’s Parade will be held at 10am on July 3rd featuring all four of the music festival acts as special grand marshals. “I could not be more excited for this event and for our community. These are three of the top acts in the country, all here in Hannibal all on the same day…you can’t ask for much more than that,” continued Hicks.

Tickets are on sale now for both shows or all day music passes are available by logging onto www.startickets.com or by calling 573-221-2477 for more information.

For more information contact Beau Hicks @ 573-822-6970 or beau@visithannibal.com
Or Larry Owens larry@casadelocowinery.com

 

March 16, 2010

Hannibal CVB Fights Back Reports…Not Water
“In Hannibal… we don’t say the f---- word”

After meeting with Hannibal’s Historic Downtown merchants, the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau is set to counter a recent “tide” of local media reports about rising waters along the Mississippi River.

In 1993 construction was completed of a state of the art flood protection system for downtown Hannibal Missouri, literally saving its’ downtown from total devastation. That same flood protection withstood a second “hundred year flood” in 2008 when again waters along the Mississippi rose to near historic levels. The “testing” and “withstanding” of this flood protection system, consisting of an earthen levy with strategically placed, removable, flood “gates” has sparked a new level of investment and interest in Hannibal’s downtown district. The system even features a public viewing area that was open for all but a few days in 2008 when the river was at its’ highest, providing visitors from across the world the opportunity to see old man river at his wildest.

However, the problem remains that stories relating to rising river levels that make front page and first segment news stories in local media outlets don’t tell the full story, just the drama of the f---- word. Therefore, the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau is out to set the story straight with a campaign set to disassociate “America’s Hometown” with a certain five letter word. The campaign titled, “In Hannibal…we don’t use the f---- word” came from a line HCVB Executive Director Beau Hicks heard at a recent meeting with downtown merchants. “One of the designers from AVA Goldworks blurted it out and I wrote it down.” Hicks continued, “The idea is to let the media and our potential visitors know that just because a tag line says Hannibal MO, does not mean we are flooded at all.” Hicks says a large part of the problem is the wording used in National Weather Service verbiage on the news service wire and on their website when giving their flood advisories. Hicks a former TV weather anchor says he’s seen what goes into the coverage, “First, it’s the antiquated verbiage that is used by the National Weather Service that sparks the interest, second media loves a bad story that they can milk for a long period and third and probably most the important…Hannibal Missouri is a great dateline to a story.”

As Hannibal continues its’ stepped up efforts to promote 2010 as the “Year of Mark Twain” it would seem that even the mighty Mississippi won’t be allowed to dampen the festivities. “We have huge events planned to mark this special year in history and we are not going to allow some typical spring flooding to hamper our efforts or momentum.” Hicks added, “If you want to see the river that inspired the world’s best known author, we have the best view there is, no matter what the river level!”

All attractions and downtown businesses in Hannibal continued to operate in both 1993 and 2008. For more information on Hannibal Missouri go to www.visithannibal.com

For more information contact:
Beau J Hicks, CTIS
Executive Director Hannibal CVB
Regional Director Missouri Travel Council
573-822-6970 or beau@visithannibal.com

 

March 11, 2010

Hannibal Business Owners,

Here at the HCVB we are always trying to find a way to help you get visitors in your door and for them to spend more and stay longer!  For the last two years we have put together a “Summer Savings Book” and it was a huge hit with our visitors, we had over 55 of your businesses participate.  So, we are going to do it again….this time to cover the entire season and capitalize off of “Twain 2010”!  

Here is the deal…this project will cost the HCVB about $3,500 and all we are asking from you is $30 for your own page in the coupon book…what a deal!  (Additional pages are just $15…so get creative!) These booklets will NOT be sitting on the counters in your stores…that makes no sense.  We will exclusively distribute these books at the HCVB Visitor Center here in Hannibal and will advertise that we are the place to get your “Twain 2010 Savings Book”.  To avoid “hogging” of these booklets that contain a lot of savings…this year we will take a $.50 donation to either The Mark Twain Home’s 2010 campaign or the Hannibal Salvation Army’s “Need knows no season” summer campaign.

All ads and your $30 cash or check MUST be in by April 1st.  There will be no exceptions to this…and you must pay with your ad.  We will take about two weeks to put this together and then bring you one proof for approval.  We are trying to move fast on this project to help you get the most out of potential customers/visitors.  We will print about 3,500 of these savings books and they will all expire November 1st 2010…so you do not need to and cannot put any other expiration date in your ad.

Copy area is 2.5” tall and 6” wide
There will be one color (process blue) on a bright white background. You may design your own ad and e-mail it to me or if you participated last year make changes on ad.

Or fill out the box below and we will design for you & you can e-mail me your logo for your offer belowALL ADS MUST BE IN HCVB & PAID BY April 1, 2010

Business Name________________________________                                   
Address _____________________________________
Phone _________________________________

E-Mail to beau@visithannibal.com
Mail: HCVB Coupon, 505 N. 3rd Hannibal

March 11, 2010
Daylong River Cruises Returning to Hannibal

While the days of watching the Delta Queen roll down the mighty Mississippi may be gone, the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to announce the return of the Celebration Belle. This June, the Celebration Belle Riverboat will be offering day long excursions on the river that inspired Hannibal’s most famous son Mark Twain.

On June 9th and 10th the Celebration Belle Riverboat will be cruising into and out of Hannibal, as this large riverboat of the Quad Cities heads south towards Alton, IL. These eleven-hour cruises include all meals of the day in buffet style dining, numerous activities, live entertainment and narration thru out the day.

Beau Hicks, Executive Director of the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau says that these stops are a great benefit to Hannibal, “On the evening of June 9th there are hundreds of Hannibal hotel rooms booked thanks to the Celebration Belle choosing to dock in Hannibal.” Last year was the last time Hannibal welcomed large riverboats to town, as the Mississippi Queen, American Queen and Delta Queen have all been dry docked after their parent company went under. The Celebration Belle is exempt from some of the issues that plagued other long time riverboats docking in Hannibal as the Belle does not offer overnight accommodations.

“We are lucky to have the Mark Twain Riverboat here in town on a daily basis as these vessels seem to be becoming a thing of the past. Of course we would love to be home to another large scale riverboat like the Celebration Belle on a regular basis, we have the docking facilities ready to take advantage of.” Hicks says the HCVB and the Hannibal Parks Department are always looking for opportunities like this one that will bring more sales tax revenue into town.

Those interested in more information on Celebration Belle Riverboat Cruises can log on to www.celebrationbelle.com or call 1-800-297-0034.

 

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Mark Twain Cave	Boyhood Home	Riverboat	Riverfront