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Benefits & Services
As the largest and most respected business organization in Northern Santa Barbara County, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau stands ready to help your business succeed and prosper. By becoming a member you will be joining a winning team that has many established programs and services specifically designed for, and supported by, our members.
Below you will find many of the benefits of Chamber membership. After you review these programs, you may contact us at (800) 331-3779 for more information or you may go directly to our Online Membership Form to become a member. If you would prefer to fill out a hard copy form, you can obtain that by clicking here.
Business Connections
You will have the opportunity to meet business leaders and influence your community by involving yourself with one or more of the Chamber’s Standing Committees. Take advantage of numerous opportunities to meet potential clients and gain exposure for your business by attending our weekly breakfast club where you can be a presenter and network with other Chamber members. As a member you also have access to sponsorship opportunities and exposure packages, direct mail labels/lists/disks, inclusion in various publications, and much more. For further details, read our full membership packet online here.
Business Visibility
New or relocating Chamber members are offered a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local elected officials and Chamber board members. Pictures of the event are published in the Chamber Challenge, which provides additional exposure for your business.
Referral Network
Each year we receive hundreds of requests for information about our members from prospective customers. Only Chamber members are specifically referred. These referrals are most important because people in the community respect the Chamber’s recommendations and quite often only want to do business with Chamber members.
Business Trade Show
The Chamber holds the largest Business Trade Show between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This popular event offers the opportunity for members to get exposure and promote their services or exhibit their goods to the public.
Governmental Liaison
The Chamber enjoys a strong relationship with our elected officials at all levels of government and regularly contacts our representatives regarding matters of importance to the residents of the region.
Online Newsletter
Only Chamber members can submit articles and participate in advertising opportunities in our online newsletter - www.santamariachambernews.com - members benefit for the limitless exposure available on this website!
Membership Directories
When you become a member, you will be entered in the Membership Directory on the Chamber web site with all the important information about your company. In addition, you will receive a direct link on our web site which receives over 240,000 visitors annually. Included with your membership is an additional listing in the Community Destination Guide which is distributed to over 10,000 community members and visitors looking to relocate.
Visitor and Convention Bureau
Additional membership benefits are available through the Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) which is recognized as the official sales and marketing arm for the Santa Maria Valley. You'll gain access to valuable market research, exclusive services and benefits, as well as other valuable marketing opportunities and resources to help you capture a larger share of the visitor dollar.
These include:
Special Projects Grant
This program supports event planners hosting their event in Santa Maria. The purpose of this grant is to maximize the promotion of these events outside of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. The goal is to inspire overnight stays from visitors from our target markets.
Applications are due on the first Friday in May and the first Friday in November. Certain criteria must be met for eligibility and you must be a member in good standing of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce. Only the current application will be accepted, do not use old copies. Late applications cannot be accepted. To receive the current application, contact the Visitor Services Coordinator.
Welcome Bags
Reach out to thousands of meeting delegates and event participants by including your coupons or giveaways in registration bags given to groups of visitors visiting from out-of-town for meetings/conventions and special events or reunions.
Monthly Sales Leads
Visitor inquiry leads along with leads through personal sales efforts to meeting and event planners, group tour planners and travel agents are available monthly to VCB Committee members upon request.
Publicity
Members are able to submit timely or relevant news for consideration in the quarterly enewsletter, Santa Maria Visitor News, distributed to leisure travelers as well as media and members of the travel trade.
VCB Marketing Committee Meetings
Keep abreast of travel trends while gaining firsthand knowledge about Santa Maria’s lucrative visitor market and learn how your business can benefit from increased tourism. Meetings are held every other month at a featured host site. A great opportunity to gain additional visibility among other Bureau members is by hosting a VCB meeting.
Annual Tourism Luncheon
This annual luncheon held in conjunction with National Tourism Month on the second Wednesday each May, is another great member-to-member networking event. May focuses on the importance of tourism. Marketing opportunities include table top displays and giveaways to over 150 members.
Marketing Opportunities
Cooperative marketing and advertising opportunities with the Bureau targeting our various markets: leisure travelers; trade shows and meetings; travel media; travel trade and conventions.
Participation in tradeshows, seminars and familiarization trips. Numerous opportunities are also available to gain visibility through free listings in publications the Bureau produces, such as the Santa Maria Valley Visitor Guide magazine and brochure, the Dining Guide, the Santa Maria Style Barbecue and Wine Country souvenir booklets, and much more.
These are just a few of the myriad benefits designed specifically with our members in mind. Questions? Please call us at (805) 925-2403, ext. 0.
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