Let’s GO Cedar Rapids

GO. Just two letters. However, those two letters represent the momentum and energy that I have felt in this community since arriving here one year ago to lead the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. It is only fitting, then, that our organization should use those two letters to capture that momentum and share it with the world.

Our destination marketing organization, dedicated to enhancing the local economy by promoting the Cedar Rapids area as the premier destination in the region for travel, tourism and events, will no longer be known as the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

We are now GO Cedar Rapids. But, how do you symbolize energy and momentum in two dimensions? How could we convey what we are all feeling here in this vibrant, dynamic and ever-evolving community?

We started with the most electric green we could find (think sprinter Usain Bolt's shoes). Then we used that color in a script that finishes at the tip of an arrow to show there is no end to where we are headed.

That script GO was then placed on a bridge, ever-present in our community, to create a sense of place. But the bridge is more than a place, the bridge is symbolic of our organization. Our job, like a bridge, is to move people, to connect people to all of our wonderful attractions throughout our destination.

To begin this process, we conducted a thorough research project surveying not only our hotels and visitors, but also our citizens. We found that more than $400,000 is spent on a daily basis on hotels and meals by visitors in our community!

That number does not include any other expenses like shopping, transportation or entertainment. It also does not take into account the visitors that are sleeping on your couch or in your guest room. And that is where you come in.

The study showed that nearly 50 percent of our leisure visitors are coming to visit their friends and relatives - you. We want to help you tell the story of our destination.

As an organization we will be creating new community events and experiences for you to enjoy and, ultimately, share with those friends and relatives. Those efforts began in March with the success of Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week and will continue next week with the launch of Overalls All Over. And we have only just begun.

We hope to inspire you to become tourism advocates for your community.

Brag to your friends. We have a lot to cheer about.

We as a destination have never had a better story to tell. Share it with pride.

Go Cedar Rapids!

' Aaron M. McCreight is president and CEO of GO Cedar Rapids. Comments: aaron@gocedarrapids.com