About the Tuscarawas County, Ohio Convention & Visitors Bureau

History & Philosophy

The Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), located in New Philadelphia, Ohio, was founded in 1979 by the Tuscarawas County Commissioners as a IRS-designated not-for-profit 501(c) 6 organization to respond to the growing number of visitor requests received in the area. The CVB began as a committee under the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce and money for its budget was received as a contribution from the County Commissioners which was revenue received from the County’s transient lodging tax (“bed tax”), Ohio Revised Code 5739.02(c) that was originally granted to counties and municipalities in 1980. This transient lodging tax was set at 3%, the state maximum for county-wide collections, and has been in effect since the inception date. The lodging tax is assessed to all transient guests at the county’s hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts having more than 10 rooms. The revenue generated is collected by the county auditor and distributed to the CVB on a monthly basis. (Ohio Revised Code 5739.024 and Tuscarawas County Commissioners book dated 6/26/80, Journal number 334, pages 842-854.)

The Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau has been in existence for 30 years, however, it is not eligible for many grants because of its IRS status. Several years ago, the board discussed the possibility of the CVB organizing a separate 501(c)3 organization that would be eligible for these grant dollars. Tuscarawas Valley Heritage, Inc. (TVH), was formed and accepted by the IRS as a non-profit charitable organization in May of 2005. The TVH mission is to educate the public in general about the history, heritage, culture, qualities and traditions of the Tuscarawas Valley including the historical sites within the area; encourage travel and tourism to the area; promote the historical cultural and economic strengths of the area. In addition to local advertising during Christmas, the organization is continuing the “History in a Box” project begun by Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2006-07, and helping to fund field trips for our students to our historical sites through an annual grant program. More information about Tuscarawas Valley Heritage and its programs can be found at www.tuscarawasvalleyheritage.org.

Mission

To promote and maintain Tuscarawas County as the location for meetings, conferences, conventions, displays, exhibits, expositions and shows; to solicit groups and individuals through advertising, sales, contacts, publications of descriptive material, and other means as necessary and expedient to attract them to visit or convene in Tuscarawas County; to develop and
maintain and increased civic interest in Tuscarawas County as a host county; to compile and distribute information concerning any and all assemblages and meetings to be held in Tuscarawas County; and to do all things as are properly within the scope of such a corporation for the welfare of the community.

Vision

Growing tourism by creating superior value for our partners and visitors through extraordinary leadership and service.

CVB Board of Directors

Jim Barkett, President
Barkett Fruit Company, Dover

Anjum Azhar, Vice President
America’s Best Value Inn, Dover

Denise McConnell, Secretary & Treasurer
Ramada Limited, Strasburg

Monte Ball
Kent State University at Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia

Ronald Brodzinski
Retired, New Philadelphia

Angie DeLong
First Federal Community Bank

John Herzig
Toland Herzig Funeral Home/Famous Endings Museum, Dover

Scott Robinson
Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce

n/a
Tuscarawas County Commissioners

Michael Smith
Trax Diner, Dennison

Clayton Weller
Mayor of Sugarcreek

CVB Staff

Dee Grossman, Executive Director – director@traveltusc.com
Tiffany Gerber, Tourism & Group Tour Manager – tgerber@traveltusc.com
Jesse Rothacher, Communications Manager – jrothacher@traveltusc.com
Billy-Jo Willett, Visitor Services Manager – bwillett@traveltusc.com