New CVB Director Relishes the Opportunity to Promote the Tri-Valley

By Denise Howe, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

The representative for the Volkswagen car company was looking for good aerial shots for the carmaker's national ad campaigns. Amy Blaschka, the new executive director of the Tri-Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, sent him to the Altamont windmills. When he asked about an interesting business park, she sent him to Hacienda where he worked with representatives of CarrAmerica and PeopleSoft to get the pictures he needed.

It's just part of a busy, interesting day for Amy, on the job for just three months. Amy brings to the CVB a strong background in marketing communications as a branding consultant with a San Francisco company where she traveled extensively to meet with companies such as Coke, General Mills, Nestle, and Lipton.

Becoming a mother 16 months ago, she jumped at the chance to apply for the CVB position, a job she found fascinating, and one with no commute. "Since I grew up in San Ramon, it was icing on the cake to have a chance to market the area where I'm raising my own family.

Amy says that the purpose of the CVB, with 272 members, is to market and promote the Tri-Valley region as a destination for tourists, visitors, and for corporate and business events.

Advancing the growth of member's businesses is an important aspect of the TVCVB. "We have the resources to showcase our members in larger publications, and provide co-op advertising to generate awareness." For members, including hotels, restaurants, wineries, retail and service businesses in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and San Ramon, there is a website with member links and coupons, newsletter, visitors guide with their listing as well as optional advertising.

Members can also attend the bureau's mixers, place their literature in the visitor's center, insert flyers in the newsletter and be included in the calendar of events. "If members need assistance with planning meetings for 10 or more people that need overnight accommodations, we can provide help at no charge."

Amy and her staff attend important trade shows all year. At these specialized shows, they talk with representatives of social, military, educational, religious and fraternal groups, who are looking for places to have conferences and conventions. Amy shows them the value of choosing the Tri-Valley, with its hotels, restaurants, wineries, shopping, mass transit and proximity to San Francisco, to name just a few amenities.

The sports commission, a special visitor's bureau enterprise, was founded a year ago. It brings sports events to the area, including high school events, that will attract the entire family. "We are also being very creative in what we pursue, and with the Olympics possibly coming here maybe in 2112, we hope to bring people out to the Tri-Valley for qualifying events and places to stay and shop. Our location is very easy to get to from the freeways, BART, and Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco airports.

The film commission, yet another CVB venture, strives to bring film makers to the valley for television and movie locations. Amy says that along with many types of brochures and informational material, the TVCVB has a large collection of area photos showing wonderful picturesque places that would be terrific location or background places. When a film company calls, she emails pictures directly to them.

The visitor's bureau serves businesses large and small including, in Hacienda, CarrAmerica, Coldwell Banker, Courtyard by Marriott, Faz Restaurant, Four Points Hotel, Goal Line Productions, Hacienda Owners Association, Sierra Suites, Summerfield Suites, TJKM Transportation, and the Tri-Valley Herald.

The visitor's bureau welcomes new members and will be happy to assist them with planning the hotel accommodations for 10 or more people, and securing meeting rooms and conference locations for 100 or more people. In addition, the visitor's bureau can recommend restaurants, places to visit and things to do for guests.

The Tri-Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau is located at 260 Main Street, Pleasanton. The phone number is (925) 846-8910.

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