Ross-chillicothe Convention And Visitors Bureau

What Ross-chillicothe Convention And Visitors Bureau does

The Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau is a 501(c)(6) non-profit destination marketing organization founded in 1982 that promotes tourism to Chillicothe and Ross County, Ohio. It operates two physical visitor centers (230 N Plaza Blvd headquarters and 45 East Main Street with 24-hour brochure lobby access) and serves two principal segments: leisure travelers seeking historical, outdoor, and cultural experiences, and a partner network of local lodging facilities, restaurants, attractions, and retail businesses.

Its core technology consists of the Visit Chillicothe Ohio website — a content platform with events calendar, attraction listings, and dining/lodging directories — and a companion iOS/Android mobile application providing itinerary planning, GPS directions, and proximity notifications. Supporting products include six self-guided walking tour brochures, audio tours, the printed and digital Ross County Visitors Guide, a digital trail guide covering more than 225 miles of scenic trails, and a suite of business partner resources comprising grant programs, brochure assistance (up to $250 per partner), and Hopewell messenger frontline training. The technology stack is conventional web/app infrastructure without disclosed proprietary AI, machine learning, or advanced technical differentiation beyond standard destination marketing platform features.

The organization's business model is non-commercial: visitor services are provided free of charge and the bureau does not generate revenue from consumers. Funding flows from lodging tax revenues administered by Ross County Commissioners, supplemented by an annual investment from the City of Chillicothe. Operations are run by three full-time staff (Executive Director Melody Young, Communication Assistant Gene Betts, Office Manager Christy Simmons) and a 17-member Board of Directors; no private equity, venture capital, or institutional investment is involved. The bureau functions as an economic development catalyst for the local hospitality industry, anchored by flagship attractions including the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (Ohio's only UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama, and Adena Mansion & Gardens.

Name

Ross-chillicothe Convention And Visitors Bureau

Legal name

Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau

Website

https://visitchillicotheohio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau is a 501(c)(6) non-profit destination marketing organization founded in 1982 that promotes tourism to Chillicothe and Ross County, Ohio, serving leisure travelers and a network of local hospitality businesses via its Visit Chillicothe Ohio website, mobile app, visitor centers, and partner support programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chillicothe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Lodging Tax Revenues: Primary funding source from lodging tax revenues generated by lodging facilities in Ross County. These funds are administered by the Ross County Commissioners.
2. City of Chillicothe Investment: Annual investment from the City of Chillicothe supplementing lodging tax revenues for bureau operations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau is a 501(c)(6) non-profit destination marketing organization that promotes tourism in Chillicothe and Ross County, Ohio. It operates the official Visit Chillicothe Ohio website and mobile application as primary visitor information platforms, maintains printed and digital visitor guides, self-guided and audio walking tours, and a digital trail guide covering 225+ miles of trails. The bureau also supports local tourism and hospitality businesses through partner resources, grant programs, brochure assistance, and frontline training programs.

Product overview

The Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau operates as a 501(c)(6) non-profit tourism organization founded in 1982, providing a unified platform of digital and physical services. The core offering consists of the Visit Chillicothe Ohio website and mobile app, which serve as the primary gateway for visitor information including event calendars, attraction listings, dining and lodging directories, and trip planning tools. Supporting services include self-guided and audio walking tours, the official Ross County Visitors Guide (available in print and digital formats), a Digital Trail Guide, and business partner resources including grant programs, brochure assistance, and frontline training for hospitality workers. The organization functions as an economic development driver for the hospitality industry in Ross County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visit Chillicothe Ohio Website The official tourism website for Chillicothe and Ross County, Ohio, serving as the primary digital platform for visitor information, event listings, attraction guides, dining and lodging directories, and trip planning resources.
• Visit Chillicothe Ohio Mobile App Official mobile application for iOS and Android that enables visitors to plan itineraries, discover attractions, access event calendars, find restaurants and shopping, utilize GPS directions, and receive nearby notifications.
• Self-Guided Walking Tours Six self-guided walking tour experiences including Old Second Street, Historic Paint Street, First Capital District, Main Street Churches, Historic Homes, and Cemeteries of Ross County, available as downloadable brochures.
• Audio Tours Audio-based tours covering Ross County attractions, downtown architecture, and historical/spooky narratives about Chillicothe.
• Ross County Visitors Guide Official printed and digital visitor guide featuring attractions, accommodations, dining, events, and trip planning information for Ross County.
• Digital Trail Guide Comprehensive trail guide covering over 225 miles of scenic trails in Ross County for hiking and biking.
• Business Partner Resources Resources for Ross County tourism businesses including grant programs, STR (short-term rental) business guidance, tax forms, brochure assistance, and frontline training.
• Promotional Grant Assistance Program Funding support program for eligible organizations and events promoting tourism in Ross County.
• Frontline Training Program Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks messenger training for front-line hospitality teams to help visitors understand World Heritage site significance.
• Visitor Center Services In-person visitor services including 24-hour brochure access, picnic facilities, short-term RV parking, and trip planning assistance at the Visitor Center.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and flagship.

• Ohio Travel AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level tourism association membership providing networking, industry resources, and collaborative marketing opportunities for Ohio destination marketing organizations.
• Ohio Tourism (State of Ohio)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial state tourism partnership supporting promotion of Ohio destinations and experiences through state marketing initiatives.
• Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (ACVB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational industry association membership providing professional development, best practices, and networking for destination marketing professionals.
• Appalachian OhioregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional partnership supporting tourism promotion across the Appalachian Ohio region, highlighting the unique character and assets of Appalachian communities.
• Hopewell Culture National Historical ParkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship partner attraction featuring Ohio's only UNESCO World Heritage Site - the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks. Joint promotion of ancient earthworks built by early Native Americans.
• Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama / The Scioto SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship cultural attraction presenting the epic life story of legendary Shawnee leader Tecumseh at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre. Often emulated within the outdoor drama industry.
• Adena Mansion & GardensflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric site featuring beautifully restored architecture and sweeping hilltop views of Ohio's early history. Estate of Thomas Worthington, sixth Governor of Ohio.
• Ross County Tourism BusinessescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of lodging facilities, restaurants, retail shops, and attractions receiving complimentary listings in Visitors Guide, website, and mobile app in exchange for tourism promotion partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (NPS): National Park Service site that is the bureau's flagship partner attraction (UNESCO-designated Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks). Not a CVB, but its visitation performance and programming directly drive Ross-Chillicothe CVB's marketing value.
• Ohio. Find It Here. (Ohio Tourism): State-level destination marketing organization for Ohio, and an explicit partner of the Ross-Chillicothe CVB. Comparable in mission (tourism promotion) and content production, but operates at the state level rather than for a single county.
• Simpleview: CRM, website, and mobile-app platform vendor specialized for DMOs and CVBs. Industry-standard technology partner for organizations like the Ross-Chillicothe CVB.

Direct peers

• Visit Marietta, Ohio (Marietta-Washington County CVB): Heritage- and river-tourism-focused Ohio county CVB of comparable size. Closely mirrors Ross-Chillicothe CVB in scope (single county, lodging-tax-funded, history-led marketing).
• Zanesville-Muskingum County CVB: Small Ohio regional CVB of comparable scale and mandate, focused on heritage, outdoor recreation, and small-town tourism promotion in a single county. Highly analogous operating model to Ross-Chillicothe CVB.
• Visit Frankenmuth (Frankenmuth CVB, MI): Small-town U.S. CVB promoting heritage and family tourism with a similar staff scale and lodging-tax-funded non-profit structure. Useful as a small-DMO peer.
• Visit Galena (Jo Daviess County CVB, IL): Mid-size U.S. county-level DMO focused on heritage and outdoor tourism. Comparable single-county mandate, lodging-tax funding, and small staff profile.

Broad incumbents

• Experience Columbus: Official CVB for Columbus, Ohio. Same destination-marketing, lodging-tax-funded non-profit model as Ross-Chillicothe CVB, but operating at a larger metropolitan scale with a much bigger team and budget.
• Destination Cleveland: Destination marketing organization for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Directly comparable as a non-profit CVB funded by lodging taxes, but serves a much larger metro area with broader budgets and staff.
• Visit Dayton (Montgomery County CVB): Ohio-based convention and visitors bureau for Dayton and Montgomery County. Similar 501(c)(6) lodging-tax-funded DMO structure with comparable visitor-services, event-promotion, and partner-network functions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rosschillicothe
• Instagraminstagram.com/visitchillicothe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ross-chillicothe-cvb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ross-chillicothe Convention And Visitors Bureau