Each year, tens of thousands of visitors find their way to Boise. They dine in our restaurants, shop at our stores, and ride with our taxi drivers.

Many, of course, come to visit friends and family. But many others come as part of organized groups: business meetings, conventions, sports tournaments, reunions and other events. Why choose Boise? Many reasons, not the least of which is the tireless work of the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau.

This year marks the 30th anniversary for the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVB). The BCVB operates as the city’s de facto marketing arm, working with meeting and event planners from around the country, even around the world, to convince them to bring their groups—and their dollars—to Boise.

It works.

Tourism has grown to a multi-million dollar industry in Boise, spreading out-of-towner spending among hotels, car rental companies, restaurants, florists and more. As an example, more than 1,500 area residents are employed in the Ada county hotel business alone, representing a payroll of more than $26 million, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.

“A lot of the businesses that benefit from tourism don’t think of themselves as being in the travel business,” explains Bureau executive director Bobbie Patterson. “But the truth is tourism is an incredible economic engine for Boise, but it doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work by a lot of people in the community.”

Tourism may be big business now. But it wasn’t always that way.

The seeds of Boise’s tourism industry were first planted way back in 1959 when a group of city leaders pushed to form an auditorium district, a government agency with taxing authority to build and market, among other things, meeting and event centers.  But without continuous leadership, the effort lost momentum and stalled.

Years later, some city leaders still saw the opportunity tourism presented for the city. In response, the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce started its own convention bureau in 1976. With a diminutive budget and a single employee—former stay-at-home mom, Bobbie Patterson—the Chamber’s convention bureau set to work marketing Boise on a shoestring.

“We just scraped together what ever tools we had and figured things out,” Patterson says.

Over the next few years, the bureau added a couple more staff members and continued its work under the direction of the Boise Chamber of Commerce.

By 1982, the possibility of tourism as an economic driver seemed brighter. The 12,000-seat Boise State Pavilion arena was under construction, the Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts was in the works, and interest in building a convention center in downtown Boise was renewed. With this backdrop, and with the prospect of additional funding from the newly formed Idaho Travel Council, a decision was made to spin off the bureau into an independent not-for-profit agency, the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau. After all, city leaders and the auditorium district reasoned, what’s the use in building a convention center if there isn’t a plan to fill it.

The group, supported in part by the auditorium district, moved into its own space across the street from the Chamber of Commerce.

“We had rented what was literally a hallway,” Patterson recalls. “We had nothing but a typewriter and a small houseplant. No pens, no desks, nothing.”

That was April 1, 1982. Today, three decades later, Patterson still leads the effort to sell Boise as a destination from a modest, though clearly an upgrade from their first humble hallway, office in downtown Boise. The shelves in her offices are lined with awards and mementos from her career, including keepsakes honoring her as the first ever woman Chairperson of the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. The plant that she hand-carried from her Chamber office to the first BCVB offices still sits in the corner.

“It was a cold spring day our first day on the job for the Bureau,” she says. “I knew if that plant could survive the trek, we could too.”

The staff, at that time Cindy Scofield, Steve Bly, Kay Hurliman and Patterson set to work. Early that summer, that team was joined by Terry Kopp, who still works at the Bureau, serving as the Director of Sales. Lisa Edens, the current Senior Sales Manager, has been at the Bureau for 22 years.

“We were so naive, but we were determined,” Patterson says. “We knew we needed a brochure and business cards, but we had a very tight budget so we had to be creative.” Their solution? Print a brochure, then use scraps from the printing process to create business cards and notepads.
 
Next the Bureau turned its attention to photography. But without a budget for professional photographers, they realized they’d have to do it themselves. They purchased a $59 Pentax camera and BCVB employee Steve Bly, a former parks department employee in both Washington and Idaho, set to work documenting Boise’s beauty in photos.

Bly, who had never seriously used a camera, took right to it.

“Steve started started taking pictures, thousands of pictures,” Kopp recalls. “He hasn’t stopped since.”

Today Bly is a renowned professional photographer who has twice been named “Photographer of the Year” by The Society of American Travel Writers.

Within a few years, the Boise and Convention and Visitors Bureau was having a measurable impact on the Boise economy.

In the mid-1980s alone, the BCVB was responsible for bringing 3,000 Wally Byam Air Stream trailers—the classic silver-clad RVs—and their 9,500 owners to Boise for a rally, resulting in an estimated $10 million boost to the economy. Other big events followed, including two years of hosting the prestigious National Governors Conference and significant sporting events such as the U.S. Cycling Championships.

The Bureau was on a roll.

“Those early successes helped us realize that our limitations are more in our head than in our pocketbook,” Patterson beams. “They gave us the confidence we needed and inspired our internal motto: if you believe you can bring an event to Boise, you can bring that event to Boise.”

The organization took that motto to heart, leading the charge for the creation of the original River Festival, more RV rallies, and countless corporate meeting and industry conventions. More recently, the BCVB took a lead role in bringing the Society of American Travel Writers, Special Olympics World Winter Games, and the Iron Man 70.3 triathlon to the the Treasure Valley. Taken together, these events have likely generated well in excess of $100 million in the local economy.

There are more than 3,000 convention and visitors bureaus nationwide, according to Patterson. All are competing for the same meeting planner and corporate dollar. A handful of large, iconic cities such as San Francisco, Chicago and Las Vegas, have an advantage for certain types of meetings. But for mid-sized and smaller events, the cost and the cliche-factor of these cities can actually be a turn-off for meeting planners. That’s when they turn to smaller markets like Duluth, Minnesota, Rapid City, Iowa, and, yes, Boise.

To win, the Bureau must identify the types of events best suited to Boise, then reach out to their organizers with a compelling message that incites them to take action. This means building relationships, both locally and with event planners across the country.
 
“Our job is to see Boise as a product,” Patterson says. “Wepromise great experiences and are dependent on everyone else in the community, from TSA agents to hotel clerks, to deliver. We’ve never been disappointed.”

Patterson says the follow-up surveys the Bureau conducts show that 80% to 85% of visitors think they could live in Boise, a sign their experience was positive on a very personal level.

“Visitors come here and feel very welcome, very comfortable,” she says. “ It’s a combination of the friendly nature of Boise residents and the services we provide to make sure they feel important.”

As rewarding as this work is, both personally for the Bureau staff and financially for the city, most of it is done quietly, behind the scenes and with the consistent support of grants from the Idaho Travel Council.

“Everybody occasionally goes to some event for their job or hobby or something,” Patterson, explains. “But nobody ever asks themselves why they are meeting in Albuquerque or Boise or wherever?”

The answer to that question, at least in part, is convention and visitors bureaus. And with 30 years of successfully selling the city of Boise as an event destination, the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau sees much more opportunity ahead.

“The only thing stopping us from bringing even bigger events and dollars to the city are our physical constraints like the number of hotel rooms and convention space,” Patterson says. “As we continue to grow those, the opportunities are endless.”

After all, as the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau team will tell you, if you believe you can bring an event to Boise, you can bring that event to Boise.

PDF of story from July/August edition of SkyWest Magazine, written by Amanda Bjerke: Boise High Desert Hot Spot.
Great descriptions of the Boise Valley and what to look for and do when visiting.

By SEAN ELLIS

Capital Press

SUN VALLEY, Idaho -- The Idaho Potato Commission on Sept. 1 unveiled its plan to bring an iconic Idaho postcard to life by building the world's largest potato and hauling it around the country on a truck.

The tour will officially kick off from the parking lot of Boise State University's Bronco Stadium during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, which is sponsored by the IPC and attracts about two million TV viewers. The giant potato will be shown live on TV by ESPN, which will broadcast the Dec. 17 game.

Idaho Potato Commission Becomes Title Sponsor of Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

New Name for Boise-Based Game Formerly Known as the Humanitarian Bowl

Boise, Idaho – (August 3, 2011) – The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl was unveiled today as the new name for the Humanitarian Bowl which features a top selection from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The nation’s longest-running outdoor cold-weather Bowl, played since 1997, will take place on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. MST at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho and televised on ESPN.

August 2011
MSN.com
By Karen Kefauver
Link to story

Biking is a great way to see a city. It's good exercise, easy on the wallet and good for the environment.

These cities (with populations of 10,000 or more) stand out as some of the best "cycling towns" in the U.S.  Find out why these cities are two-wheeled wonderlands, and discover a route or two from an insider.

A video recap from US Club National Soccer Tournament in Boise, ID,  July 29 - August 1, 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioUN-mqZVGw&list=PL57B73E6435207ABD

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/07/12/1723431/not-spinning-their-wheels.html#ixzz1RumySazKLink here

Themed Hotels in Boise, ID

by Mark Heidelberger, Demand Media in USA TODAY Travel

Racing for the fourth time in Ironman 70. 3 Boise, the 28-year-old Ben Hoffman saw all kinds of improvement and has the $3,000 winner’s check to show for it.

Canadian recovers from illness to win her second Ironman 70.3 Boise

BY NICK JEZIERNY - njezierny@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2011 Idaho Statesman

Published: 06/12/11

Partnership allows Farm Bureau to educate urban youth

By SEAN ELLIS

Capital Press

BOISE -- Farmers in Idaho's largest urban area are using the Boise zoo to educate people about agriculture.

Click here for article

Ada County Farm Bureau is the main sponsor of Zoo Boise's Zoo Farm, which includes a petting and feeding area that features about 20 goats and sheep.

Spring is the perfect time to explore the desert in Idaho and Oregon. Just make sure you plan ahead and do your homework.  Some very sage advice about traveling southern Idaho's back country from an experienced source.  Don't even THINK about heading out into the desert for the first time with the family  before you read this STORY AND PHOTOS BY PETE ZIMOWSKY  - pzimowsky@idahostatesman.com
Copyright: © 2011 Idaho Statesman
Published: 04/21/11

From Andy Perdue and Eric Degerman, the editors of Wine Press Northwest for the Idaho Statesman 4/20/2011.

Northwest Travel Article

Boise whitewater park gets key gift from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation Another large donation from the Albertson Foundation means construction can start this fall. BY CYNTHIA SEWELL - cmsewell@idahostatesman.com Copyright: © 2011 Idaho Statesman Published: 04/06/11

So Stay Out Of The River!  Its cold and fast!  Wait till summer, Please!

High water forces Greenbelt closure in Southeast Boise
By Cynthia Sewell - csewell@idahostatesman.com Published: 04/06/11

I just couldn't resist this story from Capital Press;  no direct Boise connection... Comes with film!

By VERONIKA OLEKSYN

Associated Press

LAUFEN, Germany (AP) -- When Regina Mayer's parents dashed her hopes of getting a horse, the resourceful 15-year-old didn't sit in her room and sulk. Instead, she turned to a cow called Luna to make her riding dreams come true.

The fashion capital of Idaho

In a city known more for hiking trails than fashion runways, photographer Thomas Lea scours the streets for style.

"It's a fairly remote place, way out in the west," he said. "But people in Boise have great taste."

Farmers place hope in Whole Foods

Idaho organic growers currently sell most of their products outside the state

By DAVE WILKINS

Capital Press

Organic farmers in Idaho hope construction of the state's first Whole Foods store (in Boise) will boost the market for locally produced organic and natural foods.

PRESS RELEASE:

March 25, 2011, Boise, Idaho:  Wine Press Northwest, a quarterly consumer magazine featuring the wines of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho, has just named Fraser Vineyard the 2011 Idaho Winery of the Year.  A small-production estate vineyard located in the Snake River Valley, Fraser Vineyard was started just eight years ago by winemaker Bill Fraser and his wife Bev.  Since their first wine was released in 2005 they've garnered an impressive list of awards culminating in this top award of Idaho Winery of the Year.

"My wife and I planted the vineyard in 2003 and did all the work ourselves, including the trellising, the drip irrigation and the 4,000 post-holes", said Bill Fraser, who was a successful building contractor for many years before retiring to do what most people only dream of --- start a winery from scratch.   "It's pretty nerve-racking when you think about it.  You spend three years just to get your first real crop.  It goes into barrels for two years, then you bottle it and say to yourself 'Geez, I hope someone is going to buy this'."

Consumers have been doing more than just buy it.  With total production of just 1000 cases per year, Fraser Vineyard wines are highly sought-after and sell out quickly.  Their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon was voted Best Red, Best in Show and received a unanimous Double Gold medal at the 2010 Idaho Wine competition.  The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Malbec, both yet to be released, earned gold medals in the same competition. Last spring Wine Press Northwest's tasting panel awarded an "Outstanding" to the '08 Cabernet, '07 Cabernet, '08 Randonee and an "Excellent" to the '07 Couloir Cuvee, placing it in their Best Buy category (it retails for a mere $14.00). Their most recent entry, the 2009 Malbec just received an "Outstanding".

It's Bill Fraser's focused dedication to his craft, and, most important - customer appreciation  -- that earned Fraser Vineyard this latest accolade.  Fraser Vineyard is Boise's first winery with a five acre estate vineyard in the Snake River Valley Appellation selected for its steep south-facing slope, 2,700 foot elevation and abundant Idaho sunshine.  The vineyard is comprised of three Bordeaux varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.   Spring 2011 will mark the release of their first Petite Sirah and new 2010 Viognier.   Customers can sample the wines at their downtown Boise tasting room and are featured at many restaurants and wine shops including Angell's, Boise Co-op Wine Shop, Bittercreek, Cottonwood Grill, Grape Escape, Red Feather, and the Ketchum Grill.

 

For more information contact Bill Fraser at 1004 S. La Pointe, Boise, ID  208-345-9607,  e-mail fraser@fraservineyard.com or visit the website at http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=pkiquldab&et=1104955629591&s=1088&e=001akLm3G6355kJQU74mISSt91Zfbhu7Rb9ghIygHRjetOPwIM3EOEr-mUqsS5ld65EtTzmY_tZV5sO0gYuAQRA-_X8Yo4lPkcTlJwlQ8SnijZcQtZ-zDsFidgifkz9Asc_.

###
Note from Bev:
Spring Release is set for Saturday, March 26, from noon to 5PM at the Boise winery location. We will be tasting the new release of our 2009 Petite Sirah, 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010 Viognier and a barrel tasting of our new blend of 2008 Randonee Red. Hope to see there!!!!!

In the MSNBC / KTVB reports on Men's Health magazine's determination that Boise is #20 of the Top 20 Most Socially Networked US Cities  ...

Boise local literary education hero Laura Stavoe (The Cabin) wrote a piece about urban Boise appearing in March 2011 in Sunset Magazine with photos by Andrea Gomez Romero but it is only available in the print edition (pgs 28 & 30);  no link on Sunset website I could find.

2.6 million-acre Boise National Forest is right outside the Boise local Gina Knudson's door.  She bikes, hikes, floats, drives, rides horseback, XC-skis, snowboards, picnics, soaks, camps through a part of it and gives visitors a terrific overview of just how much fun you can have in our backyard. Horizon Air Magazine March 2011  pages 32-40.  Photos by Boise photographers for Idaho Stock Images Jay Krajic, William Mullins, Tobin Rodgers, Chad Case.

Gotta love the "before and after" pictures accompanying this New York Times story on Massachusetts mobster's 20-year sojourn in small Southwest Idaho town.

  Boise State one of 20 BICYCLE-FRIENDLY UNIVERSITIESNationwide in new League of American Bicyclists Program.  No hills on this campus. 

 BSU Cheerleaders win National Title

American Institute of Architects Design Matters report on Idaho State Capitol Restoration completed in 2010.

The Western Governors' Association will hold an Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit in Boise, Idaho March 16 -17 to discuss successful efficiency programs industries have implemented throughout the West and the role states can play in assisting industries achieve even greater gains.

Wherever you travel in Idaho you'll find spectacular scenery and abundant recreational opportunities.  4 minute video of Scenic Idaho by Region.  Hells Canyon, Priest Lake, McCall, Salmon River, and many more of the beautiful places Idaho has to offer.

Boise's Park 'n Fly Specials include Free Parking! InIdaho.com packages with Boise Airport Hotels

2011 Boise State University Football Schedule

Outside Magazine, in its August issue, named Boise, Idaho the winner for best overall town in the West.  The article talks about the city, its great recreational opportunities and the popular Northend Neighborhood.   Read the full article here. 

One of America’s most celebrated publications is celebrating Boise a vacation destination, naming it one of the most underrated cities in the West.
 
Featured along side other great cities such as Honolulu, Portland and Flagstaff, Boise gets credit for its vibrant downtown, Greenbelt riverside walking/biking path, and nearby wine country.
 
The list was compiled by Sunset Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Katie Tamony ,who describes Boise as “…like Denver, but smaller and easier to get around.”

Read more here.

This Mother Nature Network Destination of the Week story tells you how to eat, sleep, walk, see, float and go green in Boise.

Read the full article here.

Read eHow contributor Krista Sheehan's three suggestions for great sushi near downtown Boise.

Learn more here. 

Rally car racing in Idaho?! You bet.

On July 16-17, 2010 driver and co-driver teams in 40 cars will be competing for Idaho’s Rally Crown. The two competitive days will be jam packed and should deliver an unforgettable experience. The Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau will help to host Stage Control Crews and other key players in the event structure to further help to lift the overall quality of the rally.

The Idaho Rally is becoming one of the longest stage rallies in North America with over 150 stage miles of world class dirt roads.

This year, the headquarters for the event will be in Boise,  where Expo Idaho will serve both as the main service area and provide a spectator-friendly venue for a new super special stage.

Learn more here.

Get a jump start on spring at the 7th annual Easter EGGstravaganza at Zoo Boise on March 27th from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Join the Easter Bunny for fun activities including Egg Scrambles, photo ops, face painting, Easter Egg toss, Fun Jumps, animal enrichment activities and, of course, the zoo.

Admission is $6.50 for adults, $3.75 for children (4-11), $4.00 for senior (62& over) and free for children (3 & under). Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass holders may enter for free (with pass and photo id) and have a special entrance gate.

Learn more here.

The Ironman 70.3 Boise will rely on more than 1,000 event volunteers to ensure a successful, safe and exciting event.

Click here to find the information you need to get involved.

Gioacchino Rossini’s comic opera Cinderella (La cenerentola) will receive its first professional performances in Boise since 1979 on Friday, Feb. 26 (7:30 pm) and Sunday, Feb. 28 (2:30 pm), 2010, at the Egyptian Theatre.

The opera, last performed in Idaho in 1979 by the touring Western Opera Theater, will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. Ballet Idaho Artistic Director Peter Anastos will make his Opera Idaho directing debut. Boise Baroque and former Opera Idaho and Boise Philharmonic conductor Daniel Stern will conduct. The opera tells the classic fairy tell, but with a twist … there are no glass slippers, rather bracelets, and the fairy godmother is a fairy godfather … but, it all adds up to an uproariously funny opera.

Details here.

Stuck in a meeting, but "need" to know the snow situation at Bogus Basin? Good news! The ski resort (just 40 minutes from Downtown Boise) has rolled a mobile web site.

The mobile site lets you check grooming reports, web cams and event schedules from your iPhone or other mobile device.

See it for yourself here.

After receiving more than 25" of snow in just a matter of days, Bogus Basin, the ski resort just 40 minutes from downtown Boise, is set to open today.

While the entire mountain won't be open just yet, the recent snow fall means there will be plenty of fresh powder. Get out and enjoy it!

The University of Idaho Vandals (7-5) from the Western Athletic Conference and Bowling Green State University Falcons (7-5) from the Mid-American Conference have accepted invitations to compete in the 2009 Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 2:30 p.m. MST in 34,000 seat Bronco Stadium and will be televised nationally on ESPN. It will be the first match-up of the two teams that have turned around their programs. Idaho will be making its first bowl appearance since the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl while Bowling Green will be competing in its second bowl in three years after consecutive berths in 2003 and 2004.

Purchase your tickets to the 2009 Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl by clicking any of the links on the Humanitarian Bowl home page or by calling 208-424-4737.

Read mo

Idaho and potatoes have been conjoined for years.  So much so that their matrimony has become a cliché in our lexicon. The fact that New York restaurants proudly promote Idaho potatoes is not surprising. We do potatoes well and it’s made Idaho famous.
 
Idaho is also known for its wine. I know it sounds like an unlikely pairing much like “anticipated serendipity” but don’t be surprised if and ampersand is added just after “Famous Potatoes.”
 
The reason? Southern Idaho offers ideal growing conditions for vinifera grape varieties due to its high-elevation vineyards, well-drained volcanic ash soils and northerly latitude, which fosters a long growing season. The region’s cold winters allow the vines a restful dormancy, while the warm days and cool nights of summer yield grapes with perfectly balanced sugars and acids.

Idaho is a burgeoning wine region and it just might make us famous.

Looking for a taste all that Boise is? Watch this short video we produced last year featuring popular local musicians.

It's time to start thinking about those Christmas lists, and the Linen Building Sunday Market is the best place to find one-of-a-kind gifts for all of your friends and family. The November Sunday Market runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15.

The Sunday Market creators will be stocked with all sorts of unique, locally-made gifts: arts and crafts, jewelry, food, even handprint art and portrait photography to give Mom and Dad or Grandma and Grandpa a memento they'll cherish for years.