Bring it on!

A press release we just received from the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Convention and Visitors Bureaus says nearly two dozen travel writers, representing such national publications as Time magazine, the Washington Post, USA Today, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, American Craft magazine and O magazine, will arrive Sunday to check out the local scene. They plan to visit the Ark in Ann Arbor and other hot spots. I say: Bring it on! We welcome your reviews and any promotion of the area that will boost the local economy.

Here's the official word:
The Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureaus are pleased to announce the arrival of 22 travel writers to Washtenaw County. These writers will be visiting the area from July 12-15.

During their stay, they will be experiencing the best of what the area has to offer in food and drink, arts and culture, entertainment, and more.

The Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureaus worked with Geiger and Associates, a public relations company specializing in the travel and tourism industry, and several local businesses to arrange this tour. Geiger and Associates has previously conducted press tours in conjunction with the Michigan Tourism Office (Travel Michigan); a 2007 state-wide tour yielded an estimated $500,000 in press coverage promoting travel to the Ann Arbor area alone.

“We are delighted to share our community with these writers, and we look forward to the stories they will produce about their experiences here,” said Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Mary Kerr.

The writers come from across the country and contribute to several local, regional, and national publications, including Time magazine, Washington Post, USA Today, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, American Craft magazine, O magazine, and others.

The writers will visit several area restaurants, The Purple Rose and Performance Network Theaters, The Ark, and several other popular destinations. They will also experience the first day of the Ann Arbor Art Fairs on Wednesday, July 15.

About the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: The Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the economy of the Ann Arbor area and the county of Washtenaw in general, through the promotion of the area as a destination for overnight visitors.