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The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
Travel & Tourism Division Tourism is Big Business in Oklahoma!

As the marketing and promotions arm of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Travel and Tourism Division’s programs are designed to increase awareness of Oklahoma as a destination, while fostering understanding of the economic impact and importance of the state’s travel and tourism industry. The division operates 12 Tourism Information Centers; works with communities, events and attractions to improve and develop new tourism products; oversees numerous public relations and information programs; operates the department’s web site, TravelOK.com; coordinates annual spring and fall advertising campaigns and related cooperative advertising ventures.

Tourism is a vital economic development tool, and we are committed to providing assistance and maintaining productive partnerships with communities, tourism organizations and businesses throughout the state. Following is a list of programs and services we offer.

Web Site
TravelOK.com is the state’s official site for Oklahoma travel and tourism information. Statewide attractions, events, accommodations and restaurant properties are included on the site, as well as special pages devoted to the media, group travel professionals and tourism industry members. Special offers, coupons and discount packages to Oklahoma destinations are also posted on the site. If you wish to be listed free of charge in our database, or on our Special Offers page, please contact us at Update@TravelOK.com.

We encourage you to visit our site regularly to review your listing. If you will let us know when changes are needed, we can assure that your most up-to-date information is listed.

Contact: (405) 230-8412 or Update@TravelOK.com

Calendar of Events
In addition to the web site, information about Oklahoma events that are open to the public can be found in the statewide annual Events Guide. This publication is printed each fall and includes events for the current year in addition to events for the entire upcoming calendar year.

Submission forms are available to event organizers who wish to be included. Event forms are distributed in February to gather information for the following year’s Events Guide. To ensure that your event is included in this publication, please submit your information by the last business day in March. However, event information on TravelOK.com is continually added and updated throughout the year, so please let us know as soon as possible if dates or major elements of your event change.
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Contact: (405) 230-8412 or Update@TravelOK.com

Travel Guide
The annual Oklahoma Travel Guide is the essential publication for travelers to and within Oklahoma. This guide highlights points of interest all across the state and includes a directory of things to do, lodging, and restaurants listed by city. It is distributed to more than 400,000 people interested in traveling in Oklahoma.

Your tourism-related attractions can be listed in this popular publication free of charge. Listings are sent to chambers of commerce or convention and visitors bureaus each spring to review for changes and additions. You can submit your information for the Travel Guide by contacting us in writing. Please call for deadline information.


Contact: Dacia Abel, Publications Coordinator
                 (405) 230-8414 or Dacia@TravelOK.com

Brochure Advertising
The Oklahoma Travel Guide and other statewide tourism promotional tools are also an excellent advertising vehicle for travel and tourism organizations. Reasonable rates and a specifically-targeted audience promise results for advertisers.

Contact: Dacia Abel, Publications Coordinator
                 (405) 230-8414 or Dacia@TravelOK.com

Co-op Advertising Programs
Travel and tourism-related businesses can optimize advertising dollars by taking part in the Tourism Department’s cooperative advertising programs, available through a variety of media. Program options include magazine, newspaper and outdoor, as well as trade publications. Other options are also made available when possible.

Contact: Barbara Johnston, Ackerman McQueen Advertising
                405-843-7777 or barbara-johnston@am.com

Tourism Information Centers
Located at various points of entry to the state, plus the State Capitol, Oklahoma’s 12 Tourism Information Centers provide tourism materials and travel counseling to more than 1.4 million auto travelers every year. Businesses also may arrange to display their own promotional brochures at the centers.

Contact: Jennifer Kalkman, Director of Marketing Operations
                (405) 230-8418 or Jennifer@TravelOK.com

Bulk Brochure Orders/Warehouse
The Oklahoma Travel Guide, highway maps, and other OTRD publications are available in bulk quantities for chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus and other tourism-related organizations. Although there is no charge for brochures to these groups, we request every effort be made to pick up materials at the Oklahoma City distribution warehouse to save taxpayers the expense of freight and postage. Quantities of some brochures are limited and distributed at the tourism department’s discretion.

Contact: 1-800-652-6552

Speaker’s Bureau
Our Speaker’s Bureau provides professional tourism industry speakers as a service to organizations, fostering good civic relations and further promoting the Oklahoma tourism message to the public. Speakers from OTRD are available to discuss a variety of tourism-related topics with your organization.

Contact: Claire Fretwell, Office Assistant
                (405) 230-8429 or Claire@TravelOK.com

Press Releases & Media Relations
Staff journalists regularly pursue worthy news and feature stories about travel destinations, events and attractions in the state. Three to four feature stories each month are published in the Sunday Oklahoman and distributed to news media. Staff members also regularly work with state, national and international news media interested in tourism and recreation news and information. Please share your story ideas and press releases with our division so we can take advantage of media opportunities as they arise.

Contact: Austin Tackett, Public Relations Coordinator
                (405) 230-8413 or Austin@TravelOK.com

Oklahoma Travel Minute Radio Public Service Announcements
Events around the state are highlighted each week through 60-second taped radio messages. These Travel Minute segments are professionally produced and delivered to radio stations throughout Oklahoma and surrounding states. A script version is available to other media outlets.

Contact: Ron Stahl, State Parks Marketing Director
                (405) 230-8391 or Ron.Stahl@OklaTourism.gov

Group Travel Development
Group travel staff is Oklahoma’s link for direct sales and marketing to the travel trade. OTRD is ready to show communities ways to increase their share of tour bus and group travel business in Oklahoma. Communities offering tourism attractions that can accommodate motorcoaches have the opportunity to list these on TravelOK.com. The site includes a special page of information for group travel professionals.

Contact: Todd Stallbaumer, Travel Development Manager
               (405) 230-8407 or Todd@TravelOK.com

Consumer Travel Development
Consumers are reached through boat, sport and travel shows, and other consumer exhibitions in primary and secondary markets. Division staff helps organizations incorporate travel shows into their marketing programs. Plus, staff maintains valuable contacts with the American Automobile Association and Canadian Automobile Association through direct mail and by telephone and Internet. Multi-county associations, chambers of commerce and other organizations can work with division staff to develop their own consumer marketing programs.

Contact: Charlie Wallar, Consumer Travel Coordinator
                (405) 230-8417 or Charlie@TravelOK.com

Destination Development
Our destination development program works with existing attractions and communities to expand and enhance tourism products and programs. Staff helps to locate the best resources for tourism development and serves as a liaison with state and federal agencies.

Contact: Barbie Elder, Destination Development Manager
                (405) 230-8409 or Barbie@TravelOK.com

Multicultural Program
This program emphasizes the development and promotion of Oklahoma’s multi-cultural heritage. Staff members work directly with interested communities and organizations to encourage and assist groups in tourism business development, the improvement and enhancement of historic attractions and marketing and promotion.

Contact: Barbie Elder, Destination Development Manager
                (405) 230-8409 or Barbie@TravelOK.com

Fulfillment Program
Save time and get your brochure in front of more people through our Fulfillment Program. OTRD can offer your brochure to thousands of potential visitors through our Call Center and TravelOK.com – all at your regular postage rate. You supply the brochures, and we will mail them as they are requested along with our own materials. You will receive a monthly invoice as well as reports to use for contacts, research, sales and cost justifications.

Contact: Charlotte Andrew, Fulfillment Coordinator
                (405) 230-8422 or Charlotte@TravelOK.com

Discover Oklahoma Television Show
"Integris Health's Discover Oklahoma" is dedicated to the promotion of Oklahoma Tourism by telling interesting stories about the people, destinations and tourist attractions in our state. This high-quality, entertaining program is broadcast on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on KOTV-Channel 6 in Tulsa, KWTV-NEWS9 in Oklahoma City, and KSWO-Channel 7 in Lawton.

We produce approximately 39 episodes of this half-hour show each year. Our staff is always on the lookout for new places to go and exciting things to do in Oklahoma. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a topic for the show.

Contact: Shel Wagner, Producer
                (405) 230-8433 or DiscoverOklahoma@TravelOK.com

Toll Free Call Center
OTRD’s Call Center is often the first contact for those inquiring about Oklahoma tourism information. Our travel counselors can tell visitors what to see and do, or where to stay or eat. We take the time to pinpoint the customer's interests and tailor our suggestions to the customer's wants and needs. In addition to mailing out free tourism literature upon request, we strive to be the last call anyone wanting Oklahoma tourism information has to make.

Our goal is to stay as familiar and up-to-date with Oklahoma’s tourism products as possible. We invite you to arrange a visit and talk to us about your attraction, event, lodging facility or restaurant.

Contact: Jennifer Kalkman, Director of Marketing Operations
                (405) 230-8418 or Jennifer@TravelOK.com

Oklahoma Film & Music Commission
The Oklahoma Film & Music Office is committed to promoting the state as a desirable, film-friendly environment for producing motion pictures, TV shows and videos. We assist both in-state and out-of-state companies by providing assistance with locations, equipment, crew, permits and facts about Oklahoma and its communities.

The entertainment industry runs at a fast pace. As a result, we must be able to respond to a location request very quickly or else we run the risk of missing out on the opportunity. Once a location is chosen, OF&MO serves as a liaison between the production company and the selected community or city and the state to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

We would love to enlist you and your community to work with us at the Oklahoma Film & Music Office. The first step is to provide us with up-to-date photos of your community (digital shots preferred). Some photo ideas are your main streets, schools, buildings and homes with interesting architecture, local color (diners, soda fountains, old gas stations) and any nearby tourist attractions.

For more information on how you can participate, contact The Oklahoma Film & Music Office:
Contact: Jill Simpson, Director
                Dino Lalli, Film Office Representative
                Julie Porter, Deputy Director
                800/766-FILM (766-3456)


How to Reach Us:

OKLAHOMA TOURISM & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
          TRAVEL AND TOURISM DIVISION
                      HOW TO REACH US

Oklahoma Parks, Resorts & Golf
Oklahoma offers one of the finest, most naturally diverse state park systems in the nation. Our state-operated parks, resorts and golf courses incite travel, preserve natural resources, improve quality of life for all Oklahomans and create employment opportunities.

Fees and green times can be obtained by calling 1-866-602-4653

P.O. Box 52002
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
405-230-8380 / 800-654-8240
www.oklahomaparks.com


Oklahoma Today Magazine
Award-winning Oklahoma Today is the state’s official magazine, published six times each year. Oklahoma Today also publishes an annual Traveler, which focuses on a single travel subject. The magazine is distributed through subscriptions as well as at newsstands around the state and select Barnes & Noble Bookstores across the nation.

P.O. Box 53384
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
405-230-8450
www.oklahomatoday.com
Joan Henderson, Publisher


Research & Development
The Research and Development Division provides statistical research and analysis, and economic development and planning assistance to the Department and to communities throughout the state. This Division also administers federal grant funds for outdoor recreational development. .

15 N. Robinson Ave., Suite 100
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405-230-8475
www.otrd.state.ok.us
Kris Marek, Director