2021 ANNUAL REPORT

Mission

The Mercer County CVB creates economic growth promoting the county as a destination.

Tourism is a tremendous economic driver in Mercer County!

Dear tourism stakeholders and supporters,

As we look back over the past year, we are proud of the tourism community and its role in Mercer County and the rest of southern West Virginia. We gave vacationers a place to call home during uncertain times. This area is a place of adventure but yet evokes a feeling of calm and relaxation, thanks to the wonderful mountains and valleys of Almost Heaven.

It is no surprise that 2021 was a year of recovery for the Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureaus. We learned to move forward, but yet roll with the punches of uncertainty, ranging from a smaller workforce to canceled festivals and events.

However, the bright spots – increased visitation at local and state parks and a record year on the ATV trails – rounded out the year. The CVB accomplished several goals, such as a complete remodel of the website, a summer photo shoot and visitor signage packages. Our 2021 annual report highlights all of these and more.

Thank you to our industry partners who worked tirelessly to restart the tourism engine and made the adjustments needed, such as new safety protocols. The success of tourism would not be possible without our board of directors, the Mercer County Commission, the cities of Bluefield and Princeton and the towns of Athens and Bramwell. Whether it be arts, dining, ATV trails or scenic views, together we offer a destination.

We look forward to 2022.

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2021 Board of Directors

Executive Board

• Josh Cline – President
• Skip Crane – Vice President
• Jeff Disibbio – Secretary
• Tammie Lucas – Treasurer
• Henry Jones- Past President

Board Members

• Julie Hurley – Bluefield Preservation Society
• Tammie Lucas – Community member
• Todd Boggess – ATV Outpost
• Will Lambert – Blueridge Bee Company
• Cindy Kraft – The Vault

Ex-Officio

• Jeff Disibbio – Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias
• Greg Puckett – Mercer County Commission
• Jim Spencer – City of Bluefield
• Dewey Russell – City of Princeton
• Valerie Hendricks – Tourist Information Center, Princeton (WV Parkways)
• John O’Neal – Mercer County Development Authority
• Henry Jones – Henry Jones, CPA

Visit Our About Page

Visit our about page to view upcoming meeting dates, annual reports and other partner resources.

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Four Major Achievements in 2022

1. Newly designed website went live featuring an automatic calendar functionality used to promote community events.
2. Coordinated with Pinnacle Rock State Park and Coal Heritage Authority on newly designed visitor signage projects.
3. 22 new blogs were written to highlight area attractions. This storytelling is crucial in helping potential visitors to understand local attractions and experiences.
4. The Mercer County CVB saw a rebound of revenue, with estimated ATV lodging at $117,897.84 and hotel lodging at $402,706.32—a total revenue of $520,604.16

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200+ Partners

working to create a positive economic impact by increasing tourism spending in Mercer County.

207,793

hotel rooms the Mercer County CVB helped sell in 2021

563

hotel rooms are sold every night in Mercer County.

$19,560

investment by Mercer County CVB in Department of Tourism’s co-op advertising program

$313,000+

spent in advertising and marketing

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Hotel Occupancy Rate

Data from Smith Travel Research

2019	2020	2021
62.3%	41.3%	60.5%

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Campaigns

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Top States Visiting the Website

1. West Virginia – 32,615
2. Virginia – 18,720
3. Pennsylvania – 14,385
4. North Carolina – 11,359
5. Ohio
6. Georgia
7. Florida
8. Maryland
9. Others

Last updated: June 16, 2025