At the Clinton County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (CVB) annual meeting Thursday, the tourism director for Ohio preached partnership, pooling resources, putting business heads together and packaging as the best approach in these times for people in the travel-and-visitors industry.

Those in the industry who are successful in collaboration are the ones most likely to be successful in general, Ohio tourism director Amir Eylon said in a 10-minute talk at the Roberts Conference Centre at Interstate 71 and U.S. 68 in Clinton County.

While business travel is “way, way down,” according to Eylon, leisure travel in Ohio has held its own during the Great Recession of 2008-09.

Carrying lighter wallets, people seek good deals in their purchases but that doesn’t necessarily mean buying only things or services that are very cheap, he said. If the seller can add to the value of the thing being sold, then that can make it a good deal, too, Eylon said.

“The biggest thing you can do is package together. It’s about packages. For example, a hotel teaming up with a nearby attraction, or figuring out how a state park experience can be combined with something else,” said Eylon.

One of Ohio’s top five lures is its outdoors, he said. State parks are free resources for visitors, Eylon said, and Clinton County has two “wonderful state parks” in Cowan Lake State Park and Caesar Creek Lake State Park.

“We can all do a better job of collaborating together,” Eylon reiterated.

Five $500 tourism grants were awarded to local entities or events. They are the Ohio Buckeye Draft Horse Association Show, the Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival, the Hometown HoliDazzle illuminated parade and festival, the Quaker Heritage Center of Wilmington College, and the Cowan Lake Region Parks.

The money can be used to market and promote events.

The 2010 Clinton County CVB board president will be Randy Sarvis of Wilmington College, who succeeds Tim Carr of Cowan Lake Region Parks who held the position for two years.

The term is expiring of board member Cindy Camp of Damon’s restaurant. Filling the open position will be Doug DeVilbiss of Donatos restaurant.

The new board vice president is Mark Stokes of Stokes Berry Farm. The new board secretary is Beth Schunk of Hampton Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express, while banker Scott Holmer returns as board treasurer.

Former Wilmington News Journal sports editor and current nursing school student Sarah Clark was introduced. She is building an in-depth local sports venue inventory for the Clinton County CVB. The CVB plans to position the local area as a destination for sporting events.