Submitted photo Anne Beardslee, executive director of the Elkins-Randolph County Convention and Visitors Bureau, receives the accreditation plaque from Annette Gavin Bates of the West Virginia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus.

ELKINS — The Elkins-Randolph County Convention and Visitors Bureau has received a three-year accreditation through the state of West Virginia.

“Most people do not understand that CVBs are highly monitored, constantly pursuing professional development and must supply extensive annual and budgetary reports to the state, county and municipalities that provide funding,” said Anne Beardslee, executive director of the CVB.

“We must spend a minimum of 40% of our funding on marketing 50 miles outside of our area. We work closely with the Department of Tourism on cooperative marketing and strategic planning. But most importantly we spend an inordinate amount of time studying travel trends, our market audience and ways to work with the community to attract more travelers.

“It is our responsibility to market Randolph County and our proficiency in accomplishing this task is what the accreditation committee used to determine our eligibility,” Beardslee said.

Through legislation approved by the West Virginia House and Senate in 2022, all Convention and Visitor Bureaus in West Virginia must receive accreditation to be eligible for county and municipal funding.

“Before this bill was passed, the Elkins-Randolph County CVB had already recognized the importance of accreditation as a way to assure they were operating as good stewards of the funds they received, effective marketing partners and devoted to community and professional development,” an Elkins-Randolph County CVB press release stated.

In 2019, shortly after opening the Elkins-Randolph County CVB, the organization received their first three-year accreditation from the West Virginia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus. Since that initial accreditation, the process has become exceedingly comprehensive and lengthy, thus requiring a more extensive report, more stringent requirements and demonstrated professionalism and planned marketing. After completing the most recent application process the CVB was awarded accreditation effective until the end of 2025.

Before the organization can apply for accreditation it must have a welcome center, full-time executive director, a comprehensive marketing plan, be an incorporated non-profit organization, a board of directors with tourism interests and annual reports.

“In addition to the all-encompassing work done for marketing, the Elkins Depot Welcome Center is operated by the CVB,” the press release states. “With the collaboration of volunteers and professionals, the Center greets over 30,000 people each year and provides more than 60,000 brochures to visitors.”

The Center is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days each week.