Surf to Princeton? On Chamber Website, Princeton Is as Far Away as a Mousepad

Matthew Hersh

If you're a business looking to book a convention in the Princeton region, you're either going to find an events planner to do the tedious footwork or log on to the myriad websites that could take you a hundred different destinations.

But ideally, you would quickly access a comprehensive database that could help you cater to your needs.

Last month the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce did something that was most likely a long time coming and removed the middle man for those planning a trip to Princeton. The site, launched on February 16, is called the Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau and offers an array of information and planning services for out-of-towners.

However, if you're reading this story, it's likely that you are not from out of town. Well, there's something on the website for you too.

"The goal is truly to be an information resource portal both for people coming to the area – meeting and event planners – who bring people to the area, or residents that live here who are looking for things to do," said Kristin Appelget, president of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Getting the word out on "hidden little gems" ranging from summer concerts at Princeton University to walking tours conducted by the Historical Society of Princeton was part of the impetus in creating such a comprehensive site. "We were trying to open the doors wider to people," Ms. Appelget said.

However, as the bureau is a subsidiary of the chamber, there is obviously an emphasis on "commerce," making Princeton equally accessible to everyone on the web, whether you live on Cherry Hill Road or in Cherry Hill Township.

The website has its origins in an actual convention and visitors bureau that existed within the chamber in the 1990s. That office disbanded in 1998 due to organizational changes and a shift in focus, Ms. Appelget said.

But the chamber quickly came to the realization that there was a demand on the chamber to make readily available information on regional destinations – restaurants, hotels, and the like – through an outlet other than maintaining a regional office location. Regular phone calls, walk-in requests for information were fine, Ms. Appelget said, but those requests were only coming from people who were already in Princeton. The aim of a resurrected bureau would be to widen the scope to attract people to the Princeton area who would otherwise bypass the whole region in the blur of the Penns Neck portion of U.S. 1.

In late summer 2004, the chamber's board of directors, headed up by Herbert Ames, decided to relaunch the bureau, establishing a steering committee of interested chamber member volunteers. That committee, chaired by Lori Rabon, general manager of the Nassau Inn, also includes members of various commercial entities, and marketing and communication representatives. Their goal, Ms. Appelget said, is to spread the word on Princeton.

"It's looked at as a broad-based effort and we know a good part of that effort is getting the story out and so that marketing and communications aspect is very key to the initiative." Any member of the chamber who is in an industry group related to visitors and event planning is encouraged to participate, Ms. Appelget added.

As far as visitors coming to Princeton, or current residents looking for something new to do locally, the website and re-institution of the bureau is not geared to usurp the websites of chamber partners, like the Nassau Inn, but simply to be a "clean, quick conduit" to other area resources.

The website also assists out-of-towners with various forms of public transit. In fact, if you go to the sidebar and click on "Getting Here," you'll see how to access Princeton by auto, bus, train, air, and shuttle. It even gets the unsuspecting newbie acclimated to Princeton's parking situation. But ultimately, the website was launched because Internet is simply the way to do research nowadays, Ms. Appelget said. One would much rather surf Princeton at leisure rather than call "20 different hotels."

"It gives them a much more hands-on experience."

The board's Mr. Ames agreed, saying the website and bureau are simply logical, much needed facilities filling what had been a vacancy.

"Other than the Mercer County Tourism Committee, there really wasn't another convention and visitor's bureau that was taking shape. This seemed like a natural fit for Princeton because they already had a plan in place and just needed to implement it," Mr. Ames said.

It might be difficult to quantify initially what the bureau will do for Princeton's economy, Ms. Appelget said, but she is confident it will be a benefit.

"We know that having a convention and visitor's bureau is a good thing for the travel and leisure economy."

To surf Princeton and beyond, visit http://www.VisitPrinceton.org.