1Berkshire Kicks Off 2025 with Winter Marketing

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the Regional Tourism Council (RTC) representing The Berkshires, and the official tourism promoter for the region, 1Berkshire is working on winter-themed marketing campaigns.

These tactics target visitors in New York, Boston, and surrounding New England areas, specifically young professionals, families, and members of the BIPOC community. Promoting the region as a preferred place to visit, play, and stay speaks directly to 1Berkshire's mission: to advance Berkshire County’s economy by advocating for the business community and attracting visitors.

"We have campaigns that run all year long, but our primary focus right now is the shoulder season when our local economy benefits from a boost. We want to share the message that this is a wonderful place to visit in any season, and winter holds its own unique, special appeal. It’s always a great time to explore outdoor recreation, culture, food, and wellness #intheberkshires," said Lindsey Schmid, Senior Vice President of Tourism & Marketing for 1Berkshire.

ski campaign featuring the Berkshires’ ski resorts and other cold weather activities launched in mid-December; this campaign was produced in partnership with other MA RTCs and Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), and is expected to garner 10M impressions for the Berkshires. Also produced in December was 1Berkshire’s Winter Brochure, a piece that is supported by members and highlights many of the ways to enjoy the region December through March. This year’s brochure has seen a 135 percent increase in views over last year, with 2,200 views in December alone. A great tool for all Berkshire businesses to use, it can be linked on websites or included in e-communications to customers, and will help further amplify the message: "Welcome to the Berkshires in winter - we are open for business!"

This past holiday season, 1Berkshire hosted a Storybook Holiday familiarization tour, sending four journalists to iconic Berkshire locations including the Dr. Sax House, Haven, Red Lion Inn, Winterlights at Naumkeag, and the Norman Rockwell Museum. Stories, such as this Instagram reel, continue to roll out and will ultimately garner the Berkshires thousands of PR impressions.

In its role as the destination marketing organization for the Berkshires, 1Berkshire hosts berkshires.org - the region’s #1 travel planning site, which receives 1.2M+ sessions annually and has more than 800K users. 1Berkshire also reaches an average of 3.5M visitors with its e-communications. Combined tourism promotion efforts continue to drive the visitor economy, an important cluster from the Berkshire Blueprint, and the focus on winter marketing means greater visibility for all Berkshire businesses during the shoulder season.


Tags: 1Berkshire,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories