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Dec. 12, 2008

For immediate release

WICHITA, Kan. - The Greater Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau (GWCVB) selected Sullivan Higdon & Sink (SHS), a Wichita-based advertising, marketing and public relations firm, to help develop the bureau's next marketing campaign to promote Wichita as a destination for convention planners and leisure travelers.

"We know that people are still going to travel, even during periods of economic uncertainty," said John Rolfe, GWCVB president and CEO. "We believe it's the right time to create a new marketing campaign to take advantage of that fact and to give Wichita a competitive advantage as the economy improves."

Research will form the basis of the campaign. Opinions of leisure travelers, business travelers and convention planners will be gathered via a variety of research methods, and analyzed to determine how those travelers truly perceive Wichita as a current or potential future destination.

The results of the research will then be used to develop a brand plan and identity for Wichita.

Once the identity has been established, the city will be marketed to travelers through a new branding campaign. Meeting planners nationwide and vacationers within a 250-mile radius will be targeted. The bureau's new identity, research insights and creative elements will be unveiled during the GWCVB's Annual Meeting Feb. 19, 2009. The branding campaign will launch during the first quarter of 2009.

The GWCVB reviewed a number of agencies locally and nationally before selecting SHS to develop the campaign.

"Promoting Wichita will require a multifaceted approach, which is part of what makes this such a desirable relationship for us," said SHS managing partner Tom Bertels. "We're looking forward to helping our city reach its potential as a destination."

About the GWCVB

It is the mission of the GWCVB to market the Greater Wichita Area as a destination, thereby enhancing the economic development of the city, county, region and state. To achieve this mission, the GWCVB focuses on excelling as the marketing, service and economic development agency attracting tourists, conventions and groups to South Central Kansas.

About SHS

SHS has been named Business Marketing Association's agency of the year for 2008, the second time the agency has been recognized for consistently outstanding work done for business-to-business clients. SHS was also ranked as one of the top business-to-business agencies in the nation by BtoB magazine this year. With offices in Wichita, Kansas City and Washington, D.C., the agency is taking care of a client roster that includes Borden Cheese/American Dairy Brands, Cessna Aircraft Company - A Textron Company, Cargill, Pizza Hut, Rolls-Royce North America, American Century Investments, Lycoming - A Textron Company, Cardinal Health, Spirit AeroSystems, Swiss Re, Kansas Health Foundation, INTRUST Bank, ITT Defense and Westar Energy. Take a closer look at SHS at http://www.wehatesheep.com/.