About Us

The Mecosta County Visitors Bureau (MCVB) is a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) designed to promote area recreation, events, festivals and all things tourism related in Mecosta County.

The ultimate mission and/or goal of the MCVB is to acquire more overnight stays in our assessment collecting lodging facilities or simply stated, “More Heads in Beds.”

The MCVB is able to reach its marketing goals that is collected by lodging facilities within the assessment district (Mecosta County). This collaborative marketing initiative with the lodging facilities enables them to reach a much broader spectrum of potential and return guests than they would typically be able to do on their own. It also gives the hotels additional resources for the creation of larger and multi-use programs and packages.

Tourism brings many positive economic drivers into a community such as “new money” being brought into the properties from their guests. Although it is great for local businesses to work unilaterally in supporting each other with the exchange of local funds back and forth between businesses, tourism brings “new money” into the community through guests arriving from outside of the area.

This “new money” also creates a great economical boost into the local economy through the trickle down economy effect. Guests are not just staying in the properties but are also utilizing area restaurants, gas stations, bars, shops, attractions and more.

The MCVB provides numerous forms of resources and marketing material that varies (from printed, electronic, in-person and online) to increase awareness of not only great lodging choices but area amenities and attractions as well.

One of these great resources available to guests, visitors and locals is the Mecosta County Welcome Center that was constructed and completed in 2017. This amazing new facility is not only the new home to the MCVB but also provides a large public resource space that includes information for all things Mecosta County: lodging, events, festivals, relocation and more. The facility was awarded with the Pride of the Neighborhood Awarded in 2017 by the City of Big Rapids.

The MCVB also updated their website in 2020 offering endless resources relating to the community, hotels, and things to do. The site’s My Trip feature allows website visitors to keep a rolling list of things that interest them. By clicking the “Heart” icon in the corner of each listing on the site, guests receive a complete record of their interests to follow up with. The new site also showcases the MCVB’s new logo and branding, Explore the Big Rapids Region.

The MCVB truly does take pride in its community by working unilaterally with numerous committees boards, organizations plus local, state and governmental agencies.

Connie Koepke – Executive Director Mecosta County Visitors Bureau