News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2007

Columbus, OH -- The Ohio Department of Development's Division of Travel and Tourism today unveiled the 2007 Discover Ohio Travel Planner, and the 2007 Spring/Summer Discover Ohio Calendar of Events. Both publications are now available free of charge from DiscoverOhio.com or by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE.

The Discover Ohio Travel Planner is a 172-page, full-color guide to discovering Ohio's multitude of tourism experiences. New in the Discover Ohio Travel Planner this year is a handy pull-out road map of Ohio sponsored by Bob Evans Restaurants. The map includes major roadways, Ohio city driving distances and locations of Bob Evans Restaurants serving the needs of hungry travelers.

The 2007 travel planner also boasts nearly 3,000 listings for Ohio travel attractions, restaurants, recreation facilities, shopping venues and lodging properties ­ almost 1,000 more than the 2006 travel planner. This information makes up the bulk of the planner and is organized in seven geographic regions. For ease of use, each region is color-coded and presents a map of the area covered at the beginning of the section, lodging directory and visitor services.

Additional features of the Discover Ohio Travel Planner include:

- Travel Ohio - Transportation information and important phone numbers and Web sites;
- Ohio Fast Facts - Ohio symbols, firsts and facts;
- Editorial Section - Features Ohio travel experiences in cities, culture & cuisine; history & heritage; sports & recreation and family fun;
- Event Highlights;
- Money-Saving Coupons.

The 68-page, full-color, 2007 Spring/Summer Discover Ohio Calendar of Events contains:

- Indispensable listings of nearly 700 events, festivals, shows, concerts and more taking place between March and August 2007. All listings are color-coded by geographic area and listed in chronological order for ease of use;
- Travel information section including driving distances, airport information, important travel phone numbers and Web sites;
- Schedule of 2007 county and independent fairs;
- And, a listing of Ohio visitor bureaus/chambers of commerce that provide travel information.

In addition to the print versions of the publications, electronic versions are available from DiscoverOhio.com.

The regional listings and event listings for both publications were created with data from the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism's DiscoverOhio.com/Buckeye Database. All Ohio travel entities are invited to submit listings and events, free of charge, to the Buckeye Database to be included in future publications. Information for the Discover Ohio Travel Planner also was supplied by the Ohio Bed & Breakfast Association, the Ohio Campground Owners Association, the Ohio Golf Course Owners Association, the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, the Ohio Restaurant Association, and the Ohio Wine Producers Association.

Free Ohio travel materials including the 2007 Discover Ohio Travel Planner and 2007 Spring/Summer Discover Ohio Calendar of Events may be requested 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from DiscoverOhio.com or 1-800-BUCKEYE. This year the planner also is being distributed by Ohio State Parks, the Ohio Turnpike Commission, Ohio Visitor Bureaus and Ohio Department of Transportation Travel Information Centers.