Anaheim/Orange County CVB Changes Name to Visit Anaheim

June 25, 2015

Following the trend of dropping the lengthier monikers, the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau now is called Visit Anaheim.

After more than 20 years as AOCVCB, the bureau streamlined its name and introduced a new brand.

“A year’s worth of brand exploration, consumer, meetings and travel trade research told us clearly that we needed a name and brand that is reflective of our organization’s mission,” said Jay Burress, president & CEO, Visit Anaheim.

He added, “Visit Anaheim is a name that travel enthusiasts and conventioneers can easily find and understand. It evokes a sense of discovery and clearly communicates that we have an incredible, awe-inspiring destination that people should come see for themselves.”

The second largest city in Orange County, Anaheim not only has one of the largest convention centers in the United States, but also it has plenty of hotels and attractions like Disneyland.

“Our new look is bold, timeless and delights in the uniqueness of Anaheim,” Burgess said. “ It also perfectly encapsulates the next stage we are entering into as an organization. We are here to help inspire the imagination of every visitor that comes to our destination – whether they’re a sports fan, adrenaline junkie, beach lover, theme park enthusiast or foodie – and change the way they see the world.”

To land on its new name and brand essence, Visit Anaheim conducted multiple focus groups and key stakeholder interviews in and around Anaheim, Orange County, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose to better understand how travelers perceived the destination, which includes Anaheim, Garden Grove and the greater Orange County.

The findings were clear that the DMO’s broad consumer and business travel audiences were not aware of what the destination offers and what it represents.

As a result, rebranding to Visit Anaheim was an important first step in better communicating  what the destination had to offer, while remaining committed to serving its Southern California partners and promoting tourism for the greater county as it has since its founding in 1961.

Designed by Kansas City-based MMGY Global, a travel marketing agency, the Visit Anaheim logo has multiple design elements that speak directly to Anaheim and Orange County’s past, present and future – the big “A” is reminiscent of a number of big A logos around the destination; the looped “h” is similar to an Anaheim logo created by a former Disney creative; the dot over the “i” is Disney’s dot; and the palm tree icon speaks to the City of Anaheim’s robust revitalization. The logo’s colors, blue and marigold, are warm and inviting, a tribute to Southern California’s endless ocean views, clear blue skies and warm sunny days.

"Through our extensive consumer research for Anaheim, it became clear that The Power of Awe would be a credible, relevant and unique brand essence for the destination," said Chris Davidson, evp/global strategy for the destination's branding agency, MMGY Global.

He added, "Anaheim's personality is truly distinct from other destinations in Southern California, and we set out to capture the emotional core of what makes this place so special. In so doing, the destination now has an effective filter to guide local leaders in evaluating everything from advertising campaigns to the language it uses in its press materials to how it attracts meetings and conventioneers to the area."

As part of the launch celebrations, the DMO will be giving away amazing prizes via Instagram to people eager to Visit Anaheim (#VisitAnaheim).

To view sweepstakes rules, go to www.VisitAnaheim.org/Rules. To view more of what the area has to offer, Visit Anaheim’s newest destination video was released today: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIsc6ZaZ8iQ

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact