The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau held its annual Report Luncheon for the 2013-14 fiscal year recently at Blue Mountain Resort. The event highlighted the accomplishments and actions over the past year, while also acknowledging individuals and partners who contribute to the success of Pocono Mountains tourism.

The 2013-14 annual report showcased the many successes of the bureau.As technology evolves, the bureau strives to keep up, and as traffic to PoconoMountains.com increases from mobile devices, a new mobile website was launched to provide visitors with a more sophisticated and rich experience.The user-friendly design is optimized for larger screens and makes better use of visual elements for navigation. The bureau's social media channels continued to grow as the fan base increased and became more engaged with the destination.The award winning #TakeONPocono Instagram campaign garnered user-generated content that can be reused in promotion of the region. The Adventure Sports phenomenon continues to grow in the Pocono Mountains as the region played host to more than 20 outdoor adventure races bringing over 30,000 athletes.The Jim Thorpe Visitors Center was renovated and now gives guests a more visual experience as they learn of the town's events and happenings.In addition to marketing the Pocono Mountains to visitors, the bureau has continued to advocate the importance of tourism to the economy of the region. Nearly 35 percent of the workforce in the four-county region is employed in the tourism and hospitality industry and generates almost half of the labor income."Through the use of social media and mobile platforms along with our marketing campaigns, we are able to not only reach visitors but really interact with them. This engagement has proven effective," said Carl Wilgus, president and CEO of the bureau. "Our efforts will continue to grow as our region continues to grow. This was a great year for the Pocono Mountains, and we have very high hopes for the next year."The total revenue for the 2013-14 was $5,935,743, an increase over the past fiscal year.In addition, the luncheon recognized the following Pocono Mountains tourism partners and individuals for their efforts and dedication in supporting the bureau and Pocono Mountains tourism in general: Jim Thorpe Window Cleaning, the Carbon County Commissioners, Johnny Carawan of the National Park Service, Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts and WPIX. These partners have helped to promote the sustainability of the Pocono Mountains as a tourism destination.Eric Lansberry, marketing manager at Cove Haven Entertainment Resort, was also awarded the Gail V. Sterrett Marketing Award. Lansberry was chosen for his dedication, hard work, high standards and professionalism in the marketing field that mirrored Sterrett's passion for her work. The award is given annually in memory of Gail V. Sterrett, past marketing director of the bureau for nearly 25 years, whose life was cut short in February 2009.To obtain a copy of this year's annual report, visit PoconoMountains.com/annualreport.