The Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau has changed its name to Traverse City Tourism, to better reflect its commitment to the region's tourism industry and its role as a critical economic, cultural, social and environmental force.

"The new name and updated logo are designed to clearly define the industry that is Traverse City Tourism's primary responsibility, which is tourism," says Brad Van Dommelen, President and CEO.

In a study just released by Anderson Economic Group of East Lansing, 2012 tourism generated more than 3.3 million visitor trips to Traverse City, producing nearly $1.2 billion in direct spending and supporting more than 12,000 jobs across the area – nearly 30 percent of all employment in the region. It also contributed approximately $67 million in state use and sales taxes. The figures represent a growth rate of 4.5 percent per year made by TC's tourism economy since 2006.