Local events – such as Hennessey’s yearly Wine & Chocolate Festival and the car show – are great for the economic well-being of local businesses as well as excellent times for the people in the community to come together.

That’s what Ramon Renteria with the state Tourism and Recreation Department told members of the Hennessey United board of directors.

The 1996 HHS grad spoke to the group about free promotion and marketing features and ideas available through the state at the board’s Jan. 20 meeting at the Wellness Mercantile.

Renteria, who is a travel promotion and marketing consultant for the state, suggested the group, and town, take advantage of placing events on the state calendar and that businesses should make sure they are tagged on the TravelOK.com website.

Dagan Hardin, one of the owners of the Vernost wine bar on Main Street, said he recently asked a new customer how they knew about the business.

“They told me they saw it on TravelOK,” Hardin said.

Tourism listings and “Deals & Coupons” are also offered on that site, Renteria said.

He also suggested businesses put up four $50 gift cards online to get more business.

One business owner at the table hadn’t listed their business at that site, but saw competitors had, and was able to input information online using a cell phone during that meeting.

Promote Parks, Start Dog Park

Renteria had several ideas about promoting Hennessey’s historic parks and new swimming pool.

He suggested one of the parks be turned into a dog park because people love to travel with their dogs.

Truckers also like to travel with dogs and a dog park is planned at the Howdy Truck Plaza, said Scott Hajek.

He owns the property north of State Highway 51 at Stewart’s on U.S. Highway 81 where the proposed multi-million dollar plaza is planned. It’s scheduled to include a convenience store, restaurant, restrooms, showers and gas pumps north and south of the stores.

The town is currently working with that out-of-town developer who has asked the town to provide water and sewer lines to that property.

Dirt work to clear that farmland continues.

Create a Selfie Stop

“Selfie stops” are also good ways to get people to stop in your town, said Renteria.

Board members commented that people still stop at the convenience store with the dinosaur for photos.

That got Hardin’s attention and he already had an idea for a new selfie stop.

Renteria said the town, or businesses, may provide brochures that will be put at all of the travel stations around the state.

Board members suggested that Renteria talk with town board members and staff.

He said he’d try again.

Renteria may be reached at Ramon.Renteria@TravelOK.com, or on his cell, 405-693-8419.

Present at the Meeting

Board members at the meeting were President Stacy Cline, Treasurer Tammy Hopkins, Secretary Cathy Howard, Kaden Mitchell, Dagan Hardin, Scott Hajek and Barb Walter. Absent were Vice President Teresa Oliver, Bert Gritz, Wes Hardin and Ashland Crites.

Wine & Chocolate Festival

There was discussion about setting a certain date each year for the Wine & Chocolate Festival, such as the third Saturday in a certain month instead of when OU or OSU had road football games.

No decision was made since Wes Hardin, who has chaired the event since its inception, was absent.

There was also discussion about sharing one-third of the festival proceeds with Oklahoma Grape Industry Council next year, as the board has done the past few years.

No action was taken.

Reports

Walter reported that a sponsor or sponsors for the 2022-23 Leadership Hennessey class had not been determined yet.

She said the essay/scholarship application deadline had ended that day.

Howard said she’d talked with Tiffany Tillman at Town Hall and was told the town board’s all-day planning meeting Feb. 5 is mainly about plans on the infrastructure.

There was discussion about United sponsoring a community-wide meeting to discuss the wants and needs of the community, but no date was set.

Howard also discussed the Red Carpet Night to be held in April to recognize volunteers in the community.

She said the board needs to decide at a future meeting who they want to honor.