City officials laid out the marketing strategy for Oklahoma City today at the American Marketing Association’s monthly meeting: “Keep doing what we’ve done.”

Mayor Mick Cornett said tourism has increased, due in part to one of the city’s largest assets: the interstate highway system running through it.

“There aren’t many cities throughout the country that have that to offer,” he said.

According to Kirk Humphreys, chairman of the Oklahoma City School Board, among the amenities that attract business to OKC are:
• short commutes;
• being able to “show up here and be a player from day one”;
• the retention rate with local graduates; and
• the investment in a struggling public school system.

From an economic development standpoint, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President Roy Williams said it’s about jobs and investments. And today, he said, talent is the primary driver, which differentiates communities.

“We also differentiate ourselves in the marketplace for visitors,” Williams said. “They’re looking for an experience; they’re not looking for ‘cheap.’
It’s getting more for your dollar, not going to the cheapest place. Yes, the cost advantage in getting more for your dollar is important. And what we always hear from visitors is they come here with relatively low expectations, and they leave here with that expectation exceeded.”

Since the economic downturn, all three agreed the marketing strategy has not changed.

“We’re going to keep doing what we’ve done,” Cornett said. “We’ve invested in ourselves, and we’re seeing the benefits of years and years of some really good decisions. So while the rest of the country is figuring out what they’re going to cut and how they’re going to adapt and how they’re going to change and lower expectations and lower services, we’re in a position where we don’t have to do that.

“When this is over, we’re going to be on an even higher plateau, compared to other cities, than we are today,” he said.