Crafting the New Columbus Brand

The Community's Conversation

Columbus, Ohio has been stacking up impressive accolades for some time. The city is home to some of the country’s top attractions, world-class sports, a great restaurant and bar scene, and a growing and diversifying population that’s significantly younger than the statewide average.

Recently, Experience Columbus – the destination marketing organization for Columbus – launched a new campaign to bring attention to the great things Columbus has and is. Its “yes, Columbus” campaign has set its sights on sharing the city’s greatness with potential visitors and residents and draws on findings from a communitywide perception study from 2023 that showed that while those who know Columbus are positive, familiarity with Ohio’s capital city is low outside of Ohio.

What is the new campaign and what will its reach be? What is the Columbus brand? Columbus has long sought to shape a unique identity that’s appealing, aspirational, and authentic to who we are and what we want to become. Can we?

Featuring:

Yohannan "Yogi" Terrell, CEO, Warhol & WALL ST., and Director, Columbus Fashion Initiative

Sarah Townes, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, Experience Columbus

Stephanie Spicer, President, Luquire

Steve Susi, Senior Director, Brand Strategy, Northwestern Mutual

The moderator is Jennifer Walton, Chief Brand Officer, Sky Nile Consulting

The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation.

The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.

It was supported by The Ellis.

This forum was recorded at The Ellis in Columbus Ohio's historic Italian Village on July 31, 2024.