Partners
Greetings Visit Cook County partners! This is where you'll find important tools and resources for managing your business information, find promotional materials and so much more.
Partners
What is the Partner Portal?
The Partner Portal is an extranet platform that allows local business members to update their business' information, contacts, imagery, amenities, view analytics, and discussion forum. To gain access for your business, you need to be a member of Visit Cook County or the Cook County Chamber.
How do I get a login for the Partner Portal?
Members of Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber are eligible for access to the Partner Portal. If you are a member, email kjersti@visitcookcounty.com with the contacts that you would like to have access to your business listing information.
Email Request to access portal
How do I become a member/partner of Visit Cook County?
Becoming a member/partner of Visit Cook County is easy. If you have a lodging business in Cook County and collect lodging tax, you are eligible to be a member of Visit Cook County. Reach out to info@visitcookcounty.com to find more information.
If you have a dining, retail, local service, etc. business and want to join, sign up to become a member for a low annual fee.
Become a Visit Cook County Member Today!Frequently Asked Questions about Membership to Visit Cook County
Membership
What are the benefits of Membership to Visit Cook County?
The benefits of membership are numerous, here are a few of the benefits available to Visit Cook County members:
- A listing on our highly visited website which sees an annual user count of over 700,000 users
- A listing in our annual Visitor Guide which has over 20,000 copies printed and distributed annually as well as an online digital presence of around 10,000 views.
- A listing on the downtown Grand Marais visitor map with over 8,000 distributed each year (for Grand Marais businesses only)
- Eligibility to accept 1% events funding distribution
- Eligibility to participate in the music or events reimbursement programs as available
- Visitor referrals from our info center direct to your business
- Inclusion in our business hours list and outreach
- Access to maps, guides, and printed materials through our Information Center
- Rack card placement in our Grand Marais Information Center
What is the difference between lodging and non-lodging membership?
Anyone who collects and reports Minnesota State Statute Lodging Tax in Cook County, Minnesota is eligible for a complimentary listing on the website and visitor guide. New lodging business in Cook County? Please notify carah@visitcookcounty.com to add your complimentary listing.
For all dining, retail, non-profit, wellness, or general local service businesses, an annual membership is required to be a member.
NEW! Special Offers are now available to ALL members as an add-on for $300/annually. Lodging members with a pillow count of 150+ pillows are eligible for complimentary Special Offers access.
What is the membership renewal cycle?
Visit Cook County annual membership begins May 1st of each year. Notifications for renewals are sent out in February/March with a deadline to renew by April 15 to be included in the new visitor guide. Members can join at any time, however, there is no prorated membership.
Early signup. If you sign up after January 1 of the current year to be a member, you do not need to renew your membership until the next year. If you sign up before January 1 of the current year, you will need to renew your membership in the spring.
Late signup. If you sign up after April 15, you can enjoy many of the other benefits of membership but will be absent from the current visitor guide until the next year when you renew your membership.
When will invoices be sent?
Invoices will be sent in April with payment due after May 1. If signing up after May 1, an invoice will be sent within a month of joining.
Does membership to Visit Cook County impact my Cook County Chamber membership?
No. The two organizations remain separate entities, membership to one does not impact the other. However many businesses choose to be members of both organizations because of the unique benefits offered by both organizations.
What is the difference between membership to Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber?
While both organizations share one executive director, the Cook County Chamber remains a separate organization from Visit Cook County. The primary difference between the two organizations is that Visit Cook County is focused on attracting and informing visitors, whereas the Chamber focuses on supporting local businesses through advocacy, policy, and networking.
What are lodging tiers?
Lodging tiers are based on a property's pillow count and determine the rank placement on the website.
Tier 1 = 250+ pillows, Tier 2 = 150-249 pillows, Tier 3 = 75-149 pillows, Tier 4 = 24-74 pillows, Tier 5 = 1-24 pillows.
Properties managed by the same entity will be grouped together unless otherwise requested.
Partner Resources
Join Us
Visit Cook County invites partners to join Visit Cook County.
Logos
Find all the Visit Cook County logos in the member tool kit.
Local Business Hours
If you are looking for the most current hours for any dining or retail outlets in Cook County MN - you've found it!
Heart Of Hospitality
Visit Cook County's heart of hospitality.
Member Tool Kit
Visit Cook County offers a member tool kit with logos, photos, and videos.
Login
Login to the Visit Cook County partner login.