Bright Nights promo photo

Experience the magic of the holiday season! Whether you're looking for cozy family activities, festive markets, dazzling light displays, or unique shopping experiences, York County offers a winter wonderland of seasonal fun. From charming historic sites decorated for the season to outdoor adventures in our beautiful parks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Let's Celebrate!
Explore York members enjoying the photobooth at the 21st annual tourism industry event

Membership with Explore York

First of all, what is a DMO?

A Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) promotes a specific location to attract visitors, boosting local tourism and economic growth. DMOs work with hotels, attractions, and local partners to market a destination, enhance its image, and drive visitor engagement. They often manage tourism campaigns, resources, and events to create a unified brand for the area.

Luckily, we get to promote York County and all the wonderful Makers, outdoor activities, historic sites, charming main streets, and so much more that our area has to offer. We've earned accreditation through Destinations International’s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), which serves to validate DMO's operational quality, accountability, and professional management.

Why you should be a member?

#1: 1 Billion Dollars

Visitors spend more than $1 billion in York County annually dining in area restaurants, staying in lodging properties, visiting attractions, and shopping in local retail locations. It's our job to help you tap into that audience! As an organization, we have more than 50 years of experience and more than 300 members (and counting!). We’d love for you to join us. 

#2: Direct Member Benefits

Our most popular benefit is one free listing in our annual travel guide—they’re distributed across the U.S. and worldwide, and we print 100,000 copies each year! 

On top of that:

  • One free listing on YorkPA.org, which sees approximately 15,000 visitors each month. 

  • Ability to submit events to our online Calendar of Events.

  • Ability to submit packages and special offers to our website.

  • Social media shout-outs across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

  • Features in the York County Twist, our popular blog.

  • Promotion to media and visiting travel writers.

  • Access to additional Explore York marketing programs and advertising opportunities (check out stat #3 for more info).

  • Free participation in the annual Makers Spirit Event (if applicable).

  • Invitations to exclusive member events such as familiarization tours, networking events, and professional workshops. 

#3: Extend Your Advertising Reach

Advertising in Explore York’s Official Travel Guide offers an excellent return on investment. We distribute 100,000 guides annually at 50+ high-traffic locations and tourist attractions in and around York County, area lodging properties, each of Pennsylvania’s 14 Welcome Centers, and AAA offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

#4: Even More Marketing Opportunities

At Explore York, we’re all about promoting your business in the most effective way possible. Check out these additional opportunities! 

#5: Membership—It’s All About Customization

You’re at the center of what we do, and there are opportunities to customize your membership experience. You can choose your travel guide category: things to do, restaurants, hotels & lodging, events, visitor services, and more. If one category is too limiting, you always have the option to choose more! See our Member Directory for examples.

Check out the listings in our

Member Directory

#6: We Drive Tourism Here in York County

Explore York anticipates more than 10,000 visitors in York County for the annual Street Rod Nationals East event. This event alone has brought in an estimated $5 million in economic benefits into our area in previous years. Combine that with other Explore York sponsored events and events that we helped bring to our area and the economic impact is immense. 

You may be surprised to know that sports is York County’s biggest tourism driver through such events as the MLK Kickoff Challenge Volleyball Tournament and MAPL York Volleyball Tournament. These two events alone brought in more than 5,000 young people, 600 parents or guardians and more than 5,000 spectators with an average stay in York County of two nights. The economic impact of these tournaments combined was more than $3.4 Million.

For each athlete who visited, York County welcomed on average an additional 2.5 guests.

Ready to kick-start your membership? Join today.

Alexis Noel, Member Relations Manager

Alexis Noel Senior Membership Manager

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Log in to The Hub to manage your Explore York Membership, submit events, and update your listings!

Become A Member

Explore York is a destination marketing organization "DMO" - we market and promote York County as a destination for leisure & business travelers, sports groups, meeting…