Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT) closed the Gulf Shores Welcome Center last week to expand beyond the building locations and focus on connecting with visitors in new and different ways.

President and CEO of GSOBT Beth Gendler said the decision was not made suddenly and is part of a long-term plan to shift how the company connects with visitors.

"As traveler behavior has evolved, we've expanded our presence beyond just brick-and-mortar locations to meet guests where they are," she said. "… Closing the Gulf Shores Welcome Center allows us to operate more efficiently while still delivering exceptional visitor support."

GSOBT now meets visitors online, at their Gulf Shores International Airport location, at the Orange Beach Welcome Center and throughout the community with the new beach engagement vehicle (BEV).

Gendler said the customer service staff members who were trained for the Gulf Shores Welcome Center now work as vacation specialists at the airport location, where GSOBT "already [has] a strong presence."

The airport location has a selfie-wall mural in the baggage claim area, and the customer service team distributes brochures, maps, coupons and vacation guides that were previously available at the welcome center — and still will be available at the Orange Beach location.

"This approach ensures travelers experience no decrease in service while allowing us to increase outreach and engage visitors exactly where they arrive," Gendler said.

The Orange Beach Welcome Center, located at 23685 Perdido Beach Blvd., will remain open to represent both island cities and serve as a full-service hub for GSOBT.

The new BEV is like a welcome center on wheels and can be seen around town at various local events and at high-traffic city and state park locations. The van is branded with GSOBT's Alabama's Beaches logo and is "instantly recognizable by its bright coral color."

Gendler said BEV allows the vacation specialist teams to share information about beach safety, Leave Only Footprints and general maps and vacation guides on the go. She said there has been positive feedback from the community and visitors about the BEV.

Feedback on the closure of the Gulf Shores Welcome Center, Gendler said, mostly concerned questions surrounding whether the closure was permanent and what services would continue. People also have said they will miss the center.

"Overall, the response has been a mix of nostalgia and curiosity," she said. "… Once reminded that the Welcome Center in Orange Beach remains open, that visitor support has expanded to the airport and that the BEV will serve guests across the destination, most concerns were resolved."

The Gulf Shores Welcome Center building has already been sold to Community State Bank and will become a new branch location for them. Gendler said she and her team are glad to see the building still serving the community.

Currently, there are no plans for GSOBT to open another Gulf Shores Welcome Center location. Most of the focus will be on "flexible, mobilized engagement" to reach visitors at a variety of locations throughout the year.

"This transition reflects our broader strategy to meet visitors where they are and to adapt to the way today's travelers seek information," Gendler said. "While the Gulf Shores Welcome Center has closed, our visitor support network is stronger and more flexible than ever. … Our focus continues to be enhancing the visitor experience, supporting our community and providing accessible, high-quality information to every guest who chooses to vacation here."