Parkersburg is a city in Wood County, West Virginia, and its county seat. Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's fourth-most populous city and the center of the Parkersburg–Vienna metropolitan area. The city's population was 29,749 at the 2020 census, and its metro population was 89,490. The city is about 14 miles (23 km) south of Marietta, Ohio.

When you are in Greater Parkersburg and you see tourists shopping, dining and sightseeing, a motor coach parked at an area attraction, a competitive sporting event taking place or a convention group staying at a local hotel, chances are the bureau was behind the scenes helping to make it happen.