Visit California is leading the statewide charge. “Let’s make sure travelers hear that California is open for business. On Tuesday, June 15, California’s tiered system of restrictions will expire, and visitors can travel freely. Join Visit California in a coordinated social media blitz to share the good news.”
The state tourism office has created a free toolkit with social media graphics, images, messaging, and hashtags to announce that the state is open for business. They’re asking everybody to join the communications effort by activating their social media channels.
President & CEO Caroline Beteta says, “DMO websites continue to serve as trusted information sources for consumers, so along with activating on social media, please update your travel advisory guidance to reinforce an ‘open for business’ message.”
What else? Real people. During the week of June 21-25, Visit California’s “Dreaming On in California” campaign turns into a celebration for tourism’s recovery. A weeklong series of experiences is planned for dozens of actual travelers who missed key milestones in 2020, in some cases under heartbreaking circumstances.
Think prizes in the spotlight: An epic sunset dinner prepared by a celebrity chef, fairytale weddings at the luxurious seaside and wine country resorts, VIP access to MLB games, Disneyland vacations, and Marriott-hosted road trips.
P.S. Even if your destination is already open, it’s not too late for this idea of creating a community-wide welcome.
P.P.S. Alternatively, take it in another direction by continuing to encourage in-state tourism. It’s a win-win to jumpstart the economy.
Nearly 500 travel and tourism professionals—ranging from tour guides and outfitters to regional destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, lodging establishments to wineries and microbreweries— gathered virtually for the annual Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism to set the stage for a statewide economic recovery.
Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon, said, “We continue to actively listen to the needs of Oregonians, communities and businesses to be as responsive as possible. And I am excited to build on that information and lessons learned from this last year to chart our strategy going forward.”
To continue supporting economic recovery efforts as the state reopens to travel, Travel Oregon is launching the agency’s Rebuild Strategic Plan on July 1, 2021. This plan includes current activities in support of the state’s economic recovery and places equity and inclusion at the forefront of its strategic vision. A longer-term Transformational Plan is next, for which the DMO will seek input and guidance from the people and communities at the heart of the tourism industry to develop a roadmap that will extend to 2025.
Fold a free attraction into an urban itinerary?
Visit Reno tells us the city’s latest mural, Locomotion, will be completed any day now. Downtown Reno Partnership is behind the 15,000-square-foot colorful mural, latest in a city known for its public art installations. Nearly 200 hundred local volunteers were recruited via Facebook to help lead artist Brad Carney complete the artwork in 12 days, using 21 vibrant colors to represent motif specific to Reno. When finished, the block-long space above a rail track will be landscaped with 1,000 plants and 18 trees, activated with food trucks, BBQ, yoga classes, a stage for performances, and more.
Check out 16 U.S. city projects receiving funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative, visual interventions on roadways (intersections and crosswalks), pedestrian spaces (plazas and sidewalks), and vertical infrastructure (utility boxes, traffic barriers and underpasses).
When foodie trails are also bike trails, calories melt away. Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau has partnered with Providence Streets Coalition to create Providence Foodie Bike Routes for donuts, beer, and vegan eats. All three GPS-based, self-guided routes are on the Ride Spot mobile app.
Visit Indy says #PRIDE is an every day thing, not just for June. A website landing page features LGBTQ+ nightlife, a weekend itinerary, unique date ideas, live like a local, TAG Approved hotels and more.
And hey, gas is expensive, rental car prices are through the roof (not everyone has a car). So, Amtrak is in on recovery with a discounted 30-day USA Rail Pass good for 10 trips anywhere in the country within a month. It’s currently $200 off (through June 22), priced at $299. Cool. That’s an average of $30 a trip.
Note: The Amtrak price tag beats the Jeff Bezos price tag. A mystery bidder has bid $28 million to ride into space with the Amazon mogul on an 11-minute suborbital flight scheduled for takeoff on July 20.
Reminder: Call for excellence in a dozen categories. The 4th Annual eTSY Awards at the 22nd Annual eTourism Summit are still open for submission. Hurry, the deadline is June 28 (and you don’t have to be there to win.)
