As CVBs and DMOs deal with travel restrictions due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, many are marketing hope and staying top-of-mind with inspirational messages and virtual experiences. The theme they all have is since you can’t travel now, enjoy a few experiences for later. Here are a look at a few of our favorites. Are there others you think your fellow meeting professionals would like? Please let me know at [email protected].
Atlantic City
Meet AC, the convention and visitors bureau of Atlantic City, has created a video #StrongerTogether that features highlights of the historic New Jersey seaside town, marketing hope. For another perspective, Meet AC’s award-winning virtual reality experience allows users to experience Atlantic City from the comforts of their own home. Take a tour of Atlantic City properties or try your hand at surfing in the Atlantic Ocean.
“Since Meet AC’s inception in 2014, we have been growing our digital footprint to serve relevant Atlantic City content to the industry,” says Karina Anthony, Meet AC’s marketing director. “We’ve compiled a library of videos to showcase a variety of Atlantic City experiences to meeting planners and most recently utilized virtual reality (VR) to allow planners to tour the city from their homes or offices when they are unable to make the trip to Atlantic City. This is a time of uncertainty for the nation and our industry; however our team is prepared and while we may be working remotely, we are available to answer your Atlantic City related questions.”
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a “Philadelphia from Home” webpage that includes virtual visits to all its renowned museums, a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary, and Facebook Live streams from its famous zoo, all marketing hope.
Orlando
Visit Orlando has compiled a list of more than 20 virtual thrills, including 360-degree online experiences, new Facebook Live broadcasts, live streamings of special films and YouTube videos.
“We recognize that now, more than ever, we all want to escape from reality, even if it’s just for a moment,” said George Aguel, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Whether you like floating down a lazy river in one of our resort pools or immersing yourself into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we hope these experiences provide a much-needed break from everyday life.”
From the comfort of their home, virtual visitors can now soar down a 200-ft. roller coaster drop, watch fireworks over the famous Cinderella Castle, zipline over alligators and even learn from experts how to draw Mickey Mouse, all found here.
Las Vegas
For the first time ever, The Mob Museum, The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, has created a three-part virtual guided tour encompassing all four floors of exhibits. The tours highlight the museum’s most popular exhibitions and artifacts during its temporary closure due to COVID-19.
“This virtual tour provides a great taste of what our museum’s exhibition spaces have to offer,” says Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs. “Of course, there is so much more to see when we resume operations.”
The new, virtual tour is split into three parts, following the itinerary guests take when physically visiting the museum:
Birth of the Mob: Starting with the museum’s historic postal boxes in the building’s lobby, the tour continues up to the third floor, focusing on the rise of organized crime, the history of Prohibition, and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, which took place in the north side of Chicago with seven members of George “Bugs” Moran’s bootlegging gang.
The Mob and Las Vegas: From the Kefauver Committee hearings in the museum’s historic courtroom to the Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal car bombing, this virtual tour offers a look at the Mob’s rise in Las Vegas and the responses of law enforcement to the scourge of organized crime in the its second-floor exhibits.
The Mob in Politics and Culture: The museum’s newest exhibits on the first floor covering wiretapping, modern organized crime and the Mob on TV are featured, and the tour ends in The Underground, where Prohibition comes to life in a fully immersive speakeasy and distillery.
New York
Inspire meeting attendees with a deep virtual dive into New York City’s iconic cultural scene with Virtual NYC.
“During this unprecedented time, New York City’s world-class tourism community is offering a wide-ranging virtual taste of the destination’s renowned cultural experiences. We encourage New Yorkers and would-be travelers alike to show support and embrace escapism through the currently available, online offerings of the City’s attractions, museums, performing arts venues and beyond,” said NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon, in a statement.
“New York City is home to the world’s most talented, committed, and diverse arts and entertainment community who continue to find ways to inspire us even in the most difficult times,” said Anne del Castillo, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, in a statement. “We’re proud to connect everyone to the best the creative capital has to offer and bring all of us together, even when we’re apart.”
From educational programs to critically acclaimed independent films; soaring orchestral arrangements to inspired choreography; innovative theater to engaging visual arts; and digitized museum exhibitions to virtual neighborhood tours, there’s something for everyone interested in experiencing NYC from the comfort of their home. Virtual tours include:
Puerto Rico
Get your attendees inspired for their next Puerto Rican meeting or incentive by enjoying virtual weekend escapes being created by Discover Puerto Rico, the Island’s destination marketing organization. Salsa music and dancing, mixology, and cuisine are featured.
“We take great responsibility in helping stop the spread of COVID-19, so we’re not encouraging travelers to visit us right now as everyone needs to stay safe in their homes. Instead, we want to extend an important part of our culture – our salsa music and dancing, our mixology, and our delicious cuisine – to uplift people during these challenging times. We encourage travelers to daydream about our Island now and consider a visit later when the time is right. In the meantime, we’re excited to join them in their living rooms for this virtual getaway,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.
The schedule of virtual activities will be revealed weekly on Discover Puerto Rico’s social channels, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook marketing hope.
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