What's New
April 26, 2012
Northumberland County Harnesses The Foursquare Buzz
Mobile application will help drive Northumberland's economy
Although not new to the mobile application scene, Foursquare is being actively used by tourists visiting Northumberland. Northumberland Tourism has been monitoring this activity and found it timely to launch a new summer pilot project.
Foursquare is a mobile-friendly, rewards-based network that allows tourists or locals to explore neighbourhoods by checking into locations, leaving tips for others then rewarding them for doing so whether it be by special offer, discounts or special services.
Northumberland Tourism's manager, Eileen Lum, explains, "It's an automated loyalty program and a simple way for our tourism businesses to monitor their customers' comments. This is the epitome of social commerce at its best and an excellent project for return-on-investment results: we have the consumer already situated in Northumberland and by virtue of them checking into Foursquare and being influenced by other customer comments, we can more readily push their commitment to purchase."
Over 30 Northumberland tourism businesses that are already creating a buzz on Foursquare, and who recognize the importance of increasing sales through social media and digital marketing, were invited to participate in this pilot project. They were simply asked to enhance their presence on Foursquare by offering an incentive coupon and adding some imagery. They were then featured on a specially-developed, branded Northumberland Tourism Foursquare page: https://foursquare.com/northumberlandt
Northumberland County Warden, Gil Brocanier is excited about the affect our locals can have when using this application, "Foursquare allows even the locals to leave tips highlighting the best our communities have to offer whether it is a comment on their visit to an attraction, favourite park or eatery."
Contact Eileen Lum
lume@northumberlandcounty.ca
905 372-3329 x6237
Project Coordinator Sofie Andreou
sofieandreou@gmail.com
905 372-3329 x6237 705-743-9051
Over 80 patrons have used Foursquare to "check in" to Lolas in Brighton.
Celebrating this fact is (clockwise from top left): Teresa Grant, Northumberland County Tourism staff;
Cori Arthur, Northumberland County Tourism Coordinator; Don Parks, Brighton Chamber President;Eileen Lum, Northumberland County Tourism Manager; Alexis Smith, Northumberland Mall Marketing Manager;
Sofie Andreou, Foursquare Project Consultant
Click here to learn
more about Foursquare
April 2, 2012
Front Line Staff Encouraged To Become Tourism Ambassadors
On Saturday May 5, Northumberland Tourism is inviting front line tourism business staff to an all-day complimentary Northumberland County familiarization (fam) tour for an introduction to the various tourism segments including arts/entertainment; heritage/culture; shopping/dining/attractions; spa/wellness; and accommodation.
Northumberland County, always aiming to increase tourist visitations and expenditures, knows that our tourism industry's ambassadorship could be enhanced by introducing them to Northumberland County attractions.
County Tourism Coordinator, Cori Arthur states, "Positively impacting Northumberland's economy is exactly what we're striving to accomplish. We can market Northumberland in every way known, but if we don't impress them once they've arrived, we may never see these tourists again."
"This will be an excellent way to meet other business owners and group tour representatives as we spend the day touring our beautiful area," says the new owner of Cobourg's Cedarview Motel, John Jarvis. Also joining the tour this year are invited guests from the 1-800 Ontario call centre and group tour operators who are also keen on expanding their knowledge of Northumberland. Conducting the tour is Peter Brotherhood from Brotherhood Tours and Cori Arthur, Tourism Coordinator from Northumberland County's Economic Development and Tourism Department.
Should any tourism business front line staff wish to join the May 5 fam tour departing from Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn at 8 a.m., please respond to Cori Arthur by Friday, April 13 at 905-372-3329 x6257 or arthurc@northumberlandcounty.ca
Contact:
Cori Arthur 905-372-3329 x6257 www.northumberlandtourism.com
Peter Brotherhood brotherhoodtours@gmail.com 905-342-9870 (after April 3)
