Pennsylvania Tourism Gets Foursquare Awesomeness Badge
The land of lush green hillsides and quaint Amish farms has now become the land of Superstars, Adventurers, and Crunks. Pennsylvania Tourism has launched a pretty incredible promotion with Foursquare that encourages tourists and locals to experience everything Pennsylvania has to offer, one check-in at a time.
The objective of the promotion is to encourage travelers to get out and take more Pennsylvania road trips. And while you’re there, add these three special badges to your quiver: 4 Score & 7, Shooflyer, and Retail Polka.
Location-based services are a hot topic and getting hotter. Following in Chicago’s footsteps, Pennsylvania has translated what was a city-wide concept into a state-wide phenomenon. Pennsylvania Tourism’s Foursquare travel promotion combines traditional check-ins with QR codes, “found” tips, and special badges, all hinging around unique trip itineraries. The experience is the height of interactivity, requiring travelers to use smart phones for scanning and interacting individually with points of interest.
Pennsylvania plans to advertise the promotion via direct mail, as well as ads on travel and news sites, while staying in contact with current and potential tourists on Twitter.
This is a pretty big deal for location-based services. A promotion like Pennsylvania’s leverages social media in a profound way and connects tourists directly to the state. There’s something very powerful in being able to “keep tabs” on your travelers and guide them to wherever you want them to go. Not only can a state’s tourism team learn about their tourists, but the opportunity to create idyllic adventures and memorable experiences can only increase the state’s tourist appeal, for now and for future generations of travelers.
The chance for tourists to “discover a new state” creates staggering possibilities. Not just for Pennsylvania, but for other marketers who are paying attention. Expect to start seeing a ramp-up of tie-ins between location-based services and commercial products, attractions, services. Brand bonding experiences like these are becoming one of the most valuable chances for brands to connect with consumers.
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