Posted on 03/26/2007 7:33:51 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
Seattle has a new tag line: "metronatural." And Little Rock has recently begun calling itself "The Rock."
Now the District is looking for its own catchy way to describe and define the city and lure more tourists to town. Tourism officials are hiring marketers, conducting surveys and convening focus groups in search of a few words or images that capture Washington's essence.
The current slogan, used for nearly a decade, never electrified anybody. It appears in every D.C. taxicab and on the sleeve of every D.C. police officer, but even longtime residents are hard-pressed to recall it: "Washington, D.C.: The American Experience." Another catchphrase, "Celebrate and Discover," which appeared for a time on D.C. license plates, also was a snoozer...
Civic leaders say they are looking for more than just a snappy line. Tourism accounts for $5 billion in direct spending each year (and $550 million a year into the city's general fund.)..
"What we're trying to uncover are the emotional connections and motivators for our visitors," said Victoria Isley, senior vice president of marketing for the Washington Convention & Tourism Corp., the organization leading the effort.
Isley's Brand Marketing Task Force, which began meeting in January, includes officials from the Washington Convention Center, Marriott International, the Greater Washington Initiative and the National Gallery of Art...
In a survey running through April, a new Web site, http://www.shareyourdc.com, asks local residents what they think. (Sample factoid: 70 percent say they call their home "D.C." None calls it "the Capital.")
Two firms have been hired to research and develop the slogan, which will be launched in early fall, Isley said. The project is expected to cost about $150,000, she said...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
..and that is in spite of their civic leaders.
Washington D.C.: The Baaaad Apple
"Washington DC: Where Code Orange means something!"
Washington D.C. is for liars.
It goes through the far-east side of town. Getting to 295 from most parts of DC is a half-hour drive. What if you're starting out in Foggy Bottom?
DC: "Stay in school or you'll get stuck here!"
I think DC wanted to avoid bulldozing neighborhoods and historic buildings to allow a freeway through town, which is admirable, but at this point, a REAL crosstown freeway would do wonders for traffic. Also a couple more ways to cross the Potomac wouldn't hurt.
I vote for yours...
\Shaking my head in disgust at the men of Seattle.
Hey, I didn't even hear about this damn stupid expression until right now. It's not my fault!!!!!!
DC - Hookers and booze!
"Washington, D.C.: The First Chocolate City And Vanilla Suburbs"......so says George Clinton
Washington D.C. - All Your Taxes Are Belong To Us
I wasn't blaming the Freepers of Seattle of course.
And lest we forget, there is "Believe, hon"
Not terribly catchy, is it?
I still rememer in the 70's when the CBers used to call the Capital Beltway "Ring Around The Congo"
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