Posted on 05/10/2021 2:43:36 PM PDT by matt04
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Office of Tourism is launching a new summer marketing campaign to promote safe travel and fuel the Connecticut tourism industry’s recovery following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of saying “no” to so many things due to the pandemic, the State of Connecticut is encouraging resident and visitors to “Say Yes to Connecticut” and all of its unique experiences this summer.
The multi-media campaign utilizes an array of integrated marketing tactics, including:
A new television campaign that will run in-state, as well as on streaming television in proximity states; Robust social media campaigns across Facebook and Instagram; New content on CTvisit.com, the state’s official tourism website (~7M visitors in 2019); Paid search marketing; and Earned media, including public relations and email marketing.
The $1.2 million campaign is funded through the Office of Tourism’s existing statewide tourism marketing budget. For comparison, last year the state launched a similarly sized tourism marketing campaign that received national recognition and garnered over 41.4 million TV/video views, 87 million social media impressions, and generated over 795,000 clicks to www.CTvisit.com. Post-campaign research revealed that those who saw the campaign showed a 90% increase in interest in visiting Connecticut in the next two years and a 122% increase in intent to visit in the next 12 months. According to GPS tracking, 10% of those who saw the digital videos or visited the website actually visited Connecticut tourism businesses within the campaign season.
The campaign launch coincides with the U.S. Travel Association’s National Travel & Tourism Week (May 2 – 8), which celebrates the value travel holds for the U.S. economy, businesses, and personal wellbeing. The Office of Tourism will be highlighting Connecticut’s tourism subsectors throughout the week on social media, as well as conducting outreach meetings with regional partners and businesses throughout the state.
To participate in the “Say Yes To Connecticut” campaign, use #SayYesCT on social media. For information on the numerous attractions Connecticut has to offer, visit www.CTvisit.com. The campaign theme, “Say Yes to Connecticut,” was born out of the Office of Tourism’s proprietary research that shows a growing sense of optimism among Northeast consumers amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and pent-up demand for travel, especially regional travel.
“Connecticut has an incredible mix of tourism offerings – from arts and cultural venues and restaurants, to lodging properties and outdoor recreation areas – all of which help generate business sales, tax revenues, and statewide jobs benefitting our communities,” Governor Lamont said. “The new campaign is a great reminder of that diversity and the growing optimism among travelers that we believe will put people back to work and translate into an industry-wide recovery for tourism beginning this summer.”
Running May 1 through September 6, the campaign will feature hundreds of businesses and activities across the state that make up Connecticut’s tourism industry sector, including hotels, inns and B&Bs, restaurants, attractions, museums, historical sites, arts and cultural venues, farms, wineries and breweries, state parks and beaches, nature centers, outdoor recreation, shopping destinations, events, and more. Mask wearing indoors will continue to be required.
“Many Northeast consumers are ready to get out and safely travel this summer, so we’re focused on making sure that Connecticut is top of mind,” Christine Castonguay, interim director of the Office of Tourism, said. “Not only does Connecticut have a huge variety of tourism experiences to ‘say yes’ to, but our location and size make them easily accessible so people can spend less time getting to their long-awaited daytrips and vacations, and more time enjoying them.”
I live on the CT border.
I have worked in CT on and off for over 20 years.
I have been to the casinos, and seen the majority of the state.
There is absolutely nothing to recommend as a tourism destination in that state. Nothing.
Yes, almost exactly what I experienced :(
No, Means No!
When I think of the things which contribute to a fun vacation, face diapers aren’t on the list.
When I’m on vacation, I wish to be able to breathe.
One of the most boring states in the union. Other than a certain pizzeria in New Haven and the Wadsworth in Hartford, I have no reason to visit, even though I am within driving distance. Beaches are rocky, Litchfield Hills are barely hills and the area is filed with overpriced antiques, the big cities are dangerous, and the suburbs look like Jersey or Westchester.
I went to RT Lincoln’s house in Vermont as well. Loved the pipe organ and seeing Abe’s hat.
When Connecticut opened for outdoor dining I actually ate a brewpub on the Bridgeport waterfront and felt like I was a a Superfund site.
Comrade Baker had finally allowed them to open this year (just keep your face muzzle on in the 90 degree heat), only state besides CA to keep amusement parks closed last year, though you could spend all day inside at one of the two Casinos because science, er, free money to the state said it was safe.
I lice in this S*it hole state. If you live in this state and most “tourism” is day trip destinations or regional attractions local may frequent more often but offer little/no draw outside their communities.
The one exception in Mohegan/Foxwoods. I’ve gone to a show and stayed the night because the hotel is on site and you were likely drinking, etc. so it make sense. Any other attraction you are back home that night.
Remember the fight over the never-built Tribal Winds casino 15 mins away in East Windsor?
MGM or some other Commercial operation wanted to build one on the waterfront in Bridgeport that might have actually helped the area. Instead the state sucked up to the tribes and demoed an abandoned movie theater and then stopped development even before Rona because they they knew they would loose money with MGM already open.
This is such a messed up state.
I’d rather go to Delaware.
We get our fill of them down here in FL.
I won’t be seeing Connecticut (or Mass, NY, RI, Maryland) anytime soon - I carry and don’t wear a face diaper. Both items make me persona non grata.
There’s prior art for the expression....”Say Yes to Michigan” - 1980’s.
“Come and visit our state, but remember to stay quarantined.”
There is absolutely nothing to recommend as a tourism destination in that state.
Looks like that wont be a problem as 90% of people said NO to Connecticut.
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