According to ITI Marketing president Franci Edgerly, the annual breakfast was an “excellent opportunity” to share information about Brunswick & The Golden Isles with international journalists.
“We had one-on-one meetings with each journalist, where we provided them with a general overview and story ideas,” Edgerly said. “Each journalist was given a digital press kit which contained Brunswick & The Golden Isles information, translated into German. The Convention and Visitors Bureau also provided special gift bags for each journalist, containing a Brunswick-Golden Isles Visitors Guide, a DVD in eight languages, logo’d area mementos and a state travel guide, featuring the St. Simons Lighthouse on the cover.”
An especially popular souvenir among the travel journalists was a license plate bearing the words, “C-U-IN Brunswick & The Golden Isles.”
“The information was exceptionally well received and we expect several journalists who expressed interest in writing about our area to visit during the next several months,” Edgerly added. “This media coverage will help build awareness of Brunswick & The Golden Isles as an exciting and diverse destination.”
International marketing is an important aspect of the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s overall marketing program, according to CVB executive director Bill Tipton.
“Travel to the U.S. is becoming very attractive for foreign visitors, who are enjoying a very favorable exchange rate,” Tipton explained. “That interest is being reflected in the number of foreign journalists who have requested information and have visited or plan to visit our area.”
In addition to sponsoring activities such as the international journalists’ breakfast, the Brunswick-Golden Isles CVB advertises in international media, supports the state’s overseas marketing programs, and produces a variety of foreign-language materials including area brochures and DVDs in eight languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. The CVB’s official website, ComeCoastAwhile.com, offers real-time translation into scores of international languages.
ITB Berlin is the world’s largest travel show, drawing more than 180,000 visitors and over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries. The show is open to travel agents, tour operators and other representatives of the travel trade, as well as consumers. ITI Marketing specializes in hospitality and travel industry education as well as online and mobile marketing.
The Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the mainland city of Brunswick and four barrier islands: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Through an array of destination marketing programs and activities, the CVB encourages travel by individuals, business travelers and groups. For travel information, contact them at (800) 933-COAST (2627) or visit them online at ComeCoastAwhile.com. Or, text message them at ComeCoastAwhile.mobi.
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