Releases: Expanded View
uwishunu® Gears Up For 2008
Focus Is On More Technology, More Content, More Partnerships, More Fun
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) today announced what’s new with uwishunu® (as in "you wish you knew"), including new advertising creative, three new Web TV series, an enhanced Philly Like A Local hotel package and additional partnerships. Funded by the City of Philadelphia, uwishunu is a $5 million tourism campaign in which "in the know" residents serve as the city’s storytellers and evangelists for their neighborhoods in an effort to woo tech-savvy tourists seeking fun.
"This is just the beginning for uwishunu," said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO, GPTMC. "We are kicking off the new year—or what we like to call uwishunu-year—with a campaign that builds upon a successful first year."
Fresh Look, Additional Features:
Today, uwishunu.com unveiled a new blog design and additional features. Visitors will find a new "Weekend" category that will provide easy access to things to do on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and a whimsical feature called the "What to Do Thingymabob," which will suggest Philly itineraries based upon users’ responses to lighthearted quizzes.
New Web TV Series:
IllaDates, a 24-episode Web TV series on affordable dates featuring a real life Philly couple Mark and Audrey, debuted on May 11, 2007, and during the course of its run drew more 45,000 viewers. Based on the success of IllaDates, uwishunu is announcing three new shows set to premiere in 2008. They are:
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All Up In Their Grills, taking viewers behind the kitchen doors of some of Philly’s hottest restaurants
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IllaNights, showing offa nightlife scene that has something for everyone
- Studioscopic, delving into the minds and the studios of artists living and working in Philly neighborhoods
The Web TV series are set in authentic Philadelphia neighborhoods featuring real Philadelphians at their favorite Philly spots. (By the way, IllaDates couple Mark and Audrey were married on October 13, 2007.)
Hotel Package Amps Up:
In 2008, the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue and The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia will offer the Philly Like A Local hotel package. So far, the package has sold 1,260 room nights at an average daily rate of $375 per night. In 2008, the package will expand to help visitors listenlike locals with Crossing Broad, a CD full of music by Philly artists. The package’s other popular amenities include late check-out (3:00 p.m.) and anotebook with tips on how to eat, shop and hang like a local, taken directly from the blog. Special event packages are also in the works for 2008.
More Marketing, Ads, Partnerships And PR:
This month, a new uwishunu ad campaign, complete with online animated and illustrated creative, debuted. "Let Curiosity Get the Best of You" print ads appear in New York weeklies, including The Onion, New York Trend and New York Press. In addition, two mini-magazine inserts will debut in five alternative weeklies: the Hartford Advocate, thePittsburgh City Paper, Richmond’s Style Weekly, the Chicago Reader andAtlanta’s Creative Loafing.
In 2008, uwishunu will partner with local music events to provide marketing muscle outside of Philadelphia, including the Black Lily Film & Music Festival, the B-Boy BBQ, In Liquid’s Art for the Cash Poor, the Popped! Music Festival and the West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival. In addition, uwishunu will partner with the Big Kids/Little Kids contemporary art exhibition, Live Nation events, Philadelphia Beer Week, the Radical Jewish Culture Festival and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies’ Convention, which will bring more than 500 members of the media to Philly in June.
GPTMC will continue to push uwishunu as one of its top stories in 2008. Since its launch, the campaign has proved to be an instant hit with media inspiring 348 magazine, Web and television and newspaper stories. These stories have helped to build the image of Philadelphia’s design, arts and music scene. Positive stories in the media go a long way in changing the region’s image. According to a recent survey on uwishunu.com, 82% of people said that reading about Philadelphia made them more interested in living here, going to school here or visiting.
uwishunu shares the same goals as GPTMC’s concurrent tourism marketing campaigns (Philly’s More Fun When You Sleep Over®, Boundless Philadelphia™ and Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay®): to engage a specific travel style and lifestyle. However, uwishunu is distinctly different in that it aims to connect with people both young and old who individualize their travel primarily through evolving Internet-based tools.
Finally, on January 28, 2008, in New York City, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), a leading organization in the tourism, travel and hospitality industry, will award GPTMC seven Adrian Awards for public relations and Web marketing, including one for uwishunu. To date, uwishunu has been honored with four national awards in the travel and public relations industries.
uwishunu®, created by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) and funded by the City of Philadelphia, reveals the unconventional side of Philadelphia by providing an insider’s look at the city’s dining, drinking, nightlife, active pursuits and culture as shared by Philly-wise locals. For cool things to do in Philly from the people who really live there, visit uwishunu.com.
Contact(s):
- Caroline Bean, (215) 599-7433
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