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.”
Come and visit Connecticut, make sure you travel safely and wear a mask when you visit the remain business I didn't destroy. I hate this state.
I have refused to visit the casinos until the mask wearing and no smoking restrictions are lifted.
Their call....
TV ad here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=918zmcg-nXU
Not a mask to be found on the actors, but Jolly Ned will still mandate masks if you dare visit a indoor event.
Wife and I spent a two week vacation in NE in 2000. Wanted to visit every state capital. Missed Maine, too far North, but stopped for 3 days in Hartford. Left after one night and didn’t visit the capital. HATED the place and people.
Drove back over to VT to visit Lincolns sons summer home.
Maybe all the masked tourists will help make up revenue from all the residents moving out.
I live literally a stone’s throw away from the CT border.
I never go there. It’s like a dark scary place with dragons.
Maybe the Governor could get Senator to reenact some of his famous Viet Nam Combat experiences.
Hartford is a horrible place—but you figured that out...
CT is a beautiful state and we have some friendly people—but you _must_ stay out of the cities...
Just more money being wasted by our extravagant government.
The more money they waste the more potential visitors stay away. Personally I reside in Connecticut and I see nothing of substance to do here except stay on my own property. That’s all I care about.Besides that going into the major cities in Connecticut is a big safety issue.
I have discovered more hiking and “unorganized” outdoor activities, as every organized activity requires masks, social distancing, etc.
Sure, CT has some tourist attractions, for example they highlight the Essex Steam train, but nothing uniquely Connecticut that you can’t get anywhere else and certainty not something I would drive long distances to attend.
Left CT in 1981, right after college. Many of my friends eventually did, as well. Was back there two years ago. Not one person I knew was glad to reside there. Not one. “Leaving as soon as I can” or “wish I could leave” were the only two sentiments I heard expressed. Sad, to be honest.
In all cities and states the motto has to be Say No to Dems.
If not, people will blissfully think Marxism is groovy and cool. Until it’s all collapsing.
I moved out last June and moved to Ohio. I ain’t moving back!!!! When I do go back for my wife’s family, they will not be getting tourism dollars from me, other than the food and gas I need, when I visit.
I’m in the same boat. My employer had mandated masks since last May. On average 6-7 hours a day wearing a mask.
The LAST thing I want to do is go to a tourist attraction, e event, etc. and spend more time in a mask. The longer I avoid them, the less I miss them. These ad campaigns, rules, etc. were all written by Gov bureaucrats who have only worked from home since last Mar/April and only had to deal with their rules for a short time to get seated at the restaurant, grab some milk, etc.
I lived in Ct for a year on the early 90’s. If you like Yankee Asshole’s, CT is your place.
LOL. I STUPIDLY moved back to CT in 2009 when the economy crashed in 2009 from California-—thinking it would be temporary-—unfortunately got horribly sick and have been dealing with it ever since,
there is NOTHING worth seeing here—do not come here—
I swear I got deathly ill by coming back here—stay far away as if your life depended on it!! LOL
It has only gotten worse due to Lamont’s CCPVirus response. A friend of mine lives in New Haven. Last time I visited them in Sept 2019 we walked around the good areas of NH, near Yale, etc.
It was full of people, plenty of Restaurants and stores. Almost every store front occupied. A few weeks ago, vacant restaurants everywhere, some replaced by cell phone stores, etc. Big increase in homeless and much more aggressive in their begging as well.
I was at Pepe’s and Wooster Square about the same time. High tailed it to Brookfield, before sundown, though. As nice a place as that was (Brookfield), it still had a depressed feel about it. My old City of Danbury was even more so....
Governor Lamont Announces Launch of “Say Yes to Connecticut” Summer Tourism Campaign
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“Yes, I won’t be going to Connecticut.”
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