WILDWOOD — “Are you free this summer? The Wildwoods Are!
The Greater Wildwoods Tourist and Development Authority (GWTIDA) is continuing an aggressive advertising campaign this summer noting many events and the beaches in the Wildwoods are free.
Ben Rose, GWTIDA Marketing and Public Relations Director addressed an audience of representatives from the media, tourism and hospitality industries May 21 at the Wildwoods Convention Center.
In 2009 with ever increasing unemployment, collapse of the financial market, dropping property values and a loss of consumer confidence, GWTIDA launched a major campaign that highlighted value and “promoting all the free things in the Wildwoods to see and do, promoting the Wildwoods as a best value for family vacations at the Jersey shore,” said Rose.
Marketing efforts were increased in Canada, western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.
“We promoted the Wildwoods as the number one family resort at the Jersey shore where there were 9 million visitors a year,” said Rose.
The advertising touted five miles of safe, clean beaches, the most exciting boardwalk on the east coast, attractions and free special events and concerts and festivals. Rose said GWTIDA felt the ad campaign was very successful.
“Last year we increased the number of people requesting vacation information on the Wildwoods by over 38 percent,” he said.
Over 37,000 packets were sent out last year. Of those requests, 95 percent were brand new requests, all new customers, said Rose.
Wildwoods website visits increased by 18.5 percent to 1.6 million unique visitors. He said GWTIDA worked with Suasion Communications Group to “to change outdated public perceptions of the Wildwoods which still exist to some point.”
GWITDA has less state tourism money to work with this year, said Rose. Job layoffs remain a concern in 2010, he said, with “belt tightening” continuing.
“People still take family vacations, maybe they’ll take less days, spend a little less money, so they are looking for value,” said Rose.
“We feel that the Wildwoods marketing plan is positioned to take advantage of the need and desire for families to spend quality time together,” he continued.
This year’s ad campaign again promotes value through free, family fun and entertainment on the 2.5 mile boardwalk with “more amusement rides than Disneyland,” free fireworks and laser light shows on Friday night, shows and concerts plus a free, family vacation value book worth more than $400 in discount coupons.
Some ads began in January in shore and vacation guides, said Rose. Billboard advertising started in March while television and radio commercials are currently airing.
Posters are being used on commuter trains from April until September.
“We are going to be marketing to females (ages) 25 to 44, the family decision makers and also children who are the influencers,” said Rose.
Televisions ads are being place in Philadelphia on network affiliates and cable for four weeks while radio commercials will air for six weeks until the end of June.
Billboards are being used at major arteries around Philadelphia, I-95 North and South and the Schuylkill Expressway and major roads in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. Advertising is also being purchased in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, Pittsburgh radio, television, publications and billboards.
In north and central Jersey, commercials are running on cable, radio and billboards on the New Jersey Turnpike and commuter lines.
In Long Island, West Chester County is being targeted with cable and radio spots.
In Canada, ads are running in Montreal and Quebec City in both French and English in print and radio ads.
The television commercials feature the Oh Those Wildwood Days song that note in the Wildwoods, “Every day is a holiday and every night is a Saturday night.”
At the end of the presentation, guests were invited to board a trolley for a tour of the Wildwoods terminating at Morey’s Pier for lunch.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
