News & Information
| The Wildwoods Unveils Its New Marketing Campaign! | ||
| Note to Media: Visit the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority website, www.WildwoodsNJ.com/pressroom for an online media kit. The site has an abundance of tour and travel related articles, fact sheets, bios and high resolution photos, and is updated regularly with current news releases. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt, ext. 103, or Cindy Hesley, ext. 124 Suasion Communications Group/Smith OKeefe 609-653-0400 800-222-0461 publicrelations@smithokeefe.com Are You Free This Summer? The Wildwoods Are! The Wildwoods unveils 2009 marketing campaign to attract families seeking value-packed vacations in tough economic times The Wildwoods, NJ, March 12, 2009 - The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) is rolling out a vibrant, eye-catching 2009 marketing campaign to promote the shore resort as an affordable getaway for families seeking value during these challenging economic times. The idea behind the campaign is to promote the Wildwoods as a family-friendly, fun, affordable vacation destination with something for everyone. With a campaign theme, "Are you Free this Summer - the Wildwoods are!" - the Wildwoods hope to reach families that may not be able to afford a vacation elsewhere. The campaign encourages families to visit WildwoodsNJ.com and to call 800-WW-BY-SEA for a FREE Family Vacation Kit and a Family Value Book with over $400 in savings. The campaign is punctuated by promoting many of the FREE aspects of the Wildwoods including: -FREE family fun every weeknight on the Wildwoods famous 2.5-mile Boardwalk -FREE fireworks every Friday night -FREE 5 miles of award winning beaches voted Best In New Jersey -FREE year-round festivals, concerts and events The campaign also revamps the Wildwoods' previous "Love Those Wildwood Days" television campaign. Using fun and family-friendliness as its basis, the new commercials showcase real Wildwoods vacationers singing the Bobby Rydell hit, "Wildwood Days," and celebrating the great times they have enjoyed at the resort. In addition to its primary target markets, The Wildwoods will also target families from Connecticut, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware and Canada. According to Ben Rose, director of marketing and public relations for GWTIDA, "We're being very aggressive in our marketing efforts this season, stressing the tremendous value and affordability of a family vacation in the Wildwoods by pointing out all the FREE fun things to see and do." Advertisements targeting vacation-seekers in these areas will commence in May with radio, TV, billboards, rail transit posters and print ads in the campaign forefront. GWTIDA tracked a 78.7% increase in vacation packet requests from 2007 to 2008. The agency also experienced an astounding 375% increase in the number of Canadian requests from 2007 to 2008. GWTIDA is counting on this new marketing approach to maintain its market share. Over 9 million people visit the Wildwoods annually, and GWTIDA hopes to attract that many, plus more vacationers this year, despite the economic conditions. To view the new Wildwoods TV commercials please visit - www.WildwoodsNJ.com/2009videos/ ### About the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) was formed in 1993 to consolidate the tourism economy of its three founding municipalities, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. The Wildwoods were voted Best Beaches in both the 2008 New Jersey's Top Ten Beaches public survey by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium and the WTXF TV My Fox Philly Hot List, Jersey Shore Edition contest. In addition to the Top Beach ranking, the Wildwoods were also named Best Beach for Family Vacations, Best Beach for Tourism and Best Beach for Events. The Tourism Authority operates the Wildwoods Convention Center and acts as the island's destination marketing organization overseeing the development, research, planning, marketing, advertising, promotion, public and media relations encompassing the tourism, meeting and convention industry in the Wildwoods. Additionally, the Authority funds, assists with and hosts more than 180 annual special events to enhance the visitor experience and extend the tourism season, including the Thunder On The Sand Race Series, Family Nights On The Boardwalk, Fireworks, Pirates Weekend, Classic Car Shows, International Kite Festival, Irish and Italian Festivals and the National Marbles Tournament, among others. For more information on the Wildwoods, contact GWTIDA at 1-800-WW-By-Sea (800-992-9732) or visit its web site, www.WildwoodsNJ.com. | ||
