Tag Archive for the 'marketing' Tag

Five New Mobile Apps Premiere During National Park Week

April 17th, 2013 at 4:59 pm by NPPC
In honor of National Park Week (Apr. 22 – 26), Chimani – a leader developing national park mobile applications – will release a new park app each day of the week.
The new Chimani mobile apps include Grand Teton National Park, Glacier National Park, Olympic National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and Bryce Canyon National Park. These, as well as all other Chimani apps, will be available for FREE on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon AppStore starting Monday, April 22 – the first day of National Park Week.
Each app delivers constantly updated content, detailed maps, ranger-led event schedules, auto touring points of interest, hiking details, restroom locations, free shuttle bus schedules, and breaking news alerts. Users can also view sunset and sunrise times for the most memorable scenic overlooks, access tide schedules along the coast, review lodging options, and much, much more. And, each Chimani app is designed to work without a cell phone signal.

Chimani’s new Viewport tool – an augmented reality viewer – available as a $1.99 in-app purchase – allows users to pan around scenic outlooks and identify points of interest that are often left undiscovered.  Because cell phone signals are poor and non-existent in most national parks, Chimani apps are designed to function without any type of data connection. This also applies to the new Chimani augmented reality viewer.

 

New to Chimani are topographic maps based on data from Openstreetmaps.org, which allows Chimani to produce rich topographic maps that are updated monthly with the most recent data available.  Chimani users are also able to actively contribute to the national park community and help build better geo-spatial data for each of the parks.  Kerry Gallivan, co-founder of Chimani said, “An example of this is Openstreetmaps.org’s user “Tomthepom” who spent winter meticulously editing park data within Grand Canyon making the data found within the Chimani maps the most detailed and up-to-date available anywhere - digital or print.”  Kerry added that “Many visitors don’t realize how often trail data changes, so having access to the latest details helps enhance the park experience.”

For the Android versions of the apps, Chimani has introduced a beta feature of a social-sharing tool that uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to connect with other Chimani users and share contact information. “We modeled this after the tradition on the Appalachian Trail of hikers exchanging something with people they meet along the trail,” said Gallivan. By touching two Android phones together, the users profile is exchanged using NFC. No cell phone signal is required and when the exchange occurs within a particular park, a unique badge is unlocked between users as a bonus.

Chimani now offers a suite apps from 14 of the most visited national parks in the United States, including: Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Olympic National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park and its National Parks app - which is a virtual passport tool for all National Park Service units.

Each of the national park apps deliver constantly updated content, ranger-led event schedules, auto touring points of interest, hiking details, restroom locations, free shuttle bus schedules, and breaking news alerts. Users can also view sunset and sunrise times for the most memorable scenic overlooks, access tide schedules along the coast, review lodging options, and more.

The Chimani apps are available for iPhone, iPad, Amazon Kindle and Android devices. They can be downloaded directly fromApple’s iTunes App Store, Google Play and Amazon AppStore (keyword: “chimani”).  Founded in 2010, Chimani apps have totaled over 450,000 downloads and rank #1 in each of the major app marketplaces for individual parks. For more information visit http://www.chimani.com or view the app demo filmed in the Grand Canyon National Park: https://vimeo.com/58183356

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National Tourism Strategy = Promoting National Parks

May 12th, 2012 at 10:27 am by NPPC

The Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness (established by Executive Order in January by President Barack Obama and led by Commerce Secretary John Bryson and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar) has released its report which establishes “an overarching goal of increasing American jobs by attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors and their $250 billion in spending by the end of 2021.  The promotion of National Parks will be essential toward accomplishing that objective.

The report declares that the United States can achieve the objective by:

  • Promoting the United States,
  • Enabling and enhancing travel and tourism to and within the United States,
  • Providing world-class customer services and visitor experience,
  • Coordinating across government, and
  • Conducting research and measuring results.

Toward those ends, the report specifies that travel and tourism must be a priority and directs Federal agencies to “immediately begin developing detailed implementation plans.”   National Parks, and other public lands managed by the Federal government, will receive the most attention.  This will involve new and reinvigorated public-private promotional partnerships.

Never in our country’s history has so clear a direction to take immediate action toward travel promotion been articulated.  To read the entire report, click on this link: National Tourism Strategy

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National Parks and Partners Prepare for National Park Week

April 12th, 2012 at 2:52 pm by NPPC

America’s National Parks and their partners, the businesses, gateway communities, states and organizations that support and benefit from the parks, are preparing for National Park Week (Apr. 21 – 29) with special events and offers.  As the NPPC receives offers from these partners, they’ll be posted on this site under the Offers tab.

Many parks are commemorating the week with special events.  Here is a sampling:

Park volunteer, Paul Young and Rangers Robert Gutierrez and Jeremiah Hockett rest by one of Whiskeytown NRA's waterfalls.

 

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area near Redding, Calif. is encouraging park visitors to visit four of the park’s waterfalls and take rubbings of the bronze plaques at each fall, then return the rubbings to the park visitor center for a special reward, while supplies last.  Throughout National Park Week, special ranger-led hikes will visit Whiskeytown (and Brandy Creek falls will be offered.  On the first weekend, there’ll be an open house at a local environmental school with pond exploration and other environmental adventures, and an event honoring children and those who make a difference in their lives.  The following Saturday, a Whole Earth and Watershed Festival occurs in nearby Redding at City Hall where staff from Lassen Volcanic NP and Whiskeytown NRA will transform kids (with a dash of outdoor fun) into instant Junior Rangers on Junior Ranger Day.

Shenandoah National Park plans these happenings:

  • April 21 – National Junior Ranger Day — a full day of activities for the entire family.
  • April 24 – Spirit Night — Spirit Night at Sticks Kebob Shops in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia, between 4:00 and 7:00 pm. Mention Shenandoah National Park Trust to the cashier and 10% of the bill will be donated to it.

Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites is sponsoring a “Folk to Fork” Garden Party and Concert to benefit gardening teens.  Included are local foods,The Bandana Splits, a retro style female vocals, Singer -songwriter  Benji Cossa, and the Garden Boutique by the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historical Association. Tickets must be purchased in advance at http://beatrixfarrandgarden.org/events.html or call 845-554-7482 for more information.

To find a park in your area and all that’s planned there, CLICK HERE.

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Alaska Airlines Announces 2012 Parks & Rec Marketing Program

February 14th, 2012 at 9:50 am by NPPC

Alaska Airlines is again offering free promotional exposure from April through September to park-related destinations and businesses willing to cross-promote by offering the airline an exclusive offer unique to Alaska Airlines customers, a landing page on your website and email promotion through your channels.  In return, Alaska Airlines will provide online marketing (including SEM and Display advertising), partnerships with the American Park Network and other major national park programs (garnering over 100,000 impressions/month), periodic email to 3 million+ subscribers and multiple website merchandising on alaskaair.com which gets 81,000 unique visitors/day.  To learn more about this offer, email Clint.Ostler@AlaskaAir.com or call (206) 392-5511.

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Finley-Holiday Takes a Look at Crater Lake N.P.

February 13th, 2012 at 2:01 pm by NPPC

[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCNgetoOFjE [/youtube]

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Partnerships in Promotion – Lassen Volcanic Backcountry Ski Patrol

February 8th, 2012 at 1:10 pm by NPPC

Here’s an example of a public-private partnership, a video produced by the private Lassen Volcanic Backcountry Ski Patrol about its assistance to Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California.

The video promotes the park, while describing the park’s winter recreational opportunities, as it describes the service provided to park visitors by the ski patrol. Let’s clap our ski poles together in appreciation of  the LVBSP and the service they provide park visitors, and for their entertaining look at winter in LVNP.

If you have similar videos that promote park partnerships, send links to us and we’ll post them here.

[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZBht9k0CDI&feature=youtu.be [/youtube]

 

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President Obama Speaks About Tourism and Parks

January 20th, 2012 at 5:12 pm by NPPC

[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFs0Z9mQ–U&feature=youtu.be [/youtube]

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First Fee-Free Days Of 2012 To Occur This Weekend

January 13th, 2012 at 12:51 pm by NPPC

The first Fee-Free Day of 2012 occurs this weekend, with free admission to all national parks.  With mild weather predicted across much of the United States, areas of parks that would not normally be accessible can be reached, making for a sunny and dry Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend to visit the parks.

Several communities and businesses in and around the national parks are offering special offers and discounts on the weekend.  Though, with fewer park facilities and services open in winter,  they are not as widespread as found later in the year.  Nonetheless, check with local destination marketing organizations for deals and enjoy these Fee-Free Days.  Fee-Free Days in 2012 include:

  • January 14-16 – Martin Luther King Jr. weekend
  • April 21-29 – National Park Week
  • June 9 – Get Outdoors Day
  • September 29 – National Public Lands Day
  • November 10-12 – Veterans Day weekend

Here’s some of what’s being written about Fee-Free Days:

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America’s National Parks Sensational at NTA

December 19th, 2011 at 2:36 pm by NPPC

Ranger Shelton Johnson addresses the NTA Convention (NTA Photo)

America’s National Parks were featured at a major luncheon program at the National Tour Association convention in Las Vegas this month, marking the first time in anyone’s recollection that the national parks were given such focused attention before the nation’s tour industry.

Response to the national parks program was truly sensational, generating high interest among tour operators and U.S. destinations to meet with National Park representatives attending the show.

On the convention floor throughout the week were representatives of the National Park Service: Rich Wiedeman, Donald Leadbetter and Desmond Lee, who fielded questions and provided guidance to the tour industry about how they can best connect people to parks.  Also there were John Poimiroo and Susan Cronin of the NPPC.



While other exhibitors were able to leave their booths early to attend evening functions, that wasn’t the case for Weideman, Leadbetter and Lee who were so busy that they were among the first manning their booths and the last to leave, each day.

Sponsoring the event were Yellowstone National Park Lodges/Xanterra Parks and Resorts, Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, Forever Resorts, Glacier Park Inc. and Brand USA/DiscoverAmerica.com, who were recognized during the luncheon presentation and were able to have their materials displayed at a very busy America’s National Parks booth.

The luncheon program included inspirational video of the national parks edited by Xanterra Parks and Resorts, followed by an introduction by NPPC Chief Executive Officer Poimiroo, who recognized NTA initiatives to bring more youth and minorities to the national parks.

NPS Interpretive Ranger, Shelton Johnson (NTA Photo)

National Park Service Interpretive Ranger Shelton Johnson from Yosemite National Park electrified the audience, moving several to tears with his emotional Call to Action, describing the obstacles people of color must overcome in order to feel welcomed to visit the parks and encouraging the tour industry to use its resources, knowledge and abilities to connect all Americans to their national parks.

Following Ranger Johnson’s presentation, he was stopped so often that he had difficulty getting back to the America’s National Parks booth which was surrounded at times by tour operators and destinations seeking to discuss how they might better connect people to the parks.

The next NTA convention occurs in Florida in 2013, though discussions are already underway as to how to top this past month’s presentation.  Destinations and businesses interested in benefiting from partnering with America’s National Parks are encouraged to contact NPPC VP of Partnership Development, Sue Cronin [scronin@nationalparksonline.org or (203) 256-8402].

To read what Examiner.com wrote of Ranger Johnson’s presentation, CLICK HERE.

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING WHO HELPED MAKE THIS POSSIBLE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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National Park Lodges Get Binged

October 21st, 2011 at 12:13 pm by NPPC

Drakesbad Guest Ranch Bungalow, Photo Credit: Rick E. Martin

BING Travel posts a slide show of 17 lodges in and near national parks.  It’s nice to see attention given to several lodges that are often overlooked in listings of America’s great national park lodges.

To see the slide show, CLICK HERE.

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