Who Would Launch a New Website during the Time of COVID-19? Visit Quad Cities – Because We Have a Great Story to Tell
May 04, 2020
Quad Cities (May 4, 2020) – Visit Quad Cities has an authentic story to tell and its new website does just that through video enhancements, imagery, tips from Quad Citizens, and unique content that highlights what makes this bi-state Mississippi River regional destination a must-see place to visit, work, live, invest, play and experience.
Visit Quad Cities, the region’s official destination marketing and management organization (DMMO), announces a brand-new website today at VisitQuadCities.com during National Travel & Tourism Week. This important marketing, promotional, and sales platform for the Quad Cities is a broad content resource for Quad Citizens, visitors, meeting planners, event owners and potential customers interested in our unique destination. 93% of Quad Citizens feel that tourism has a positive impact on this region and VisitQuadCities.com is the QC’s official clearinghouse for local residents and visitors.
“Visit Quad Cities and our digital platform experience is integral to how we build our brand, sell and share our regional destination’s story and serve as an important community resource for content,” said Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “We are excited to launch VisitQuadCities.com as a vitally important front porch product for the QC, our visitor economy and economic development efforts through tourism. The new site delivers on our brand promise and captures our energy, culture and spirit.”
The new website has a bold new design with artistic touches reflecting the area’s creative energy and Midwestern spirit. Seamless navigation helps consumers learn about the region, and vibrant images and new video content gives a positive first impression of our family of communities. The event calendar is the most comprehensive in the QC with a tool for event owners and promoters to upload their events and corresponding photo. Additionally, the site’s event calendar has a feature to add events directly to personal calendars scheduling upcoming concerts, festivals, events, exhibits and more.
“Even though we are in the midst of a challenging time for the travel and tourism industry, Visit Quad Cities is working hard to keep the QC brand top of mind,” said Charlotte Doehler-Morrison, Vice President, Marketing & Communications. “When it is safe to travel again, we need to ensure that the Quad Cities story continues to be promoted to visitors and celebrated by Quad Citizens.”
Whether it is for travel inspiration or for travel planning, people are searching online so Visit Quad Cities’ website is critical. According to Destination Analysts, 60% of people are using their mobile phone for planning. The new site uses responsive design so it will adjust to various devices. In 2019, Visit Quad Cities had 400,000 visitors to its website, and 72% were using a phone or tablet to access it.
One important tool on the site is the Trip Planner function. This interactive option allows visitors to build a personalized itinerary of attractions, hotels, shops, event venues, restaurants, etc. they’d like to go to on a future visit. As they are browsing the website, each listing has a “Save to My Trip” button so people can keep track of the places they are interested in visiting later. Their trip planner list can be edited, saved, printed, and emailed.
In addition to information for leisure and business travelers, VisitQuadCities.com is built for the local community. According to 2019 research, Quad Citizens were the top users of the site followed by Chicago, Omaha, Madison, Eastern Iowa region, Des Moines, and the Twin Cities. Quad Citizens are encouraged to become QC Brand Champions and submit suggestions for future meetings, sporting events, trade shows, etc. they regularly attend out of town which could be hosted in the Quad Cities. If you have an idea, go to the Bring It QC page of the website, which can be found under Meetings QC, Sports QC and About sections of the site.
Visit Quad Cities partnered with TAG, a local design and marketing agency, to build this large website with hundreds of pages from the ground up. “At TAG, we build brands that matter,” said Mike Vondran, CEO, TAG. “As a Quad Cities-based company in business for nearly 30 years, we recognize the importance and value of our regional brand. We are thrilled Visit Quad Cities chose TAG’s creative professionals to design and develop a website that excites Quad Citizens and visitors to experience and explore all that our QC destination has to offer. This new website complements and supports the efforts of our dedicated, hardworking Visit Quad Cities team.”
Along with a new look and feel, VisitQuadCities.com has improved functionality, the newest technology, an upgraded Content Management System for the Visit Quad Cities team, and is ADA and GDPR compliant.
About TAG
For nearly 30 years, TAG has played a vital role in the stories and successes of their clients through a comprehensive, turnkey communications management partnership. The TAG team meets every challenge with creative thinking, a unified commitment, uncommon energy and an adventurous spirit, to become, and stay, as a client’s most valued business partner.
TAG firmly believes that an authentic brand, compelling website or re-energized social strategy is the outcome of the work they do together with their clients. TAG has an experienced, energetic team of thinkers ready to push branding and marketing to the next level with innovative creative ideas and integrated marketing solutions.
About Visit Quad Cities
Founded in 1990, Visit Quad Cities is the official Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMO) for the region. Visit Quad Cities is a private 501(c)(6) non-profit engine charged with driving economic opportunity through tourism, building our authentic brand, telling & selling the Quad Cities story, and enhancing Quad Citizens’ quality of life.
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Media Contact: Charlotte Doehler-Morrison, VP Marketing & Communications, Visit Quad Cities
309-781-4235 cell