Tourism Winnipeg

Winnipeg Tourism Marketing Campaign (under $2500) Award of Distinction

Sponsored by

Presented to an individual, organization, business or marketing consortium in recognition of a creative or innovative marketing campaign that resulted in increased visitation.

Winner: Winnipeg Exchange District BIZ

Category Finalists

• West End BIZ
  Over 60 murals in the West End’s outdoor gallery highlight the area’s vibrant multiculturalism and storied history. Besides their aesthetic appeal, the murals also serve to deter graffiti and build community pride. Each summer the West End BIZ’s guided Mural Tours program introduces visitors and locals alike to the area, by showcasing many of these murals and highlighting the area’s unique businesses and many ethnic restaurants. In 2011 a mobile tour was offered for physically challenged and larger groups. To promote the mural tours, in-house designed brochures were placed in hotels and tourist centres. Posters and advertisements were also well displayed. The Tour Guide wore a uniform featuring tour logos and carried a promotional sign, making them highly visible to motorists and pedestrians. The program was also promoted on the BIZ website, e-newsletter and via social media. Complimentary tours were offered as part of the “Jane’s Walk” and “Doors Open Winnipeg” weekends. Making use of all these promotional avenues led to a 20% increase in tour participation over the previous summer. However, the real value of the tours was the introduction of the area to visitors, a community they can shop, live, work and play in.
• Winnipeg Exchange District BIZ
  Hollywood has had a long love affair with the Exchange District. In 2011, the Exchange District BIZ introduced Real to Reel, a new walking tour about the rich history of filmmaking in the neighbourhood. Ads were placed in the Winnipeg Free Press, Downtown Winnipeg magazine and on the 201 Portage Avenue media panel. BIZ used its own e-newsletter and website to get the message out. The result? Online traffic jumped to 3,700 hits during July and August. Kids from 20-plus school groups toured the district. And individual tour bookings spiked with 2,200 sight-seers wandering through the Exchange District.
• Park Theatre Cafe
  Owner Erick Casselman wanted a sell-out crowd for a concert by Vancouver indie band Said the Whale. With a limited marketing budget, he went on a social media blitz, reaching out to the Park’s 3,000 followers on Twitter and Facebook. He fired off a promotional e-newsletter and created a YouTube-style viral video. Erick also partnered with the band to print and place 300 posters around Winnipeg neighbourhoods and campuses. The concert sold out and 89 people were turned away. Through other similar marketing campaigns, Erick has made the Park one of Winnipeg’s most unique and successful venues.