From the Eastern Regional Tourism District
Business of Tourism
Springtime Marketing Opportunities from The CT Office of Tourism

Website: (consumer): mystic.org (industry): industry.mysticcountry.com

Open House Day – Don’t Miss Your Chance to Register Now!
Here’s your chance to promote your property, at no cost, to Connecticut residents statewide! The Connecticut Office of Tourism (COT) is sponsoring the 11th annual Connecticut Open House Day on Saturday, June 13.

This one-day statewide event is designed to showcase Connecticut’s diverse world of history, art and tourism to Connecticut residents who look for things to see and do while entertaining their visiting family and friends. Why not offer them an invitation to visit your site to experience what your property has to offer? Last year, more than 200 properties opened their doors to state residents with special incentives (free or discounted admission), special activities or exhibits and/or free gifts. COT is dedicating a section of the CTvisit.com website to Connecticut Open House Day, which will include event information, a listing of participating venues and promotion through digital advertising, social media and public relations outreach. Take advantage of this FREE offer now!

To participate, and for the latest news and announcements, go to: http://www.ct.gov/cct/cwp/view.asp?a=2128&Q=500314&PM=1. For information, contact: Rosemary Bove, COT, at Rosemary.Bove@ct.gov, or Jean Hebert, COT, at Jean.Hebert@ct.gov.

Short & Long Lead PR Opportunities
Submit information by March 30
and be sure to cc: press@mysticcountry.com.

Short Lead PR Opportunities

This spring we’re working with media to place both spring and summer stories. A few key topics we’re building our April content around include Easter and Passover celebrations, spring festivals, new art installments, Earth Day celebrations and activities to get out and explore the great outdoors. If you have any relevant offerings or new spring deals/overnight packages, please share with Jean.Hebert@ct.gov and copy Kelsey.Varwig@fleishman.com to get them posted to CTvisit.com.
Pitch Angles/Long Lead PR Opportunities

We’re working on long lead media opportunities for the late summer/early fall season, with special focus on the following pitch angles:

Best Getaways for the Active Adventurer: Connecticut has many outdoor activities for all skill and enthusiasm levels, including kayaking, scuba diving, boat tours, zip lining, hundreds of miles of trails and more! Tell us more about your destinations and special offerings or upcoming events that will get travelers out and active this summer.
5 Places You MUST Visit Before Summer Ends! With delicious outdoor dining experiences to summer festivals, and trips to the beach or adventures on the open water, there’s absolutely nothing better than summertime fun in Connecticut. To help travelers make the most of the season, we’re looking for some new ideas on destinations, activities or unique offerings that should be on everyone’s summer bucket list!
Outdoor Fairs and Festivals to Experience in Connecticut: Throughout the summer and into early fall, the state hosts a variety of popular outdoor festivals and fairs. Please share any upcoming outdoor events, festivals or fairs taking place in Connecticut during the summer/fall and let us know what kind of new activities, entertainment, live musical guests, special food and family fun experiences that visitors can look forward to.
Roar Tour: In honor of the Jurassic World movie release this June, we’re looking for dinosaur offerings and packages to showcase all of Connecticut’s “Roar-worthy” attractions!

National Long Lead/2015 Summer Editorial Opportunities

Below are national long lead opportunities – if relevant, please share an offering with us that might fit into the descriptions below and we’ll pass along to our media contacts:

AFAR – Exceptional Travel Experiences: Active & Adventure (Aug/Sept): Where to Go Next: AFAR’s street-level guide to unusual destinations, both on- and off the-beaten path
Departures – The Summer Issue (July/August): Travel and summer fun issue, dedicated to the incomparable experiences in travel, fashion, design and shopping that make for an unforgettable summer
Condé Nast Traveler – Design: Art, Architecture and Culture (September): Seeking information on new or upcoming art exhibits/installations, cultural experiences or must-see architectural gems
Men’s Journal – Late Summer Adventures (Sept): Activities or destinations that travelers should put on their end-of-summer bucket lists
Recommend – Top Family Destinations (Sept): New offerings or overall best destinations for families to enjoy
Redbook – Fall Travel Planner (Sept): Interested in fall travel suggestions for girlfriends, families and couples to enjoy during a long weekend
Women’s Health – Eco-friendly Finds (Sept): Looking for new offerings, attractions or lodging destinations that are environmentally friendly or sustainable for September feature article
Social Media Opportunities
We encourage you to keep us updated on events, deals, and/or specials. We have a robust social media community where we are thrilled to share partner content. Please email Lucy.Arnold@fleishman.com with your happenings. In April we’ll focus on spring festivals, outdoor activities and two specific activations below:

Wedding Venues – With spring in the air, we want to highlight the unique venues offered to a Connecticut bride
Getaways for Couples – From biking and hiking to dining and visiting a vineyard, we’ll share romantic ideas to experience across the state.