Chicago And Boston Thaw Out In Real Time In Greater Fort Lauderdale Interactive, Heated Metro Bus Shelters

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston and Chicago commuters will be virtually whisked away to the golden sand beaches of Greater Fort Lauderdale throughout February 2015 in an innovative, first-of-its-kind interactive campaign. Via live satellite, commuters in parkas braving winter's bite in each city can communicate in real time with relaxed and sun-kissed Greater Fort Lauderdale beachgoers.

"It's been a cold and snowy winter so far in Boston and Chicago so we're excited to surprise some metro commuters with a little taste of our shores and inspire them to escape to the warmth and sunshine of Greater Fort Lauderdale," said Nicki E. Grossman, president, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "This is a great way for our friends in the Northeast and Midwest to see for themselves a Greater Fort Lauderdale winter getaway that's only a short flight away."

One of the bus shelters in each city will be heated and feature a digital monitor with two-way video and audio interaction for real-time chats providing the ultimate beach getaway inspiration for chilly Bean Town and Windy City commuters. A total of five, colorfully-wrapped bus shelters in each city offer commuters a chance to see themselves on the beach by snapping a selfie and sharing with the #hellosunny tag through social media for their chance to win a Southwest Vacations getaway to Greater Fort Lauderdale.

The pioneering promotion kicks off on February 10 from 7am to 10am EST and CST with a live tri-city event connecting the shelters in Chicago and Boston with a Greater Fort Lauderdale beach location where Nicki E. Grossman, president, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, and her sidekick, "Mr. Sunny," will personally interact with and invite city commuters to thaw out in South Florida.

Throughout the day on February 10, bikini-clad models and Greater Fort Lauderdale street team ambassadors will give out free "Hello Sunny" sunglasses and ice scrapers to commuters in each city. Live radio will also be broadcasting from the sites, with KISS 108 and JAMN 945 in Boston, featuring Mickey V and the JAMN Morning Show, and KISS 103.5 on location in Chicago. In Chicago KISS 103.5 will be on location all three activation days.

On February 10, one lucky commuter from each city will win a Southwest Vacations getaway to Greater Fort Lauderdale, including round trip airfare for two, a four-night stay and VIP cards for free admission to area attractions. The special bus shelters will activate on February 20th and 26th as well.

The interactive bus shelters will go live on the intersection of State and Adams in Chicago, and on the corner of Boylston and Clarendon streets in Boston.

For more information, visit http://www.sunny.org/warmupchicago/ and http://www.sunny.org/warmupboston/.

SOURCE Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau