Foursquare Grants Hershey Harrisburg Tourism Region Exclusive Branded Page

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau (HHRVB) kicked off 2011 by officially launching their Foursquare Branded Page, Foursquare.com/HHRVB. Being one of four destination-marketing organizations in the nation to receive an exclusive branded page gave tourism officials reason to celebrate.

"This was an investment in our social media and destination marketing strategy," said Mary Smith, president of HHRVB. "In 2011 the boom in cell phone users with GPS-enabled smartphones will change the way we market our destination to business and leisure visitors. Foursquare encourages location-based interaction, giving local businesses an easy and cost-effective way to attract customers and generate new business."

HHRVB partners can now interact in real-time through Foursquare.com/HHRVB with visitors and generate traffic with exclusive discounts and rewards for customers who 'check-in' at their location. The new branded page also features 'Tips' of selected attractions, restaurants, and service providers with links for more information.

According to Smith, the bureau was awarded this highly coveted Foursquare Branded Page after demonstrating the large and diverse inventory of partners from hotels and attractions to restaurants and event facilities – all contributing to what Foursquare wanted in a branded destination. The HHRVB also provided training to participating businesses on how to use the site and will continue to offer technical support and marketing suggestions as part of its partnership services program.

Select HHRVB partners are also featured on the Pennsylvania State Tourism Office's Foursquare Branded Page, Foursquare.com/visitPA, where travelers can 'check-in' to earn three custom visitPA badges: "PA Shooflyer" (Food), "PA Retail Polka" (Shopping), and "PA 4 Score & 7" (History).  Pennsylvania was the first state to join the new mobile social networking community in May 2010.

The site will allow travelers to meet friends, find great deals, and discover the world-class amenities and hidden gems of the region best-known for Pennsylvania's capital city of Harrisburg and the resort town of Hershey, The Sweetest Place On Earth®.

The site will become a major asset during major regional and national events being hosted in the region. Beginning in 2011, the Hershey Harrisburg region will host the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show, 2011-2013 Keystone State Summer Games, the US Junior National Basketball Tournament, Youth Step USA National High School Stepping Competition, and the 2013 State Games of America.

Connect with the Hershey Harrisburg Visitors Bureau at VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org; [email protected]; 877-727-8573; Facebook.com/HersheyHarrisburg; Twitter.com/HHRVB; YouTube.com/HersheyHarrisburg; and Flickr.com/photos/HersheyHarrisburg.

SOURCE Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau