KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort Named 2011 eMarketer of the Year for its Creative Connections with Today's "Always On" Consumer

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- KeyLime Cove® (www.keylimecove.com), Chicagoland's largest indoor waterpark resort, was named the 2011 eMarketer of the Year at last night's Adrian Awards gala in New York City. Awarded by TravelClick®, the leading provider of revenue-generating solutions for hotels, together with Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), eMarketer of the Year recognizes the hotel that best demonstrates success in attracting and converting guests through the web.  This year's presentation gave a nod to the role of social media and the Twitter hashtag in digital marketing with an "#ILoveBookings" theme. In addition, TravelClick was recognized for excellence in digital marketing with 13 of its customers in HSMAI's annual Adrian Awards competition.  With more than 1,000 entries, the program is the travel industry's largest and most prestigious competition honoring outstanding achievements in advertising, public relations, and digital marketing. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120228/NY60754 )

With a creative combination of online marketing featuring mobile and social media, KeyLime Cove was named eMarketer of the Year for using the latest technologies to communicate its brand value and build a connection with today's new breed of "always on" consumer. A 414-room family resort, KeyLime Cove caters to its target guests with splash-filled indoor waterpark fun, an enchanted lagoon, interactive entertainment, and a luxury spa getaway for parents.

During 2011, KeyLime Cove launched a new mobile website, targeted preferred guests with display advertising, and expanded its search marketing capability.  To improve visibility, it contracted a featured position on TripAdvisor and to fill rooms in low occupancy periods, the resort engaged with flash sale partner Groupon.  KeyLime enhanced its print strategy with an online component by incorporating Quick Response (QR) codes into print advertising to drive mobile site traffic and text offer sign-ups. Its monthly text and email offers worked jointly with a Facebook ad campaign to boost fans and drive new bookings, resulting in a 10X increase in mobile bookings.  As a result of its digital marketing, KeyLime Cove grew direct bookings in 2011 and now generates 37 percent of its business from its website.

A focused remarketing banner ad campaign targeted consumers who had visited the KeyLime Cove website, but did not book. Retargeting those visitors as they traveled the web delivered 5 million qualified impressions with a click through rate of .19 percent, and converted more than 3,100 reservations, generating revenue just shy of $1 million. 

"KeyLime Cove really understands how to engage with today's 'always connected' consumer on their own terms, whether it's over the web, by text message, email – or by post or tweet," said Steve Zacks, Chief Marketing Officer at TravelClick. "Their digital innovation and creative promotions demonstrate a real understanding of  their deal-seeking guests.  We are thrilled to recognize KeyLime Cove for outstanding digital marketing." 

KeyLime Cove's entry received the winning score across the judging panel.  The 2011 eMarketer of the Year judges included Daniel Connolly, Senior Hotel and Lodging Analyst with PhoCusWright and Associate Professor of Hospitality Technology and e-Business at the University of Denver's Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management; Glenn Haussman, Editor-in-Chief at Hotel Interactive Network and hospitality trend tracker;  and Tim Peter, Founder of Tim Peter & Associates, online marketing and e-commerce guru, and former brand hotelier managing over $2 billion in online revenue.

TravelClick is fortunate to work with these 13 hotel clients who received Adrian Awards for TravelClick-designed websites, GDS campaigns or social media work:

With the receipt of these thirteen Adrian Awards, TravelClick garnered a record 60 awards for web design and digital marketing excellence in 2011.  In addition to the Adrian Awards competition, honors were received from the W3 Awards, Interactive Media Awards, Internet Advertising Competition from the Web Marketing Association, and International WebAwards.

About TravelClick, Inc.
TravelClick (www.TravelClick.com) is the leading provider of revenue generating solutions for hoteliers across the globe. TravelClick offers hotels world-class reservation solutions, business intelligence products and comprehensive media and marketing solutions to help hotels grow their business. With local experts around the globe, we help more than 30,000 hotel clients in over 140 countries drive profitable room reservations through better revenue management decisions, proven reservation technology and innovative marketing. Since 1999, TravelClick has helped hotels leverage the web to effectively navigate the complex global distribution landscape. TravelClick has offices in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Barcelona, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Melbourne, Orlando, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Follow us on www.twitter.com/TravelClick and www.facebook.com/TravelClick. Keywords #ILoveBookings and #eMarketeroftheYear.

About KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort
KeyLime Cove^® is an island-inspired family vacation destination less than an hour drive from Chicago and Milwaukee. As The Official Resort of Six Flags Great America, the year-round resort features 414 suites and staterooms and offers a complete family vacation without ever leaving the property. Created to be an American coastal experience just a short drive from home, the resort's entertainment and amenities include a 65,000 square-foot, 82-degree tropical-themed indoor waterpark; an arts, crafts and activities center for kids; an 8,000 square-foot arcade; multiple restaurants including D.W. Anderson's Eatery and Ice Cream Parlor and The Crazy Toucan Margarita Grille with live entertainment; Paradise Mist Spa; The Enchanted Lagoon Kids Spa; and 6,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space. An abundance of fun is found around every corner, including the uniquely themed interior, arts, crafts, interactive festivities, shops and street vendors. For reservations, visit keylimecove.com.

© 2012 TravelClick.  All rights reserved.  TravelClick is a registered trademark of TravelClick Inc.

Contact:
Lauren Holmes
+1 404.941.1915
[email protected]

SOURCE TravelClick, Inc.