Reno-Tahoe Takes Advantage of Texting to Connect with Visitors | MMA Global

Reno-Tahoe Takes Advantage of Texting to Connect with Visitors

January 16, 2006


Reno-Tahoe Takes Advantage of Text Messaging to Connect with Visitors

Visitors to Reno Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place Can Now Receive Current Information on Snow and Road Conditions and Participate In Promotions – All from Their Mobile Phones<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Reno, NV- Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place is establishing and enhancing relationships with destination visitors through SMS text messaging. Those traveling to the area now have the opportunity to receive snow and road conditions and enter to win valuable vacation giveaways all from their mobile phones. Anyone interested in taking advantage of Reno-Tahoe text messaging can choose the type of messages they want to receive and opt-out at any time.

The Reno Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) is interacting with visitors in two different ways. Adventure commercials, which are being shown primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, invite travelers to text “WIN” to RTAAP (Reno Tahoe America’s Adventure Place) or 78227 to be entered into valuable vacation giveaways. Additionally, visitors to the website www.VisitRenoTahoe.com can customize the type of mobile notifications they wish to receive.

“Text messaging is a tool that we can use to further enhance the level of service we provide visitors to the Reno-Tahoe area,” said Deanna Ashby, executive marketing director for the RSCVA. “With the exception of outbound calls, which tend to be expensive and intrusive, SMS generally has the best chance among all channels of reaching customers instantly, regardless of location, and with the best of all possibilities for immediate response.”

Throughout the year the Reno-Tahoe area maintains a full schedule with events occurring almost constantly. Coupled with the fact that it is well-known destination for skiers, golfers, gamblers and adventure seekers, means Reno-Tahoe attracts a wide array of visitor types with varying interests and preferences for how they receive information.  Mobile communication is an excellent form of customer service for those that are comfortable obtaining information outside of the more traditional modes of communication such as email, web, voice and print.

Mobile Communication for Travelers on the Go
“Mobile text messaging is especially useful for regional travelers who come to the Reno-Tahoe area in search of adventure,” said Lynnette Bellin, Internet Marketing Manager for the RSCVA.  They are not the type of visitor that spends their vacation sitting around surfing the web, watching television, or reading travel brochures. They are constantly on the go with no single reliable conduit for information and communication except for their mobile devices.”

Many travelers do exhaustive online research before they go on a trip because they want to make the most of their vacation. The problem is once they arrive at their destination it becomes much more difficult to take advantage of timely information. “The ability to sign up for text messaging services on our website extends and enhances its primary purpose, which is to serve as a source of information for visitors to the Reno-Tahoe area,” said Bellin. “Combined with our regular monthly email newsletters, adventurers who want to take advantage of the best conditions and the best deals in Reno-Tahoe have every opportunity to stay informed.”

Communication Provider
The RSCVA multimodal campaign and text messaging was developed by Twelve Horses. In addition to strategic and creative web services, Twelve Horses helps America’s Adventure Place forge more direct customer connections and brand loyalty through multimodal messaging.

Text messaging is quickly becoming a widely used channel of communication with more than 165 million Americans now using mobile phones capable of sending and receiving SMS messages. MessageMakerTM, Twelve Horses’ integrated web-based messaging platform, enables dynamic electronic communications via email, fax, voice and mobile text (SMS) with consolidated tracking, reporting and permission management. For more information visit www.twelvehorses.com.

About Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA)
The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority was established in 1959 as the Washoe County Fair and Recreation Board. The RSCVA acts as a marketing organization for the county to promote convention and tourism business. For more information about the RSCVA, or to sign up for text messaging, logon to www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.  Standard text messaging rates apply.