The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel earned a SMITTY award for Best Contest/Giveaway for the “Find Your Island Challenge.”
LEE COUNTY, FL. – The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB), representing The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in southwest Florida, earned one of the most prestigious social media awards in travel and tourism.
Travel + Leisure magazine announced the winners of its third annual Travel + Leisure Social Media in Travel + Tourism Awards (SMITTY), which recognizes companies in the travel and tourism industry showcasing the best and most innovative uses of social media.
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel earned a SMITTY award for Best Contest/Giveaway for the “Find Your Island Challenge.” The VCB invited five influential Google Glass Explorers to use Google Glass to compete in multiple challenges throughout the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area to showcase the destination in an entirely new way – through Glass. Simultaneously, a Facebook sweepstakes invited individuals to enter for a chance to win their own Google Glass vacation. The winner received a six-night vacation and a pair of Google Glass.
The social media campaign, which was integrated across all marketing channels including social media, public relations, digital media, email and the destination’s website, garnered more than 76 million impressions.
“The beauty of our destination compels visitors to share their experiences through social media,” said Tamara Pigott, VCB executive director. “We know social media is having a greater impact on decision making and we are excited to earn our first SMITTY award for such an innovative promotion.”
The winners and their campaigns can be seen on travelandleisure.com/smittys, with additional information available by searching #TLSMITTY on social media. The SMITTY Awards will also be featured in the Travel + Leisure July 2014 issue, available on newsstands June 20.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
