Host Our Coast turns up the tweets
OCEAN CITY -- Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences is looking for candidates to lead "Host Our Coast," an award-winning summer tourism promotion that uses social media to promote some of the area's lesser-known attractions.
The applicant eventually selected will spend the summer documenting his or her varying experiences all over the coast. It will be the third year of the program's existence.
The application process includes submission of a sample travel video and blog. The job -- which lasts from late May to late August --includes shooting high-quality videos and photographs for the website to supplement the written blog comments and reviews, according to Errol Webber, who was a 2010 host. The host also maintains the program's Facebook and Twitter accounts, which have more than 1,200 friends and more than 400 followers, respectively.
The program's objective is to help promote the nature, heritage and rural community aspect of the region, said Jim Rapp, director of DLITE.
"We're not sending folks out to go golfing, but to parks, museums, farmers markets and other things like that," Rapp said. Host Our Coast won a Maryland tourism award in 2009, and this spring, Delaware's governor also honored it with an award.
The host gets paid $15,000 for the summer, and is provided with free living and traveling accommodations.
Rapp and the director of Worcester County Tourism, Lisa Challenger, came up with the idea two years ago, modeling a program after the "Island Reef Job" promotion created by Tourism Queensland in Australia.
"Social media isn't so new anymore, but it's still kind of new in how we use it," Rapp said. "I can pick up a brochure and read it, but to see a video about it is a little more of a sales and marketing opportunity."
Webber, a 24-year-old currently living in Towson, said he hoped a result of his work last year would be that he encouraged people to try something new.
"I personally tried very many things I wouldn't have, like parasailing and kayaking," said Webber, who confesses he's not "much of a water person."
A facet DLITE hopes to factor into the program this year is more interactivity with the people who follow it, Rapp said. As an example, the 2011 host may be at a certain location or event, which they could tweet about and offer some sort of prize for the first few people who show up, he said.
"The goal of this thing is just to have fun marketing and really promoting the region, and we're trying to step it up a little bit this summer," Rapp said.
For more information on applying, or to peruse last summer's blog, visit hostourcoast.com. Video applications are due April 23.
smuska@dmg.gannett.com
410-213-9442, ext. 14
The applicant eventually selected will spend the summer documenting his or her varying experiences all over the coast. It will be the third year of the program's existence.
The application process includes submission of a sample travel video and blog. The job -- which lasts from late May to late August --includes shooting high-quality videos and photographs for the website to supplement the written blog comments and reviews, according to Errol Webber, who was a 2010 host. The host also maintains the program's Facebook and Twitter accounts, which have more than 1,200 friends and more than 400 followers, respectively.
The program's objective is to help promote the nature, heritage and rural community aspect of the region, said Jim Rapp, director of DLITE.
"We're not sending folks out to go golfing, but to parks, museums, farmers markets and other things like that," Rapp said. Host Our Coast won a Maryland tourism award in 2009, and this spring, Delaware's governor also honored it with an award.
The host gets paid $15,000 for the summer, and is provided with free living and traveling accommodations.
Rapp and the director of Worcester County Tourism, Lisa Challenger, came up with the idea two years ago, modeling a program after the "Island Reef Job" promotion created by Tourism Queensland in Australia.
"Social media isn't so new anymore, but it's still kind of new in how we use it," Rapp said. "I can pick up a brochure and read it, but to see a video about it is a little more of a sales and marketing opportunity."
Webber, a 24-year-old currently living in Towson, said he hoped a result of his work last year would be that he encouraged people to try something new.
"I personally tried very many things I wouldn't have, like parasailing and kayaking," said Webber, who confesses he's not "much of a water person."
A facet DLITE hopes to factor into the program this year is more interactivity with the people who follow it, Rapp said. As an example, the 2011 host may be at a certain location or event, which they could tweet about and offer some sort of prize for the first few people who show up, he said.
"The goal of this thing is just to have fun marketing and really promoting the region, and we're trying to step it up a little bit this summer," Rapp said.
For more information on applying, or to peruse last summer's blog, visit hostourcoast.com. Video applications are due April 23.
smuska@dmg.gannett.com
410-213-9442, ext. 14
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