“Experience Simcoe County from home.”
A new tourism slogan and plan for the County of Simcoe was unveiled during the county’s economic development committee virtual meeting on Thursday afternoon.
According to a report presented to the committee, the first and second quarter marketing strategy will now include a multimedia Stay-at-Home campaign including website, social media, and billboards.
“We’ve really moved from marketing to visitors to supporting our operators,” said Kathryn Stephenson, manager of tourism for the County of Simcoe. “This way, when travel is safe again, our operators will hopefully still be in business and we’re ready to work with them.”
The Experience Simcoe County website has been revamped with this philosophy in mind, in consultation with about 20 partner organizations to include information on shopping locally online, available virtual tours of Simcoe County hot spots as well as a restaurant guide with take out and delivery options listed alphabetically by municipality.
“We’re really focusing on local and promoting our local stakeholders because they’re the ones who are in jeopardy,” said Stephenson.
The previous tourism slogan for the county was “Experience Simcoe County.” Tourism Simcoe County billboards had previously carried a "Made in Simcoe County" slogan.
“This is actually really well done,” said Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin. “The pivot is quite brilliant and really well-timed. I was on a teleconference call with (minister of tourism, culture, and sport) Lisa MacLeod (recently) and to listen to some of the operators; it was just heartbreaking.”
“When we get out of this, people are going to have more respect for local and I’m seeing it already,” she added.
“Clearly a lot hard work has gone into what we’re seeing here,” said Midland Mayor Stewart Strathearn.
To visit the website or request to have your business or experience added, click here.
