Ohio Travel Industry Releases

The Official Positively Cleveland 'Hastily-Made' Video Contest
Hospitality industry offers two huge prizes for best amateur viral tourism videos
5/7/2009

CONTACT:
Samantha Fryberger, Director of Communications
sfryberger@positivelycleveland.com
Twitter: @flee2thecleve
(216) 875-6626

CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 7, 2009) – Cleveland-area comedians recently made a viral video that fictitiously bills itself as a $14 million project of the “Cleveland Tourism Board.” Although Positively Cleveland has created and distributed its fair share of videos highlighting Northeast Ohio’s assets from the glacial grooves at Kelleys Island to the musical riffs of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the region’s real convention and visitors bureau only dreams of having that kind of budget to market the region to leisure and business travelers.

“While we really appreciate the talent and creativity that went into the joke video, it really plays on Clevelanders’ self-deprecating humor,” Positively Cleveland Vice President of Marketing Tamera Lash Brown said. “Living here, we know the reality of the situation — that we have great attractions like an emerald necklace of parks, the nation’s second largest performing arts center and an impressive culinary scene. But our challenge is to get people outside of the region to see that too.”

That’s why Positively Cleveland and a sampling of its 650 hospitality partners are encouraging Cleveland residents and fans to take a turn at being video ambassadors for the region. Starting Wednesday, May 13, in the midst of National Travel and Tourism Week (www.tia.org/pressmedia/TWFA/ntw_week.html) and Ohio Tourism Month (www.DiscoverOhio.com), enter a viral video in the “Official Positively Cleveland Hastily Made Video Contest.” The ground rules? Entrants have just two weeks to create a video that’s under two minutes in length for (you guessed it) two dollars or less. Grab your mini camcorder, your cell phone recorder or your digital camera (made into a film with Windows Movie Maker or another simple editing program) and slap together your own fast, fun, funny and (of course) positive tourism video for the region.

If the reward of a job well done that gets passed around on Twitter is not enough motivation, there is an added incentive. Positively Cleveland and its members (who would like to have something amusing and upbeat to post to their Facebook pages) have stepped up to award two big prize packs for the most innovative pro-Cleveland Plus videos. The Top 5 entrants with the most votes and comments on Positively Cleveland’s YouTube page will make it to a final vote by regional champions. The final two winners’ videos will be played in the Cleveland Plus Visitors Center operated by Positively Cleveland on Public Square (The Higbee Building, 100 Public Square, Suite 100) and featured on the convention and visitors bureau’s Web site. They will also win generous prize packages that let them discover even more to love about Northeast Ohio. Prizes include:

-Prize Package A: Bed & Breakfast gift certificate for two people valid for up to one year at Doubletree Hotel Cleveland Lakeside; One-night stay in a Family Suite, which includes four (4) waterpark passes to Great Wolf Lodge; Two tickets to Cleveland Indians vs. Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, June 15; Two tickets to Mary Poppins at PlayhouseSquare on Friday, July 24; $50 gift certificate to Prosperity Social Club; Two $25 gift certificates to Fat Fish Blue; Two VIP passes to Howl at the Moon Saloon (The passes entitle the bearer to unlimited free admission to Howl at the Moon Cleveland and drink specials for one year); $30 gift certificate to Beachland Ballroom & Tavern; Two tickets to see Little Shop of Horrors on the Mackey Main Stage, June 26 through August 2, 2009, at Beck Center for the Arts; Two round-trip Miller Ferry to Put-in-Bay passes on Miller Ferry; Two admission tickets as well as a Rock Hall guitar from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; $25 gift certificate to Ambiance, the Store for Lovers and T-shirts and other gift items from The Only Cleveland Store.

-Prize Package B: Overnight stay at Embassy Suites Downtown Cleveland; Overnight stay at Comfort Inn Cleveland Airport in Middleburg Heights; Two tickets to Cleveland Indians vs. Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, June 15; Two tickets to Mary Poppins at PlayhouseSquare on Friday, July 24; $50 gift card to Cadillac Ranch; Dinner gift certificate for two people at House of Blues; Two free passes to Cleveland Cinemas; Two free lawn tickets at Cain Park to any event in the Evans Amphitheater this season including Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie & Richie Havens, Squirrel Nut Zippers, The Beach Boys or the Gin & Tonic Tour (Gin Blossoms and Tonic); Two tickets to a theater performance at The Cleveland Play House; Choice of lift tickets with rental or a 4-pack of snow tubing tickets to Polar Blast at Boston Mills / Brandywine; Four-pack of 18-holes w/ cart at any of the seven courses from the Cleveland Metroparks; Two free tickets to Vintage Ohio Wine Festival from Ohio Wine Producers; Two sweatshirts and two free passes from the Pro Football Hall of Fame; Free hardback copy of the Holden Arboretum photo book and a Cleveland Ethnic Heritage Seasoning Collection (the complete set with literature and recipes from The Olive and The Grape).

HOW TO ENTER
Record or create an original hastily-made Cleveland tourism video (no longer than two minutes) highlighting your favorite things about Cleveland Plus, spotlighting Cleveland landmarks and personalities or showing a cool, unexpected side of the area about which tourists may not be aware. Complete the online registration form at www.positivelycleveland.com/hastilymade to begin the submission process for your entry. To submit your entry, join Positively Cleveland’s YouTube contest group and upload your video. Make sure you title it “Hastily Made Tourism Video/Your Name."

Then, start promoting your video via MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, flyers in your community, etc. The five YouTube videos with the highest ratings and views will be chosen as semifinalists. The five semifinalist videos will be voted on by Cleveland-area champions and two winners will be selected live at the Positively Cleveland offices on Friday, May 28 at 2:00 p.m.

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