Cover of "Go Great Lakes Bay" official travel guide touts six destinations in region.

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Regional Alliance Distributing New Great Lakes Bay Official Travel Guide

Pure Michigan Connection, Big Ad Buy, QR Codes Seen Boosting Tourism Here

February 5, 2011       1 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

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The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is reaching out to the world with classy traditional print and a high tech QR code tourists can scan into local websites with their smartphones.

And, with 280,000 copies of a new travel guide being distributed, more of the world's travelers are expected to beat a path to our door.

Annie Rummel, director of the GLB Regional Alliance tourism bureau, (Pictured Bottom Right) is more than excited about the 124 page glossy sales piece.

"This magazine tells the story of what's available for the tourist in our fabulous area, and helps tourists make the connection here in many ways," she said.

The guide makes a positive connection with the award winning "Pure Michigan" campaign that has upped the ante on travel promotion nationwide and in Canada.

How do readers use the QR code in the travel guide? (Like the one pictured at the right)

1-Download free application from Scanlife, Kaywa, Upcode or another QR Reader application;

2-Use the installed application to scan the QR Code by holding the camera still in the center of the QR code until the image comes into focus. A message will indicate that the image capture was successful;

3-Sit back and relax as the QR code instantly connects you to the additional web content on the feature you are reading!

The clock is ticking toward a uniform Bay-Midland-Saginaw five percent hotel-motel room tax, approved recently by the state legislature, that will be effective March 1.

That tax will mean that the regional alliance will have about $500,000 for advertising and tourism promotion in the first year, plus adequate funds for administration and operation of a Saginaw headquarters and satellite offices downtown Midland and Bay City.

"This terrific print piece and our Pure Michigan and other advertising will help bring in the motorcoaches and other tourists like nothing that has ever been done before," exclaimed Ms. Rummel.

Bay City is featured prominently in the new brochure, from a Saginaw River fireworks scene on the cover to photos of Tall Ships, antique shops and heritage bed and breakfast sites like Historic Webster House. The State Theatre gets a magnificent two-page spread with its colorful Mayan headdress sign as a highlight.

Fifteen separate sections in the promotional magazine feature the six unique destinations: Bay City, Saginaw, Midland, Birch Run, Frankenmuth and Chesaning.

The Temple Theatre, the Midland Center for the Arts, Dow Gardens, the Chippewa Nature Center, Delta College Planetarium, Mid-Michigan Children's Museum, the trail system, Japanese Cultural Center and Tea House, Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, the Birch Run Outlet Mall --all are among the QR coded attractions featured in the guide.

"We are focusing on another visitor market that is a special attraction to our area -- birding," says Ms. Rummel. "We have one of the greatest concentrations of interesting birds in the nation."

Waterfowl watchers can revel in huge bird populations at places like the 2,000 acre Tobico Marsh in Bay County and the 9,500 acre Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge adjoined by the 10,000 acre Shiawassee State Game Area that is in the Mississippi Flyway.

Tourists and local folks alike can access developments in the region through Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreatLakesBayRegionCVB

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

cindy Says:       On February 06, 2011 at 10:44 PM Love it! Heard about this form of marketing just last week.

Agree? or Disagree? Leave a Comment!

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Dave Rogers
Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com) More from Dave Rogers

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