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This is a guest post from Dan Fuoco, interactive marketing manager for the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (better known as @VisitDetroit), and co-founder of Social Media in The D, a group of social media professionals practicing social media in metro Detroit. We loaned Dan a Samsung Galaxy S5.
As the interactive marketing manager of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, it's my job to interact, engage and facilitate conversation on social media while working with partner organizations (attractions, museums, etc.) to showcase and celebrate positive things happening in the city of Detroit.
A big part of the positive movement happening in Detroit is fueled by people using their mobile devices to share news on social media. And, it’s Verizon’s 4G LTE network that gives the people of Detroit a voice to spread the word about positive things happening in the city.
So, when Verizon invited me to use the brand new Samsung Galaxy S5 to capture all the excitement surrounding the Detroit Grand Prix, the decision was a no-brainer. Plus, I’m a huge supporter of the Android Operating System. After all, it was founded by the top two search engines in the world—Google and YouTube.
At the oldest CVB in the country, the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract leisure and convention activity to the metropolitan area and reinforce the perception of Detroit as a memorable tourism destination.
For example, the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is a huge leisure attraction for the city. Approximately 95,000 attendees from across the country, especially race fans, visited Detroit's Belle Isle in 2007, 2008 and 2012. Hundreds of media—national and international—come to cover the race, and it's our job as the host city to provide information about the city, economic impact, hotel occupancy rates and most importantly, ideas of what to do during their off time. Of course, we couldn't answer all the questions without our international neighbors and co-hosts from Canada, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island.
An event this grand (pun intended) gives us the opportunity to squash the negative images previously portrayed by encouraging new experiences in the new Detroit. I can't tell you how many times media and visitors comment on what they think Detroit is like and then upon visiting, don't want to leave!
In terms of events, the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix has something for all ages. Personally, I look forward to attending Friday Free Prix Day because it allows everyone access to the races and promotes family interaction. Family members who might not care to watch hours of cars and trucks racing have the ability to seek the carnival games and attractions, take advantage of vehicle display areas, roam the paddock, engage in virtual tours and indulge in the fantastic food!
I was able to access the island early this week for set up in the Belle Isle Casino, so I hope you enjoy these behind-the-scenes photos I took with the Samsung Galaxy S5 Verizon loaned me for the event. And, I encourage your return next week for my Grand Prix recap blog post, in which I’ll share even more behind-the-scenes photos/videos and detail my experience using the Samsung Galaxy S5 to capture all the excitement of the Detroit Grand Prix.
If you’re visiting Detroit and attending the Grand Prix this weekend, send me a tweet @DanFuoco. I’d love to hear about your Visit Detroit experience!
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