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 Kansas City, Mo. – Planning a summer vacation to Kansas City just got a lot easier. The Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association (KCCVA) has launched a complete redesign of it Web site, VisitKC.com, right in time for the city’s busy tourism season. Featuring dynamic visuals and simplified navigation, the new Web site lets visitors and locals interact with the city like never before.
“With 82 percent of travelers planning their travel online, it was imperative that we developed a premier, state-of-the-art Web site on which to showcase the New Kansas City,” said KCCVA President Rick Hughes. “Our hope is that travelers will encounter so many new discoveries online, they’ll have to plan a few extra visits to enjoy it all.”
The new Web site’s visitor-friendly enhancements include:
- User-generated content. Now visitors can share their favorite Kansas City experiences with each other, by browsing traveler reviews, writing their own or even posting photos from their trip.
- Dynamic visuals. The new home page makes a bold statement, featuring striking images of the city’s signature landmarks, fountains and attractions. And, visitors can instantly delve in further by clicking on a “hot spot” for more information.
- Easy-to-use planning tools. The site’s My Trip Planner tool lets visitors tag their favorite restaurants and attractions with ease. They can then e-mail, print or save the entire itinerary until it’s time for their visit.
- Interactive maps. Getting around the city is now easier, too. Each business’ listing includes an integrated Google Map. With a click, visitors can instantly print driving directions or find nearby attractions, restaurants and hotels.
- Local insiders. No one knows KC better than its residents, and the new VisitKC.com puts them center stage. Interviews with local experts reveal their favorite things to see and do in KC.
- Fun trip ideas. If the local perspective wasn’t helpful enough, there are several pre-planned itineraries for visitors to try out. From the thrill seeker to the romantic at heart, visitors will find trip suggestions for every walk of life (and every KC personality).
- Even more articles. The new Web site also includes an expanded inventory of articles to acquaint visitors with the city. And just like KC’s metro-wide renaissance, there is always something new popping up.
- And more … The new VisitKC.com includes everything visitors loved about the old site, only more of it. VisitKC.com is still Kansas City’s most extensive listing of local restaurants, shops, hotels and attractions. Back by popular demand are visitor favorites like photo galleries, videos, special offers and fun Kansas City trivia.
The new VisitKC.com was a unique collaboration of three entities: design firm BarkleyREI, database vendor Software Management, Inc. (SMI), and the KCCVA marketing team. BarkleyREI is an interactive agency that specializes in the travel and tourism industry, having previously created Web sites for destinations like Pennsylvania, San Antonio and Asheville, N.C. The company is a division of Kansas City-based advertising firm Barkley.
SMI is the leading provider of sales, marketing and customer relationship management solutions for the destination marketing industry. SMI’s database solutions are used by some of the top travel and convention destinations in the United States and Canada including Orlando, Chicago and New Orleans.
In 2007, VisitKC.com had the largest online audience for planning travel to Kansas City, with more than 3 million visitors (or about 8,000 visitors a day). Research shows that visitors who use VisitKC.com stay an average of 1.5 days longer in Kansas City, generating more than $16 million in visitor spending last year.
About the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association
The Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enhance economic growth and quality of life for the region and its residents through marketing, sales and service for the convention and tourism industries. For more information about all there is to see and do in Kansas City, visit the organization’s Web site at VisitKC.com.
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Photo Credit: Photos Courtesy of the Kansas City Convention
& Visitors Association
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Downtown Skyline
Caption: More than 1.8 million people live in the Kansas City area. This image is not available for download.
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Kansas City Barbecue
Caption: Kansas City-style barbecue is slow-smoked for up to 18 hours.
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Kansas City Jazz, sax player
Caption: Live jazz can be heard nightly at clubs around town.
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