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VFTCB Virtual Tours

The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board is inviting both meeting planners and consumers to get to know Montco from all angles before they visit. The VFTCB announced Montco 360 – an immersive virtual tour platform that takes people inside some of the area’s hotels, event venues, attractions, and more.

The user-friendly tool embeds the tours on the tourism board’s website to easily navigate the destination and visitors can simply click on the property they want to see and virtually step inside for a 360-degree view as though they’re there in person. Plus, an interactive mapping feature also allows to see even more details of what else is nearby. So far, the VFTCB has filmed at more than 30 locations from hotels to the King of Prus-

Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA)

A Certified Tourism Ambassador is a person who cares about their destination and how it’s represented. They want to provide the best experience possible to visitors to the area. CTAs have completed required assignments to gain their accreditation. “This certification is a unique way for Discover Lehigh Valley to advocate on behalf of the tourism industry through education. Local residents and front-line hospitality staff learn the value of the tourism economy and become wellequipped to turn every visitor encounter into a positive sia Mall to Arnold’s Family Fun Center to XL Sports. “We’re so excited to be able to elevate awareness of Valley Forge and Montgomery County, PA by virtually walking our clients through properties, and continuing to connect them with venues, and amenities, that they want and need to make decisions,” said Scott Higgins, associate director of sales and business development for the VFTCB. “This will help event planners and leisure guests to discover a facility’s environment and all that Montco has to offer.”

VFTCB partnered with Threshold 360 on the project. Once complete, the program will create an impressive list of almost 100 attractions, hotels, venues, and sports fields. Moving forward, the VFTCB’s sales team will also be able to use the technology to visually walk a client through properties they’re considering, or virtually show a meeting space while attending a conference.

valleyforge.org

experience” says Bree Nidds, CTA, Vice President of Sales, Discover Lehigh Valley.

“The CTA program provided great insight into all the Lehigh Valley has to offer for individuals and families. More importantly it reinforces the power of the impression we all make on every individual visiting the area… and the potential for a powerfully positive ripple effect in our local economy” stated Lynn Logg, Corporate Sales Manager, Historic Hotel Bethlehem

Northampton Community College offers CTA training for hospitality professionals who want to be experts on what the Lehigh Valley.

he Region

PHLCVB Launches Series

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched “What We Never Thought We’d Miss About Meetings,” an animated shorts series that recognizes the small moments and shared experiences that resonate with every meeting attendee or organizer.

The hospitality industry has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The usual benchmarks used to show a destination’s growth have all been turned upside down. Meetings and conventions ground to a halt and many were replaced by virtual gatherings. This animated series was designed as a gift to friends and partners across the industry to provide a little levity and laughter.

“Nine months into a pandemic that has kept most of us at home, steeped in Zoom fatigue and physical distancing, we found ourselves waxing nostalgic about aspects of meetings and events that no one thought we would ever miss,” said Joe Heller, PHLCVB vice president of marketing and communications. “We are all looking forward to the day when we can connect face-to-face and be entertained by the small moments that permeate the in-person meeting experience. This series is designed to highlight those moments and offer our customers, industry partners and visitors an opportunity to laugh during otherwise challenging times.”

The PHLCVB invites everyone to share their ideas on what surprising, irreverent, or nostalgic meeting moment they miss most at meetphl.com/wemissmeetings. One idea will be selected and animated for the final episode of the series. For the project, the PHLCVB partnered with Motifmotion, a Philadelphia-based animated video production company.

MeetPHL.com

Around The Region

Flowers Outside at the Philadelphia Flower Show

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society announced that it will completely reimagine its Philadelphia Flower Show to allow for a new, safe experience in a historic Philadelphia park that will provide all of the beauty and horticultural inspiration that guests have experienced for more than 192 years.

The Philadelphia Flower Show will take place June 5-13, 2021 at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in South Philadelphia, taking advantage of the park’s natural beauty and expansive location adjacent to South Philadelphia’s Sports Complex area.

The Flower Show’s move to an outdoor venue, the first time in its history, will allow for new creative expression and horticultural displays, as well as physical distancing and the health benefits of being outside.

This departure from the show’s typical late winter timing is in response to the pandemic. PHS has been working closely with event experts and city officials to plan for a safe.

PHSonline.org

NYC Foodservice Show Rescheduled

Clarion Events Food and Beverage Group announced that the 2021 International Restaurant and Foodservice Show of New York, Coffee Fest NY and Healthy Food Expo NY has been rescheduled to July 18-20 at the Javits Center in New York City due to restrictions of COVID-19.

In addition to planning for a live, in-person event in July 2021, Clarion Events Food and Beverage Group is continuing to offer educational webinars and online product sourcing opportunities to support our operators with the tools to connect with suppliers and rebuild their business.

Operators can access a library of recorded content and bi-monthly Digital Forums focusing on specific topic-based industry needs and trends, including: Takeout and Delivery, Menu Development, Online Ordering, and Marketing and Social Media.

www.foodandbevshows.com