Foodspotting - Make Tourists Hungry for Your Destination
Chances are good that your current and potential visitors enjoy good food (who doesn't?). In fact, recent research from the Association of Travel Marketing Executives shows that 27 percent of travelers identify themselves as "foodies" or people with a passion for food.
Why should you care?
The International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA) reports that 25 percent of the average travel budget goes toward food and drink–that's a big chunk of change. Plus, your culinary tourists aren't just stumbling into the first restaurant they happen upon; today's savvy travelers are exploring your destination's dining options before they even arrive.
"Culinary tourism," as defined by the ICTA is "the pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences", and if there's one thing we know about unique experiences, it's that people love sharing them online. That's where Foodspotting comes in.
To "spot" a dish, snap a shot
Founded in 2009, Foodspotting is a social network that allows Foodspotting members to share their favorite dishes with the Foodspotting community. Users "spot" dishes they like at local restaurants and upload a photo of the dishes to their Foodspotting personal profile. Users can also "Want" or "Nom" (like) a dish other users have uploaded.
The Foodspotting format eschews the professional restaurant review and is perfect for travelers on the go who want to know where they can find good food according to other real people foodies who know.
With the rise in popularity of social media and smartphone usage, Foodies are flocking to Foodspotting. Alexa Andrzejewski, Cofounder and CEO of Foodspotting, noted they had over 650,000 iPhone app users who launched the app 475,000 times in January 2011. With the Android version just launched, the Foodspotting audience will grow further.
What's in Foodspotting for your destination?
Forward-thinking destinations are tapping into the Foodspotting community by developing a branded presence on the Foodspotting website and mobile app. Foodspotting offers your destination the opportunity to:
- Publish a collection of location-based dining guides that can be focused on types of cuisine or on unique culinary offerings
- Highlight interesting culinary experiences in your destination
- Showcase local dishes that are vegetarian, vegan, locally-grown, etc.
- Brand your destination with regional food specialties (think Southern BBQ tours or East Coast seafood trips)
- Create unique, custom-branded digital "badges" that reward your visitors for their participation
Destinations can benefit by creating a 12-month Foodspotting plan that targets various audiences, including families, foodies, and history and cultural tourists. Local restaurants benefit from additional exposure and promotional opportunities. Do you talk about your destination's history and culture? If so, which cultural restaurants would be ideal tie-ins?
Remember to consider what your destination means to your visitors–if you're known for your beaches, focus on restaurants that serve seafood. The Foodspotting community is also the perfect place to tout your destination's culinary specialty. Are you the pumpkin pie capital of the world? Make sure everyone knows it.
Do you have a restaurant week or food festival?
Foodspotting is a useful tool for promoting your destination's culinary events. Foodspotters can "follow" your destination and view photos of the best dishes at the event. Restaurant weeks, food festivals, or any major event can serve as an opportunity to tie-in and promote the delicious food in your area. Visitors can "follow" your destination on Foodspotting. In turn, destinations can:
- Create a checklist of foods to spot at the event
- Host a culinary-themed promotion or giveaway
- Develop a scavenger hunt of unique or themed dishes and reward those who spot them all
Hitting the spot with the foodie market
Foodies are a lucrative market, and Foodspotting is a growing network that targets food enthusiasts and offers an interactive way for destinations to enhance their unique culinary experiences. A branded presence on this social network allows your visitors the opportunity to eat, drink and "spot" their favorite foods as well as to share their experience with their social networks.
Not sure where to begin? Still confused? Suddenly hungry?
Aristotle can help. We've worked with a number of our clients, including the prestigious Atlantic City Restaurant Week, to gain successful exposure on the Foodspotting app. Call us at 1-800-995-2747 or email us at info@AristotleDesign.com for strategic advice and campaign development. We'd love to talk to you –We'll even buy you lunch if you're in Little Rock. (We know a great little Italian place with outside seating).