KINGSTON, N.Y. (May 14, 2014) — Following a year-long media campaign highlighting Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties as a tourist destination, the regionwide Catskill Association for Tourism Services (CATS) has announced dramatic increases to the organization’s overall web activity.
CATS worked with its agency, Focus Media, to launch a lengthy media campaign starting in May 2013, with the goal of raising awareness among New York City adults between the ages of 25 and 54. While the campaign’s operating budget was limited to just $77,000, CATS was able to generate significant outcomes, boosting overall website traffic from New York City-based users by more than 159 percent.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the results of this media campaign,” said Richard J. Remsnyder, president of CATS. “By taking a diverse media approach, we have been able to increase awareness of Catskill-area tourism by a substantial margin. This increased interest should translate to tangible growth in the overall tourism of the region throughout the coming year and future years. We are pleased with the work to promote our website throughout the New York City market.”
The campaign approached target audiences through the use of Google pay per click advertising, which identified keyword searches related to tourism and directed that web traffic to the CATS site. In addition, CATS created a 30-second radio broadcast advertisement, which aired on 1010 WINS, a New York radio station that is very popular with listeners in the target demographic.
The media campaign also included the development of a web video, which was uploaded to YouTube and VisitTheCatskills.com. The video features footage of attractions from Greene, Delaware, Ulster and Sullivan counties, and has received more than 2,000 views so far.
Overall, the results of the campaign have been significant. Visits to the CATS website from all over the world have increased by about 108 percent, with unique visits up by 105 percent. Individual page views have also increased by a margin of 92 percent.
“The Catskills have a lot to offer, and we are working hard to get the message out to potential visitors to our region,” said Remsnyder. “This recent campaign has been a resounding success, and we aim to continue with the great forward momentum we have going right now. We expect nothing but great things for the future of Catskills tourism.”
About Catskills Association for Tourism Services
Catskills Association for Tourism Services promotes the wide range of vacation and recreational opportunities in the Catskills region. The region has a billion dollar tourism industry, with tourism responsible for about 15 percent of total employment. The Catskills is known for its mountainous landscapes, history, sense of adventure and proximity to major cities like New York, Boston and Philadelphia. The Catskills region includes Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties. For more information, go to http://www.visitthecatskills.com.
