Explore Minnesota Tourism advertising campaign continues to direct consumers to Minnesota travel and tourism opportunities on exploreminnesota.com. New for 2009 are a major Travel Package Sweepstakes and two 30 second TV ads.

• Download advertising schedule

Advertising tactics

Print

• Spring/Summer Explorer Newspaper distributed in Star Tribune Sunday, March 22
• Magazine and newspaper insert advertising running in March – May issues with small space ads in several publications primarily for consumer inquiry generation leads

Radio

• Radio advertising through the Minnesota Broadcasters Association in greater Minnesota with several 3 week flights promoting summer events and travel opportunities
• Radio sponsorship messages on Minnesota Public Radio on The Current and News programming

TV

• Two new 30 second TV spots will air along with a rotation of 15 second “My Favorite MN” spots
• TV advertising scheduled late March – September (some breaks) in the Twin Cities, Eau Claire/La Crosse, Milwaukee, Fargo/Grand Forks, Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, and in Greater Minnesota through the Minnesota Broadcasters Association in April and June. Also includes buys on Fox Sports Net North broadcasts of Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers games.

Direct Mail

• Direct Mail to 325,000 Midwest consumers in Mid-April promoting summer travel, offering a Spring/Summer Explorer newspaper and Minnesota Highway Map.

Digital

• Paid search advertising campaigns on Google, Yahoo and MSN
• Banners and web content with links to exploreminnesota.com ongoing on regional media websites including: Minneapolis Star Tribune, St Paul Pioneer Press (twincities.com), KARE-11, WCCO-TV, Minnesota Public Radio, Fargo Forum, Grand Forks Herald, Des Moines Register, Cedar Rapids Gazette, La Crosse Tribune, Winnipeg Free Press, and Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal
• Online lead generation programs with travelinformation.com, TravelGuidesFree.com and Vacationfun.com, and Orbiz.com
• Monthly E-mail’s to subscribers and 500,000 geo-targeted consumers; primarily promoting the “I’d Rather be on Vacation” promotion

Marketing Partnerships and Promotions

• Trip giveaway promotion March to early May in Chicago to promote Southwest Airlines new service to Minneapolis St Paul on My Fox Chicago/WFLD-TV
• EMT’s “I’d Rather be on Vacation” sweepstakes, (April 20-May 31) highlights vacations based upon “My Favorite Minnesota” webisode themes, including: fishing, resorts, adventures, golf, romantic getaways, shopping arts and culture, biking and family fun. 11 prizes are offered featuring Minnesota industry participants. Primary adverting is digital with many online tactics and 500,000 targeted e-mail blast, plus some radio. Major partners include Meredith Publishing and Holiday Station Stores