Trade Show Fishing: Lucidia and Canada's Great Outdoors in Chicago
For four days in January each year, the Pheasant Run Resort, just outside of Chicago, is home to the largest exclusively Canadian fishing and hunting show outside of Canada. At this year’s show, Lucidia was on-hand launching the second year of the Canada’s Great Outdoors program.
The program is a partnership between the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) and FedNor, coordinated by the Sunset Country Travel Association. Their goal is to attract tourists directly from the Chicago market to Northern Ontario. Last year, when the program was launched, Lucidia participated by designing and developing a new website: www.canadasgreatoutdoors.com. This year, we were called upon to enhance the website and also take over creative and advertising responsibilities for the entire campaign.
At the show in Chicago, OTMPC staff and Lucidia worked side-by-side on the program launch. A brand new trade show booth coupled with the re-introduction of the campaign’s celebrity spokesperson, Babe Winkelman, created a great deal of excitement. And while Babe was signing autographs, we also enjoyed the attendance of Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Monique Smith. Minister Smith visited with Ontario operators, attended press interviews, and spoke at a post-trade show event coordinated by Lucidia.
Throughout the four days, Lucidia’s Deanna Martone (Production Manager) and JR Pierman (Partner) were busy explaining to Ontario operators how the tourism program worked, getting their resorts listed on the interactive website map, and registering contest entrants for a chance to win a fishing trip with Babe. JR also played “junior camera man”, capturing some video of the event. Despite the busy schedule, Deanna and JR still found time to watch the Blackhawks beat Nashville and to eat some Greek salad from a test tube at a funky downtown restaurant – fulfilling Lucidia’s ongoing mission to work hard and play hard.