The Vail Valley Partnership, in our role as Eagle County’s largest business organization and in our role as the regions destination marketing organization, is constantly looking for new ways to promote our member businesses.
We are making every effort to increase destination guests visiting our wonderful valley via our destination sales efforts and we are making every effort to making every effort to make it easier for our local businesses to do business here via the new Vail Valley Merchant Alliance and our local business events.
Often, these two goals (bringing guests here & helping businesses do business) overlap. One example is our new & improved web presence at VailValleyPartnership.com, blog.VisitVailValley.com, VailonSale.com and (coming soon!) VisitVailValley.com, which all provide additional exposure for our members.
Another example is via our new partnership with Trippons.com. Local businesses in the Vail Valley now have the opportunity the join the growing wave of virtual coupon promotion via Trippons.com, a Colorado-based company, which has chosen the Vail Valley (and Summit County) as initial pilot resort communities to introduce a program that uses mobile Smartphones to bring together consumers, businesses and local discounts. The program officially launched on Friday, May 6.
The Vail Valley Partnership is happy to partner with Trippons.com to add an additional marketing channel for our member businesses to reach both destination guests and locals. Trippons.com is a cost-effective and high impact way for our member businesses to drive incremental foot traffic to their locations. In fact, the Vail Valley Partnership will be promoting the Trippons.com offers on behalf of our member businesses through our email confirmations, websites and other destination marketing channels. And many local lodging properties will be distributing trippons.com information to their guests at check-in.
What is Trippons.com? Essentially, it’s a virtual coupon book on your smartphone. Mobile advertising is quickly becoming an important part of the advertising mix. I encourage local businesses to consider this cost effective advertising channel to leverage with your traditional print, radio and web advertising to reach the maximum number of guests.
The beauty of the system is the simplicity – restaurants, shops, services and activity providers in the valley can sign up with trippons.com and promote their own unique discounts that will be passed on to customers through the www.trippons.com mobile website.
Businesses are encouraged to tailor the discount to their needs and change the discount offer as often as they want. Consumers can instantly access the deal, find the business, flash the coupon and save money at participating local restaurants, boutiques and other businesses. Current Vail Valley Partnership members using the Trippons.com tool include the Bully Ranch and Swiss Chalet at Sonnenalp Resort, Zipline Adventures, West Vail Liquors, and the Turtle Bus Bar.
Unlike Groupon or Social Living, which are email-based coupon promotions with required discounts and commissions, trippons.com allows business owners to set any discount they want that meets their needs. And there are no additional commissions to pay. Consumers with iPhones, Androids, BlackBerrys or any phone that can access a mobile website can tap into the discount and use it at your businesses.
If your business is interested in becoming a member of trippons.com, contact Amy Phillips at (970) 331-1645 or email her at aphillips@trippons.com. Customers should look for the unique window signs displayed in participating businesses or just go to the mobile site on your phone at www.trippons.com.
As always, I encourage all member businesses to get engaged with the Partnership and to contact us with any suggestions you may have to help us better serve you. Call us at (970) 476-1000 or stop by our offices in Avon at Traer Creek Plaza to share your feedback.