10/01/2020
Dear Industry Partners,
Discover Puerto Rico continues to focus critical efforts on earned and social media – proactively monitoring the news cycle, reviewing coverage piece by piece and asking for corrections when facts are misrepresented. We have been updating key media around the clock on the state of the tourism industry. Our approach to date, in the last 24-48 hours has been very surgical, providing media with timely, factual updates. This has been critical to our communications strategy to ensure we don’t lose credibility with key travel, lifestyle and news reporters, influencers and other important stakeholders.
Today, we launched a visual map of our Island, which makes it very clear that the earthquake’s impact was limited to the southern region, clarifies misconceptions and communicates that Puerto Rico continues to be open for tourism. *We urge you to download the map HERE and share it through your channels.* The proactive push around this visual map will be four-fold:
We are pitching this to all mainland and international media with a strong message that Puerto Rico is open for tourism; this includes online, print and broadcast across multiple verticals.
We are posting this across all of our social channels and placing paid dollars behind it to extend the reach.
We are also pushing it out to our consumer database and continuing to respond one-on-one to all consumer inquiries we receive. This will join our existing social efforts already live, which showcase real-time visuals across the Island.
Lastly, we are asking all industry partners to also post this on their social channels and expand to your databases, as well. If budget permits, paid amplification across your social channels, alongside a message that your region/ property is open for business will extend this even further.
As mentioned yesterday, wholesaler and OTA buys are continuing, as well.
Our consumer e-mail response to incoming inquiries about the earthquakes reminds travelers we’re open, encourages them to keep their plans and includes our visual map.
Consumer E-mail Response:
Dear Travelers:
Puerto Rico continues to be open for tourism, and the people of Puerto Rico are eager to welcome you to our island!
Recent earthquakes impacted the southern coast of our Island only – and yet even in the South region, some tourism business remain open. The map below illustrates the recent impact.
Our beaches, restaurants, attractions, hotels and travel service providers are ready to share Puerto Rico’s unique culture and warm hospitality with you and your family and friends.
Below you will find a link with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) surrounding recent activity on the island. We hope this is helpful in providing you with timely information. Please also check our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts frequently, where we’ll be sharing daily photos from travelers who are enjoying Puerto Rico right now.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
We’ve continued updating our website with pertinent travel information. Materials such as the FAQ have been updated accordingly, based on information that we are gathering. And, with the continued evolution of our communications strategy, we’ve once again updated our US mainland/international media statement that we have been sharing proactively with media and other important stakeholders off-island.
Statement US/International:
Puerto Rico is open for tourism. Yesterday, we welcomed close to 15,000 tourists from three cruise ships into our San Juan Port in Old San Juan. Power in Old San Juan has been fully restored and progress is being made across the Island. All major hotels are business as usual. All flights are operating normally to/from the San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin, Ponce and Aguadilla airports. Taxis and ride share options are also available. Ferry service to/from Vieques and Culebra are running. The Ponce Cruise Port, the Puerto Rico Convention Center, and major attractions such as El Morro, El Yunque, San Cristobal Fort, including all areas around San Juan, continue to be open for business. Our beaches, natural attractions, restaurants and travel service providers are ready to share Puerto Rico’s unique culture and warm hospitality with travelers. For the latest information and travel updates, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com.
We will continue to assess the landscape. Our plans to activate an earned media roadshow to quickly shift perceptions and drive positive coverage is well underway.
We ask that partners continue to post live imagery across your social channels, and support us in efforts pushing out the visual map. Showcasing visuals of our Island today and clarifying misconceptions of the areas affected will help continue to encourage travelers to visit us.
If you have any questions or receive any media inquiries, do let us know.
Sincerely,
Brad Dean
CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s Destination Marketing Organization
For more information on projects, milestones and partnership opportunities, visit Discover Puerto Rico's industry Portal, www.PuertoRicoDMO.com
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website
Copyright © 2019 Discover Puerto Rico - All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) are not-for-profit entities charged with promoting a destination and enhancing the long-term economic development of communities through travel and tourism. Discover Puerto Rico is the official name of the Puerto Rico DMO.
