Visit Syracuse Launches “Official Home of Winter” Campaign

Visit Syracuse Launches “Official Home of Winter” Campaign, Wintry Fun at Destiny, New Videos and a Chance to Win

As one of the snowiest cities in the country, Syracuse usually wins several snowfall awards each year. But this city doesn’t shut down for winter. Instead, residents bundle up and plunge right in. Here, winter is loved, defended and welcomed, which is illustrated in a new campaign by Visit Syracuse.

“Winter is a badge of honor for Syracuse and Central New York and it is time to tell the rest of the world all about it,” said Visit Syracuse President David Holder. "One of the most important rules in marketing is to own what you are. We own winter.”

Visit Syracuse launched this new endeavor to make winter lucrative for the tourism industry and for all local businesses. While the rest of the world braces for the coldest months of the year, Visit Syracuse is rolling out the “ice” carpet for winter and changing the conversation.

In December, the county’s official destination marketing organization kicked off the new winter campaign introducing Syracuse as the Official Home of Winter (including trademark). Visit Syracuse also hired Break the Ice Media to manage and promote the campaign. Their staffers installed a display as big as the season at Destiny USA and introduced a video series on “Winter himself.” Visit Syracuse is also engaging regional tourism partners (including ski resorts) to help build the campaign.

WINTER DISPLAY

The display, located on the third level of Destiny USA, beside TGI Friday’s, includes a huge Official Home of Winter wall, with six fun characters participating in winter activities. A path of snowflakes leads mall-goers to the display. 

WINTER CONTEST

Destiny USA guests are encouraged to enter the WINter Photo Contest by taking a photo of themselves as one of the characters at the winter wall by sharing the photo on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and including three hashtags: #CNY #HomeOfWinter #DestinyUSA. A prize will be awarded every week and all winners will be entered into a grand prize drawing at the end of March.

WINTER VIDEO SERIES

A new video series introduces the world to an underappreciated figure called Winter – who is more than just a season. In fact, he’s a burly, lumberjack-esque individual who is looking to be appreciated for the frosty fun that he brings. Viewers are learning about the bitterness he holds toward his siblings Spring, Summer and Autumn; and the pure joy he gets from dumping inches (OK, maybe feet) of snow on unsuspecting cities. Find the video at www.visitsyracuse.com/winter.

Tag us!

#CNY

#HomeOfWinter

#DestinyUSA