Q . L I V I N G
‘Rainbow Pilgrimage’ to NYC Pride 2009
New media campaign aims to draw
visitors to 40th anniversary of
Stonewall Riots
by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff
The City of New York and tourism officials
have announced a visitors and tourism mar
keting campaign to promote the 40th anniver
sary of the Stonewall Riots. Dubbed the
The campaign will
take advantage of
both international
and domestic adver
tising, including print,
outdoor and online
marketing. According
to an April 7 press
release, the pilgrim
age is meant to
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and NYC & Company
officials announce the ‘Rainbow Pilgrimage’ media campaign.
“showcase New
York City’s
vibrancy while
highlighting its
reputation as a
gay- and les
bian-friendly
travel destina-
with Travelocity
through the n^arket-
ing campaign’s web
site, nycgo.com/gay.
“New York City
is the birthplace of
the gay rights
movement and has
long attracted LGBT
visitors from
around the world.
As we mark the
40th anniversary of
Stonewall this year,
there’s even more
reason to come cel
ebrate the history of
the LGBT commu
nity. We’re proud to
be working with
NYC & Company to
launch the Rainbow
Pilgrimage campaign, which will help con
nect visitors with great events, transporta
tion, and LGBT-friendly businesses around
only online
the cityr said Speaker Christine Quinn.
NYC & Company will launch the advertis
ing campaign and hopes to generate more
than 300 million impressions in key markets
across the U.S., United Kingdom and Canada.
Digital advertising will start April 13 and ask
travelers to “Join the Rainbow Pilgrimage and
Plan Your Journey”
Other advertising includes outdoor ads in
the U.K. and Spain and a print ad in the
June/July ise of Out magazine. Overall, the
campaign will.cost $1.9 million.
“New York City is an iconic destination for
the gay and lesbian visitorj’ said George
Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. “We are
eager to invite and welcome even more gay
travelers to visit New York City in 2009 not
only to celebrate the-historical significance of
the Stonewall Riots anniversary, but also to
take in all the energy, beauty and vibrancy our
great City has to offer.”
What do you think? Are you going on
the “Rainbow Pilgrimage” to celebrate
Stonewall’s 40th? Head to blog.q-notes.com
and vote in our online poll. I
“Rainbow Pilgrimage,” New York City Council
Speaker, openly gay Christine Quinn and offi
cials with NYC & Company announced the
marketing campaign on April 7.
tion” and “emphasize a visit to the destination
as a‘rite of passage’ for the gay and lesbian
traveler.”
The city and NYC & Company will parter
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