It’s time again for you to show Huntsville/Madison County some love. For the third year in a row and just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is asking social media followers around the globe to name their Huntsville/Madison County favorites – those attractions, dining, shopping and off-the-beaten path places and activities they love most – using the hashtag #iHeartHsv on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The #iHeartHsv social media campaign aims to generate excitement and buzz about Huntsville and Madison County as a visitor destination and meeting location.
“When we make Huntsville top-of-mind to potential visitors and meeting planners, we are ultimately making our community stronger financially. Last year, the average Madison County household saved around $650 on their taxes thanks to the $1 billion the travel & tourism generated in our community alone,” President and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County CVB Judy Ryals said
Starting Monday, February 1, and lasting until Sunday, February 14, social media users who use the hashtag #iHeartHsv in response to daily prompts could win big prizes during the two week campaign. The Huntsville/Madison County CVB will pick a winner each night at 8:00 p.m. CST, awarding the most creative posts and pictures with prizes from the Huntsville area.
The Huntsville/Madison County CVB has partnered with local iHeartMedia radio stations – including 102.1 WDRM, 100.3 WQRV, 106.1 WTAK, 106.5 WQRV and 800 WBHP A.M. – to help get the word about the #iHeartHsv campaign to local radio listeners.
“There is no other place on Earth like the Rocket City,” Ryals said. “When we launched this campaign three years ago, we were pleasantly surprised to find that social media users continued to use the #iHeartHsv hashtag to celebrate the Huntsville/Madison County areas well after the campaign’s end. We’re excited to host the campaign again this year and give away some great prizes to grow the excitement that is steadily building globally about Huntsville and Madison County.”
How it works
Each day will feature a theme or prompt for participants to respond to using the hashtag #iHeartHsv. Themes include favorite locally made products, attractions or outdoor activities, and much more. At the end of each day, a winner will be selected and awarded a prize. Over 100 prizes have been donated by the Huntsville/Madison County hospitality industry for the #iHeartHsv campaign. Prizes range from hotel stays to attraction passes, dining experiences and more. A full list of prizes can be found online at huntsville.org/iHeartHsv-
Winners will be selected by a committee of CVB team members and partners based on use of the hashtag #iHeartHsv, relevance to the day’s theme as well as posts that are deemed to best display the uniqueness of beauty and culture of Huntsville/Madison County as a visitor destination and meeting site.
For more information on how #iHeartHsv works, visit huntsville.org/iHeartHsv.
#iHeartHsv TweetChat, February 1 – 8:00 p.m. CST
To officially launch the 2016 #iHeartHsv campaign, the Huntsville/Madison County CVB is inviting local and regional tourism influencers, the Huntsville/Madison County hospitality industry, social media users and individuals who have an interest in Huntsville/Madison County to participate in a TweetChat on Monday, February 1, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. CST to talk about Huntsville/Madison County favorites as well as what to expect during the 14 day campaign. For the latest updates on the #iHeartHsv TweetChat, visit the Facebook event page by clicking here.
New to #iHeartHsv in 2016
#iHeartHsv Collection - Partnering with Arts Huntsville (formerly The Arts Council), the CVB is showcasing a collection of locally made items that celebrates Huntsville and Madison County. These special items will be sold in the Visitor Center starting on February 1 and will help kick off The Year of Alabama Makers - an official Alabama Tourism Department campaign. All proceeds from the #iHeartHsv Collection will go directly to the participating artists. The #iHeartHsv Collection will remain at the Visitor Center throughout 2016 as part of The Year of Alabama Makers.
“The work featured in the #iHeartHsv collection showcases how local artists love Huntsville, and area visitors have much to discover and love about the hundreds of visual artists working across the Huntsville metro region,” said Allison Dillon-Jauken, Arts Huntsville Executive Director.
Arts Huntsville worked with local artists and Arts Huntsville members to compile and curate the #iHeartHsv Collection. For more information on Arts Huntsville or how to become a member – please go to artshuntsville.org
#iHeartHsv Greene Street Pop Up Market - On Friday, February 12 from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., the organizers of the popular Greene Street Market will be bringing their goods to the Visitor Center for a very special #iHeartHsv edition of the market. Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to browse and buy locally made items and produce. For the latest updates on this first-time event, visit the Facebook event page by clicking here.
To learn more about this campaign, visit huntsville.org/iHeartHsv or contact Jessica Carlton, Huntsville/Madison County CVB Marketing Manager, at 256.551.2294 or jessica@huntsville.org.
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About Huntsville/Madison County CVB
The Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization which was developed in 1970 to create economic growth for Huntsville/Madison County by marketing the community as a top-of-mind convention and visitor destination. As the official city/county agency which promotes the area as a tourist destination and convention site, the CVB works with an array of hospitality industry partners to market our destination to visitors of all types.
