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#iHeartHsv campaign returns with surprise “pay it forward” project

Locals and visitors encouraged to show the love for Huntsville

 

Link to #iHeartHsv video

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

January 31, 2017

 

(Huntsville, AL) – It’s time again to show Huntsville/Madison County some love. For the fourth 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, Instagram and new for 2017 - Snapchat.  

 

The #iHeartHsv social media campaign aims to generate excitement and buzz about Huntsville and Madison County as a visitor destination and meeting location. This year, the CVB revealed a unique element for the 2017 campaign – a surprise, “pay-it-forward” style project that will encourage residents and visitors alike to visit local businesses, and inspire acts of kindness and hospitality throughout the Rocket City.

  

Starting Wednesday, February 1, and lasting until Tuesday, 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.

 

 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 iHeartHsv.com.

  

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 individuality 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.

 

 

New to #iHeartHsv in 2017

 

Show the Love project  Throughout the campaign, CVB staffers will be stationed at various local restaurants, food trucks, breweries, and other eateries to surprise patrons by paying for their purchase. Inspired by the “pay-it-forward” movement, the CVB hopes that recipients of Show the Love purchases will pass the kindness along to others. The objective behind the idea is two-fold: to showcase local businesses, which make up the identity of the Rocket City and set it apart as a unique visitor destination, and secondly to inspire a feeling of hospitality among the community.

 

Since the #iHeartHsv campaign is social media driven, locations of the CVB staff will be kept secret until the day of, and participants are encouraged to follow the CVB for announcements on locations and times.

 

To announce the project, the CVB partnered with Earth and Stone, Pizzelle’s Confections, Alchemy Lounge, and Orange Beard Films to produce a highlight film that illustrates the concept behind Show the Love.

 

“There is no other place on Earth like the Rocket City,” CVB President/CEO Judy Ryals said. “When we launched this campaign four 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 to show social media users across the globe what people love most about Huntsville.”

 

New blogs - Where in Huntsville can you make your own Valentine? Where are the best places to go in Huntsville with your best friend? What are the six tell-tale signs you’re in love with the Rocket City? Our #iHeartHsv bloggers will give you the scoop on these topics and more throughout the week.

 

Snapchat – This year, social media users can participate in the campaign on an additional platform (CVB username: VisitHuntsville). In addition, Snapchat users taking their photo with the #iHeartHsv heart display in Downtown Huntsville can add a special #iHeartHsv geofilter to their pictures.

 

 

Returning for 2017

 

#iHeartHsv TweetChat, February 1 – 8:00 p.m. CST - To officially launch the 2017 #iHeartHsv campaign, the Huntsville/Madison County CVB is inviting local and regional tourism influencers, the local hospitality industry partners, social media users and individuals who have an interest in Huntsville to participate in a TweetChat on Monday, February 1, from 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 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.

 

Greene Street Pop Up Market - On Friday, February 10, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 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 Kristen Pepper, Huntsville/Madison County CVB Marketing Manager at 256-551-2294 or kristen@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 city 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 partners with an array of hospitality industry partners to market our destination to visitors of all types.