ACT MTMPP Grant Report | Final | July 1 , 2023 through June 30 , 2024
ACT was scheduled to attend a fourth tradeshow promoting travel and tourism , however a show was not booked as a volunteer was not found to staff the booth . Funds from this incomplete show were reallocated to purchase the back cover advertisement of Visit Portland ’ s Regional Guidebook .
RFQ ’ s : ACT advertised three Request for Qualifications ( RFQ ). The three projects will have the biggest impact on the future image of ACT as these are the three main touchpoints to the brand . It was important to the ACT Board that one firm complete the three projects . ACT received 32 responses from 14 firms interested in completing the work . o
Website – awarded to PROTOS Agency of Portland for up to $ 22,000 . Chosen based on prior work samples and recommendations from Live and Work in Maine and Visit Mount Washington Valley . o Regional Guidebook – awarded to PROTOS Agency of Portland for up to $ 10,000 . o Regional Map – awarded to PROTOS Agency of Portland for up to $ 5,000 .
Website - RFQ Aroostook County Tourism worked with the Protos Agency of Portland to redesign and format www . visitaroostook . com . This project was scheduled to be completed on January 1 st of 2024 , however delays pushed the project back . By delaying the completion of the new website it made running digital advertising very difficult as it was perceived that running advertising to push people to the new website would provide them with a poor website experience as it takes time to iron out the migrated content and form submissions of any new website .
While advertising was paused for the website it was anticipated that # VisitAroostook would carry digital conversations over social media channels outside of www . visitaroostook . com . However , # VisitAroostook was created with a winter theme and it was required to run in the winter months while the new website launch actually happened at the end of June , 2024 . # VisitAroostook was not effective in softening the impact of launching a new website , however it was extremely impactful in sparking local conversations about real-time digital content and raising awareness of ACT in the region among both stakeholders and visitors .
The new website better frames the existing photography and video files of ACT and creates hubs of activity information for visitors to navigate the region . The new format will be easier for requesting printed materials , browsing accommodations and services , and finding inspiring stories or itineraries . This is a strong tool to showcase the businesses in the region and all are welcome to utilize the site for free .
Work continues to complete missing website information and update written copy to fit the new framework . Helpful information for in-region stakeholders and businesses needs to be built and refined on the new site and the mapping feature of the website has yet to be accessible to visitors .
Regional Guidebook - RFQ The regional guidebook project is the main focus of the marketing work done by ACT . The project frames the style and narrative for the year and every ACT board member shares their opinion on the style , copy , and photography . The project was scheduled to be completed in May of 2024 by the Protos Agency in Portland , but due to delays in the website project the guidebook was pushed back . 12,000 guidebooks