Black Meetings & Tourism - EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS LAUNCHES "LIVE FORWARD. GIFT FORWARD." HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN TO KICK OFF HOLIDAY SEASON

Industry Briefs
EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS LAUNCHES "LIVE FORWARD. GIFT FORWARD." HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN TO KICK OFF HOLIDAY SEASON
Curated Holiday Gift Guide Inspires Columbus Residents and Visitors to Gift Experiences and Shop Locally Experience Columbus is encouraging residents and visitors to make the holidays more meaningful this year as they gather with their families, friends and loved ones again. Today, the destination marketing organization launches its "Live Forward. Gift Forward." holiday campaign with a gift guide, experience packages and a hosting guide that will enable these long-awaited holiday reunions to focus on what matters most - the moments together. Sarah Townes "Experience Columbus is excited to help residents and visitors Live Forward and Gift Forward this holiday season with meaningful experiences and one-of-a-kind gifts that express more thoughtfulness and togetherness," said Sarah Townes, chief marketing and innovation officer for Experience Columbus. "Every business featured in our campaign is locally owned or operated, allowing us to keep more money and thousands of jobs in our community, making it stronger-and helping us all be better stewards of the environment by using less packaging and transportation, too. With the national supply and demand shortage, this holiday season is the perfect opportunity to explore local and shop right in our backyard." 2021 Columbus Gift Guide Back again this year, the 2021 Columbus Gift Guide is the best partner for gifting local and supporting small businesses in Columbus this holiday season. Gift givers will find an amazing selection of curated items for family, friends, teachers, and those hard-to-shop-for partners-and can filter gifts by categories such as the foodie, fashionista, or the sports-lover. The easy-to-navigate guide features unique finds across Columbus including which businesses offer shipping and drive-up options. It even includes specially picked items from some of your favorite local influencers. Plus, the online chatbot at experiencecolumbus.com is your holiday gift assistant this year - just click the speech bubble icon on the right of the window and tell it what, or who, you are shopping for to receive recommendations. To learn more, visit http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/giftguide . Gift Experiences with Travel Packages and Tours With many people eyeing experiences over things this year and looking forward to connecting in-person with friends and family, Experience Columbus developed an easy way for people to cross off their lists by gifting curated travel packages and experiential tours. Options include build-your-own experiences, with everything from museum tickets to themed walking and food tours; value-added hotel bookings, including attraction tickets or Lyft credits; and even access to free experiential tours showcasing the best coffee shops, bike trails and more. To learn more and to book experiences, visit http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/holidays . NEW Holiday Hosting Guide In the coming weeks, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Experience Columbus will release their Holiday Hosting Guide, designed to help residents host their families and friends and experience the best holiday spots in each unique neighborhood across the Columbus region. This interactive map will allow residents and their visitors to explore their neighborhoods like never before. From the best holiday lights to local eats, and shopping and other can't miss experiences - the hosting guide has recommendations for it all. Watch for the guide on Experience Columbus' Facebook , Instagram and Twitter coming soon. To learn more about the "Live Forward. Gift Forward." holiday campaign and gift guide and to book experiences, visit experiencecolumbus.com/holidays , subscribe to our Alexa Flash Briefing or follow us on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . To share stories of "Live Forward" and the Columbus holiday season in action, post on social media using #HolidaysInCbus, #GiftForwardCbus or email community@experiencecolumbus.com . Columbus is a city unlike any other. Vibrant and alive, Ohio's capital is known for its open attitude, smart style and entrepreneurial spirit. Columbus' blend of neighborhoods; dynamic nightlife; noteworthy music scene; arts and culinary experiences; events; attractions; and accommodations are all made unforgettable by the diversity of its outgoing locals who eagerly await warmly welcoming visitors. Free travel guides, maps, online booking and detailed information are available at http://www.ExperienceColumbus.com . Visitor information is also available on Facebook: facebook.com/ExperienceColumbus , Twitter: @ExpCols and Instagram: @experiencecolumbus .

Industry Briefs

EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS LAUNCHES "LIVE FORWARD. GIFT FORWARD." HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN TO KICK OFF HOLIDAY SEASON

Curated Holiday Gift Guide Inspires Columbus Residents and Visitors to Gift Experiences and Shop Locally

Experience Columbus is encouraging residents and visitors to make the holidays more meaningful this year as they gather with their families, friends and loved ones again. Today, the destination marketing organization launches its "Live Forward. Gift Forward." holiday campaign with a gift guide, experience packages and a hosting guide that will enable these long-awaited holiday reunions to focus on what matters most - the moments together.

Sarah Townes

"Experience Columbus is excited to help residents and visitors Live Forward and Gift Forward this holiday season with meaningful experiences and one-of-a-kind gifts that express more thoughtfulness and togetherness," said Sarah Townes, chief marketing and innovation officer for Experience Columbus. "Every business featured in our campaign is locally owned or operated, allowing us to keep more money and thousands of jobs in our community, making it stronger-and helping us all be better stewards of the environment by using less packaging and transportation, too. With the national supply and demand shortage, this holiday season is the perfect opportunity to explore local and shop right in our backyard."

2021 Columbus Gift Guide
Back again this year, the 2021 Columbus Gift Guide is the best partner for gifting local and supporting small businesses in Columbus this holiday season. Gift givers will find an amazing selection of curated items for family, friends, teachers, and those hard-to-shop-for partners-and can filter gifts by categories such as the foodie, fashionista, or the sports-lover. The easy-to-navigate guide features unique finds across Columbus including which businesses offer shipping and drive-up options. It even includes specially picked items from some of your favorite local influencers. Plus, the online chatbot at experiencecolumbus.com is your holiday gift assistant this year - just click the speech bubble icon on the right of the window and tell it what, or who, you are shopping for to receive recommendations. To learn more, visit http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/giftguide .

Gift Experiences with Travel Packages and Tours
With many people eyeing experiences over things this year and looking forward to connecting in-person with friends and family, Experience Columbus developed an easy way for people to cross off their lists by gifting curated travel packages and experiential tours. Options include build-your-own experiences, with everything from museum tickets to themed walking and food tours; value-added hotel bookings, including attraction tickets or Lyft credits; and even access to free experiential tours showcasing the best coffee shops, bike trails and more. To learn more and to book experiences, visit http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/holidays .

NEW Holiday Hosting Guide
In the coming weeks, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Experience Columbus will release their Holiday Hosting Guide, designed to help residents host their families and friends and experience the best holiday spots in each unique neighborhood across the Columbus region. This interactive map will allow residents and their visitors to explore their neighborhoods like never before. From the best holiday lights to local eats, and shopping and other can't miss experiences - the hosting guide has recommendations for it all. Watch for the guide on Experience Columbus' Facebook , Instagram and Twitter coming soon.

To learn more about the "Live Forward. Gift Forward." holiday campaign and gift guide and to book experiences, visit experiencecolumbus.com/holidays , subscribe to our Alexa Flash Briefing or follow us on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . To share stories of "Live Forward" and the Columbus holiday season in action, post on social media using #HolidaysInCbus, #GiftForwardCbus or email community@experiencecolumbus.com .

Columbus is a city unlike any other. Vibrant and alive, Ohio's capital is known for its open attitude, smart style and entrepreneurial spirit. Columbus' blend of neighborhoods; dynamic nightlife; noteworthy music scene; arts and culinary experiences; events; attractions; and accommodations are all made unforgettable by the diversity of its outgoing locals who eagerly await warmly welcoming visitors. Free travel guides, maps, online booking and detailed information are available at http://www.ExperienceColumbus.com . Visitor information is also available on Facebook: facebook.com/ExperienceColumbus , Twitter: @ExpCols and Instagram: @experiencecolumbus .