European Best Destinations

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2 European Best Destinations Your destination has been selected to compete for the title of Best European Destination 2014 The largest e-tourism platform in Europe European Best Destinations (EBD) is a European non-profit making organization based in Brussels and developed to promote culture and tourism in Europe. In partnership with the participating tourism offices we promote a better understanding of the wealth, diversity and quality of European destinations. Speaking to an audience of e-citizens, European Best Destinations plays an important role in promoting Europe as the number one destination in the world. It has become the meeting place for tourism offices and world travelers, a main gateway to the discovery of Europe. Since 2009 EBD has been working with major tourism offices in Europe to reward and highlight the 20 most visited destinations via its website and social networks. The coveted title of European Best Destination has become synonymous with European excellence. We are proud to announce that we now have all the main European Tourism offices on board and our footprint covers over 140 European Destinations: from Aachen to Zagreb! The world s travelers have access to the best photographs, videos, 360 degree tours, texts, top things to do and the main social networks for over 140 destinations.

3 European Best Destination 2014 How does it work? 20 participating destinations 10 cities selected on the basis of Eurostat tourism data 10 cities selected and invited by our jury of tourism experts From January 22 to February weeks of online voting on our website: Weekly update on the status of the competing cities Thousands of votes across Europe in our 2013 competition One of the 20 destinations will be awarded the title of "European Best Destination 2014" and win the trophy, a professional photo guide and a travel guide. The next 9 destinations with the highest number of votes will be announced in our communications, website and social networks as being one of the best destinations in Europe. They will also be highlighted throughout the year on our networks.

4 Mobilize your network!

5 Benefits : The 2014 best European Destination will be authorized to use the title and affix the "European Best Destination logo on all its communications, adverts, website and photos; it will also have the right to authorize its own public and private partners to use the logo. The winner will receive the trophy for Best European Destination as well as a professionally produced photo guide and travel guide to ensure maximum visibility for your destination across Europe and worldwide. (Our state of the art referencing system makes them the most visited guide pages). The cities in our Top 10 can also use the logo by indicating that they have been chosen as one of the ten best destinations in Europe; we will share their news, photos and videos throughout the year via our website and the major social networks. Use of logo European Best Destination Porto (2012 winner) and Istanbul (2013 winner) both integrated the logo into their website, videos, paper communications (city maps, brochures, flags ) and communicated it to tourism professionals (hotels, airport, airlines) who all proudly feature the logo on their websites. Substantial media coverage The election of the year s best destinations receives substantial coverage right across all the various media in Europe. The main national newspapers, specialist press, blogs, specialized sites, television and social networks etc ensure that the winning city and the other top destinations are fully covered This election generates a great deal of interest for various reasons. First of all it gives European travelers a voice by casting their vote. Secondly, it is organized by an independent and non-profit making organization which is not dependent on commercial interests and does not carry advertisements on its sites.

6 ITW of Helena Gonçalves, Executive Director Porto & Northern Portugal Tourism Association, Porto Convention & Visitors Bureau. o How did you react when you were selected for this competition? It was a very special moment when we realized that Porto was selected for this competition. A feeling of proud and recognition. This nomination was the recognition of all the renovation and development that the city has suffered in the last years, and a sign that Porto is really a great Destination. All the city inhabitants were proud and happy, as they felt it was also with their effort that Porto was selected. o How do you mobilized your network and share this information? Since the first moment we knew that Porto had been selected as Best European Destination 2012, we spread the news to all our contacts: Members, Turismo de Portugal Board, all the delegations of Turismo de Portugal abroad, International Press, Tour operators, Buyers (...). This was an extra reason to invite Journalists and Buyers to come and visit Porto and Northern of Portugal, to write about the diversity and the potential of our Destination. o What is the impact of this award on tourism in Porto (for locals, tourists, restaurants, hotels)? Locals are very proud with this award, and many times they are the first ones to inform tourists about it. A lot of tourists know already that Porto was awarded and it is, of course, one more reason to visit the city. Many restaurants and hotels add this information to their communication tools. This year we achieved at Porto more visitors than the last year. This award aroused curiosity in the international markets and the tourist s desire to visit our Destination. o How did you communicate with the title of "Best European Destination"? We start using the logo of Best European Destination in all our communications: s, programs for Press or Fam trips, Site Inspections. Meanwhile a new advertising campaign started and we used this title as an extra reason for a visit to the city and the North of Portugal. Attached, you can see some examples of adverts and advertorials published in the international markets press. In all our direct contacts abroad, like Exhibitions, Workshops and Road Shows, we mentioned this nomination.

7 Ryanair is launching a contest aiming University students In Portugal, Italy, Spain and France. Also the communication of Best European Destination was mentioned and the logo included. The local tourism authority (City Tourism Department) added the logo in all the communication tools like: brochures, maps and website. o Are you happy with the media coverage related to this event? The coverage made by European Consumers Choice was very important, as had a great impact in Porto & Northern Portugal tourism. The mentioned coverage, with high quality photos, reflected the beauty and authenticity of this Destination. It s our belief that nowadays Porto & Northern Portugal is a must-go destination for all Europeans... The national Television also covered this event, with several tv articles related with this award, with special focus in all investments done in the city, the Touristic structures renovation, the born of new infrastructure and projects, the new flights to Porto International Airport, always mentioning that Porto was considered the Best European Destination by the European Consumers Choice. However we were the main promoters of this title abroad, as we mention it in all our contacts, meeting, communications, etc. That s the main reason why nowadays, articles related with Porto always mention the quality of Best European Destination 2012.This is very important to us, since we can give reliability to our slogan Porto & North: The essence of Portugal... how better can it go when we say We re the best when we have also the award? Helena Gonçalves Diretora Executiva Executive Director ASSOCIAÇÃO DE TURISMO DO PORTO E NORTE, AR. PORTO & NORTHERN PORTUGAL TOURISM ASSOCIATION PORTO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

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9 About European Best Destinations Our actions Develop online information related to the main tourist offices in Europe Connect tourism offices in Europe together and with the world s travelers Share information about the various tourist offices via our major social networks Collect data related to the development of e-tourism in Europe and provide this data to tourism offices Every year, over a period of three weeks, hundreds of thousand of voters take part in our acclaimed contest to nominate their best destination for the European Best Destination Award Produce ad-hoc travel guides online

10 Take part in this great event! Your contact: Maximilien Lejeune Travel Dept Phone : Mail : contact@europeanbestdestinations.org European Best Destinations 20 rue Paul Wemaere 1150 Brussels Belgium