Live ‘virtual tours’ of the region kick off tourism season
ALTON – A sneak peak of the life and times of Robert Wadlow, Alton’s Gentle Giant, will be offered during a live virtual tour offered by the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau beginning at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 18, on VisitAlton.com/Webisodes.
The 30-minute tour, featuring guide Nathan Woodside of the The Telegraph and a local expert on Robert Wadlow, will include a look inside the Alton Museum of History and Art and a visit to the Wadlow Statue on College Avenue. The live virtual tour is the first of its kind in Illinois and is made possible by a partnership between the Alton Regional CVB and the Illinois Office of Tourism and Georama with its “Vicarious Experiences” product.
A look inside Robert Wadlow’s life is the first of seven live virtual tours the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau will host throughout the summer tourism season.
Viewers will also be able to interact with the on-air guide by asking questions and receiving real-time responses.
“With the partnership with the Illinois Office of Tourism, we see the virtual tour program as a powerful marketing tool which can reach potential visitors to the region that other media might miss,” said Brett Stawar, Alton Regional CVB president and CEO. “This is really an exciting venture for us and we are looking forward to showcasing our region with these live webcasts.”
Anyone who misses the live webcast will be able to view the recorded tour on VisitAlton.com and Facebook, Stawar noted.
Georama provides cutting-edge software which allows people to experience tourism destinations vicariously in real-time. A guide equipped with a wearable camera and Georama’s technology can live stream to views in a stable HD stream while moving freely around.
“It’s like being able to interact in real-time with a local Anthony Bourdain while they are giving you a tour,” said Georama’s founder and CEO Nihal Advani. Georama plans to partner with tourism organizations across Illinois to help inspire and engage prospective travelers.
The Alton Regional CVB plans to have live webcasts of the Alton Entertainment District and Dining on Thursday, June 9; the Great Rivers Festival on Saturday, June 18; the Grafton Riverside Flea Market on Saturday, June 24, a live Mississippi River boat tour, Haunted Alton and the Alton Food Truck Festival.
For more information, contact the Alton Regional CVB at 1 (800) 258-6645.
The Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau is the destination marketing organization serving northern Madison, Jersey and Calhoun counties.
