"Get More Britain" Campaign Comes to the Streets of Boston
BOSTON, MA, September 23, 2009 - Today, VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales, and Virgin Atlantic Airways, one of the world's leading long-haul airlines, are bringing a piece of Britain to the streets of Boston. Britain Calling, a one-day event at Boylston Plaza by the Prudential Center, will celebrate why it's never been a better time to "Get More Britain for your Buck" with exceptional deals on airfare, hotels, and events and a historically low exchange rate.
Britain is calling and Bostonians, who dare to answer any of the ringing red phone boxes at Boylston Plaza and complete a simple British trivia quiz, will be entered into a drawing to win a five-night trip to London on Virgin Atlantic, hotel accommodation at the Royal Lancaster Hotel and a $500 Gift Card.
Activities begin at 7:00 a.m. and will feature classic British icons including nine life-size red telephone boxes and a cast of historic and modern British characters (Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, a Beefeater, a British Bobby, a Queen's Guard and more) to help Bostonians with the trivia quiz. Traditional British 'grub' served by Virgin Atlantic cabin crew, travel giveaways, and a DJ spinning popular British tracks throughout the day will keep commuters, students, shoppers and residents entertained.
"Research shows that Americans are suffering from a serious 'vacation deficit' with many people yet to take a vacation this year. The best time to take that desperately needed vacation to Britain is now - the dollar goes further than it did one year ago and there are great deals available on hotels and flights," says Simon Bradley, executive vice president, VisitBritain The Americas.
From 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., phone booths will also be calling at three other locations around Boston -- Back Bay Station (145 Dartmouth Street), Harvard Square Station (1400 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge) and North Station (135 Causeway Street). Commuters, who stop to answer the call, will be entered to win the Britain Calling sweepstakes.
Jim Mezoff, vice president of marketing, Virgin Atlantic, adds, "We love Britain and we think that there's no better way for travelers to get there than with Virgin Atlantic. Our unique combination of style, comfort, entertainment, service, and incredible value make a 'hop across the pond' more fun and innovative than anyone in the sky."
Today's event in Boston follows the successful exclusive partnership between VisitBritain and Virgin Atlantic Airways with the roll out of an online consumer marketing campaign to excite and lure travelers across the pond and to take advantage of this year's historically low British pound. Riding on the heels of strong spring and summer bookings through the promotion's website, Virgin Atlantic and VisitBritain decided to bring the campaign to life on the streets of Boston, a key market for transatlantic travel to Britain.
Consumers who visit www.getmorebritain.com can explore custom travel content, exclusive discounts, and a once in a lifetime sweepstakes, which includes the chance to win a private tour of The House of Commons, lunch with a Member of Parliament and the former Press Secretary of Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as access to exceptional deals on flights with Virgin Atlantic.
The sweepstakes winner will be announced on September 28 on www.getmorebritain.com. There's no better time to go to Britain on Virgin Atlantic and Get More for your buck.
For more information about "Britain Calling," please visit www.getmorebritain.com.
VisitBritain:
VisitBritain markets Britain to the rest of the world and England to the British, building the value of tourism by creating world-class destination brands and marketing campaigns. It also builds partnerships with - and provides insights to - other organizations which have a stake in British and English tourism.
Massachusetts is our 5th most popular state with 140,000 overseas visitors collectively spending approximately $160 million dollars during a vacation in Britain last year.
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