From the Director's Chair

It’s been another busy month on the advertising front with new print ads appearing in metro publications like Portland Monthly and even Oregon Business, as well as in Washington’s 1889 Magazine and Seattle Met’s October issue and annual Newcomers Guide. Seaside is also making an appearance in email newsletters this month for Travel Oregon, Seattle Met, and Portland Monthly, not to mention the website-wide banner ads and Instagram takeovers for multiple publications on the schedule.

We’ve also got a few far-reaching sweepstakes in the mix right now.

The Oregonian recently wrapped a weeklong sweepstakes to encourage readers to visit our website, order a visitor guide, sign up for our monthly emails, follow our Instagram, and check out our Facebook page and YouTube channel for a chance to win a two-night stay in Seaside with dinner, coffee, candy, bike rides, and other fun included. The promotion reached 14,039 Facebook accounts in the metro area organically (there was no paid boost for this item) and resulted in 1,114 entries. Thank you to Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Seaside Brewery, Seaside Coffeehouse, Phillips Candies, Wheel Fun Rentals, and the Seaside Aquarium for partnering with us to provide goods and services for this sweepstakes.

Entercom Radio is also in the process of running not one but two sweepstakes for Seaside. The smaller, more-targeted contest is focused on supporting the Seaside Downtown Development Association’s upcoming Fall Wine Walk on Nov. 9. We’ve cut two radio spots promoting the event and contest, as well as an email blast and social media paid post that will push to a custom contest landing page. Additionally, we’re running a three-month-long “Winter is the New Summer” sweepstakes to encourage offseason visitation from the station’s listener base. Thank you to Ebb-Tide Oceanfront Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, everyone at SDDA, End of the Trail Public House, Finns Fish House, Rascals, Brew 22, Seaside Inverted Experience, Wheel Fun Rental, and the Seaside Aquarium for partnering with us on these two sweepstakes.

The community participation in these from local businesses is so appreciated as it helps us directly illuminate the attractions and experiences available here in Seaside in conjunction with our advertising efforts. Ken Heman, our senior visitor information specialist at the VB, does the heavy lift in putting together comprehensive packages for contests and sweepstakes. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss being part of future promotions.

Oregon Film Trail in Ecola

Fans of the “The Goonies” and (especially) “Point Break,” take note! The burgeoning Oregon Film Trail installed two signs and a map panel at Ecola State Park earlier this month to commemorate filming locations of those now-classics (plus “Twilight” but no comment). The signs can be found at Indian Beach and the Ecola State Recreation Site parking lot just south of Seaside and were a collaboration between the Oregon Film Office, Ecola State Park, Oregon State Parks, and the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.

If you’re wondering whether people actually come to the North Coast looking for the iconic site where Keanu Reeves finally shackled rogue surfer/criminal Patrick Swayze before letting him go out to surf his one last wave instead … well, how do you think I got here? I’m only half-kidding.

—

Got a tourism-related comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Write me at jheineman@cityofseaside.us.