Visit Quad Cities leaders now are serving a freshly-brewed regional promotion with the Monday, April 4, introduction of the Quad Cities Coffee Trail that will showcase nearly 30 local coffee shops and cafes.
Modeled after the popular QC Ale Trail, the latest initiative to promote the area’s hospitality industry “is designed to expand the way visitors and Quad Citizens interact with destination assets,” Visit Quad Cities said in a news release.
The QC Coffee Trail uses mobile-based code check-ins, and gamification (in this case, game-playing for prizes) to engage participants to visit the shops and cafes that have agreed to be part of the trail. Other local coffee shops interested in becoming a stop on the new QC Coffee Trail are urged to email info@visitquadcities.com.
“Visit Quad Cities will continue to drive new destination and tourism products that showcase our authentic and locally curated experiences,” said Dave Herrell, president and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “We have a tremendous and passionate coffee community in the QC and like our QC Ale Trail this is another opportunity to engage Quad Citizens and visitors with what our region has to offer as we all strive to improve (the region’s) quality of place.”
Visit Quad Cities said it concocted the promotion for the region’s customers based on research through its Tourism Master Plan, insights from visitors, and the past success of the QC Ale Trail.
“Local coffee shops and cafés have long been meaningful gathering spots for friends, family, and business connections,” Visit Quad Cities said. Those places are “where relationships are grown, and memories are created while further advancing resident pride and improving bragability.”
Registration for those who want to follow the Coffee Trail went live Monday and is free at www.QCcoffeetrail.com. As patrons visit participating coffee shops in the QC, they can check in at each location and track their progress.
Participants who check in at five places earn a QC Coffee Trail coaster for their vehicle cup holder. Those who visit 15 locations will receive a fleece blanket. If patrons complete all the locations they’ll receive a QC Coffee Trail insulated flask, and a place on the trail’s Caffeinated Wall of Fame.
The QC Coffee Trail is ongoing, and people can sign up at any point. To view a list of the participating locations, visit www.QCcoffeetrail.com. Once registered, the mobile-friendly QC Coffee Trail will be instantly delivered to your smartphone via text and email and is ready to use immediately. There is no app to download. You can also save the pass to your phone’s home screen for easy one-tap access.
Those who want to share their QC Coffee Trail journey are encouraged to join a new Facebook group dedicated to coffee and the Quad Cities at https://www.facebook.com/groups/qccoffeetrail.
In addition, Visit Quad Cities also leads other destination experiential products with the QC Ale Trail, QC Family Pass and QC Pro. It also is developing a QC Public Art Trail with its partners at Quad City Arts.
Visit Quad Cities used Bandwango for the development of the QC Coffee Trail, QC Family Pass and QC Advanced Pro. Bandwango is a travel technology-based platform that is designed to deliver access to places and experiences digitally. Bandwango currently works with destinations across the U.S. and Canada, including Denver, Houston, Phoenix, and the Iowa Office of Tourism.
