AUSTIN, TX—Visit Austin today announced the completion of the first phase of the 360° video program, featuring more than 500 local Austin businesses. The 360° videos, highlighting local businesses, are a part of Visit Austin’s integrated marketing and public relations program, a series of initiatives targeted to the visitor to promote the destination. The program is free to all visitor-relevant Austin area businesses.

In 2018, Visit Austin launched the initiative aimed at increasing exposure of local Austin businesses on VisitAustin.org. Over a twelve-month period, Visit Austin captured 360° video content for more than 500 local Austin businesses. The videos highlight the interior and exterior spaces of each business. On average, website listings experience a 96% increase in clicks to their business after adding 360° interactive video.

In addition to VisitAustin.org, Visit Austin uploads the video content for each local business into Google’s travel platform. Over a 12-month period, the video content has received the following: 

  • 132,884 views (VisitAustin.org)
  • 25,191,100 views (Google platform)
  • 755 hours viewed
  • ​$509,000 earned media value

“360° video isn’t just an emerging technology anymore–it’s becoming a necessity for engaging with visitors,” said Susan Richardson, Director of Content and Publishing at Visit Austin. “By the end of 2020, over one billion people* will regularly access immersive content like the 360° videos. ”

“Visit Austin is our local cheerleader, as well as champions for small [Austin] businesses like our own,” said Kendall Antonelli, President, Co-Owner and Founder of Antonelli's Cheese Shop.

“We rely heavily on our community to survive and thrive,” said Avi Minkoff, Director of Operations at Heard Presents, an independent, local concert promotions company for The Parish and Empire Control Room. “Visit Austin continues to go above and beyond to ensure small businesses across the community have additional support whenever needed. From marketing and driving tourists to our shows to creating 360 video tours and booking our rooms for events, the team at Visit Austin has been a great partner of ours and we look forward to growing our community with them.”

As part of phase II, Visit Austin is capturing 100 additional Austin businesses and will have added to VisitAustin.org and the Google platform by November 2019. If you are a local business and would like to get involved in the program, please contact Susan Richardson at srichardson@visitaustin.org to learn more.

Visit Austin offers a wealth of free resources connecting prospective visitors, meeting planners, travel trade and the film industry to local Austin businesses. Some of these include but are not limited to VisitAustin.org, Austin Insider Guide, Austin eNewsletters, Austin Insider Blog and Insider Deals.

*Source: VR Stats Every Business Leader Should See, Yulio Technologies; International Data Corporation Worldwide Semiannual Augmented and Virtual Reality Spending Guide 2018.

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About Visit Austin
Visit Austin is the official destination marketing and sales organization for the City of Austin. An accredited member of the Destinations International, Visit Austin is charged with marketing Austin nationally and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination, thus enriching our community's overall quality of life. In 2018, the greater Austin MSA welcomed 28.9 million visitors who contributed to $8.7 billion in economic impact and 129,600 jobs.