VisitNH.gov Among World's Top 25 Tourism Board Websites

The NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development’s website, VisitNH.gov, was recently selected as one of the top 25 tourism board websites in the world for 2017. Skift, the travel industry’s largest intelligence platform, selected VisitNH.gov as a top website, highlighting its captivating photos and video, as well as its trip inspiration generator function.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by Skift for our innovative and engaging website that has become an essential tool for travelers visiting New Hampshire,” says Victoria Cimino, director of the NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development. “We understand competition for tourism dollars is at an all-time high and have responded by implementing the latest technology across the Division’s marketing efforts, including VisitNH.gov. The website design, and particularly the trip inspiration generator, is a major component of DTTD’s long-term strategy for delivering personalized experiences for travelers.”

Skift highlighted the division's “compelling video that plays when travelers first enter the site.” In addition, Skift points out the trip inspiration generator, in which travelers can “take a three-question survey that curates recommendations based on what kind of vacation they want to have.” VisitNH.gov also features a rotating gallery of travelers’ Instagram photos, which “helps travelers imagine themselves visiting these places,” according to Skift.

The division worked with its marketing agency, GYK Antler, and interactive partner, SilverTech, to develop the engaging and interactive design and execution for the website. The most recent iteration of the site was unveiled in May 2017, highlighting the tourism division's summer marketing campaign featuring NH’s “limitless” summertime activities, destinations and events.

“We have been working with DTTD to develop and highlight the content that most resonates with the travelers we want to attract again and again,” says Travis York, president and CEO of GYK Antler. “When we have a phenomenal product to feature, as we do in the case of New Hampshire as a tourism destination, it makes it considerably easier for us to create compelling, impactful content that engages the user.”

In compiling the 2017 list, Skift prioritized “websites with the best user experience overall, especially on mobile; the most modern modular layout, seamless navigation and impactful visuals, and the most nuanced multi-format storytelling.”

“Our major emphasis was ensuring VisitNH.gov was easy to use, intuitive and engaging,” says Nick Soggu, president and CEO of SilverTech. “In implementing the trip inspiration generator function, we are creating an interactive experience that also allows us to build out personalized experiences for users.”

DTTD, which had been a division of the Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED), until June 30, 2017, is now a division within the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, which was established by an act of the Legislature on July 1, 2017, following the reorganization of DRED.