LANSING, MICH. – July 29, 2024 – Choose LansingTM and Destination Ann Arbor are excited to announce their participation in the new Cities of the Big Ten passport initiative, a collaborative effort designed to encourage visitors to explore beyond athletic events and discover the unique attractions of the Big Ten cities. This joint effort, facilitated through a digital passport developed with Bandwango, aims to showcase unique attractions in each Big Ten destination and promote a richer travel experience.
“Being a part of the Big Ten conference strengthens the bond between our communities,” said Amy Karbo, Vice President of Marketing of Destination Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan and the 2023 College Football National Champions. “This initiative provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight and share the unique attractions of each of our destinations, encouraging visitors to explore all that we have to offer. Ann Arbor is known for its vibrant culture, lively arts scene and iconic landmarks. We are thrilled to be part of this initiative that not only brings sports fans to our city but also encourages them to explore everything else Ann Arbor has to offer.”
Tracy Padot, Chief Marketing Officer of Choose Lansing, agrees. “As home to the State Capitol and Michigan State University, there’s so much more to see beyond Spartan Stadium when visitors come for a football game. Whether it’s one of our attractions, museums, great dining, or outstanding accommodations, we are a welcoming destination for all.”
Working with destination experience technology company Bandwango, the group developed a digital passport featuring 10 must-see attractions for each of the 17 Big Ten cities representing 18 schools. The free passport is easily accessible from a mobile device, providing instant access to the most popular things to see and do in each location.
The passport features a curated list and dynamic mix of places to visit and explore, aiming to help sports fans traveling to support their team, or anyone interested in new travel adventures, get better acquainted with the cities of the Big Ten.
Highlighted Attractions in Lansing include:
- State Capitol Building/Heritage Hall
- Michigan History Center and Archives of Michigan
- Impression 5 Science Center
- R.E. Olds Transportation Museum
- High Caliber Karting
- Zap Zone XL
- Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum
- MSU Horticulture Gardens
- Abrams Planetarium
- MSU Dairy Store
Highlighted Attractions in Ann Arbor include:
- Zingerman's Deli
- Big House Tour
- Law Quad on Campus
- Main Street
- Michigan Theater & State Theater
- The Nichols Arboretum
- Kerrytown
- Ann Arbor Distillery
- Winewood Organics
- Farmer's Market
Both Spartan and Wolverine communities, along with their Big Ten counterparts including the incoming West Coast additions, are pleased to participate collectively in this initiative. “While rivalries are fun, we both like to promote our destinations and tourism is about providing a positive experience and creating lasting memories,” Karbo said. “We look forward to welcoming all our Big Ten visitors and showing them what Pure Michigan’s hospitality is all about.”
The Cities of the Big Ten trail is a partnership of Destination Ann Arbor, Choose Lansing, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, Visit Bloomington, Central Jersey Convention & Visitors Bureau, Destination Madison, Discover Los Angeles, Experience Champaign-Urbana, Experience Columbus, Experience Prince Georges County, Chicago’s North Shore, Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau, Meet Minneapolis, Think Iowa City, Travel Lane County (Oregon), Visit Lafayette/West Lafayette, and Visit Seattle. To access the Cities of the Big Ten passport, visit https://www.citiesofthebigten.com. For more information, visit the dedicated landing pages at Destination Ann Arbor and Choose Lansing.
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About Choose LansingTM
The vision of Choose LansingTM is to inspire everyone to celebrate and love Greater Lansing as much as we do! This goes hand in hand with our mission, to positively impact our community’s quality of life by developing the region as a visitor destination. Learn more at www.lansing.org.
About Destination Ann Arbor
Destination Ann Arbor is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to elevate economic vitality and connect our communities through the power of travel.
For media inquiries, please contact:
· Tracy Padot, Chief Marketing Officer of Choose Lansing, tpadot@lansing.org or (517) 377-1419
· Chad Wiebesick, Director of Public Affairs at Destination Ann Arbor, cwiebesick@annarbor.org or (734) 995-7281