Geofilters, Events & Experiential Marketing

You can’t walk a few blocks in New York City without seeing some form of advertising, whether that be a poster plastered to brick, a conveniently placed sticker, or someone handing you a flyer. Snap brings this concept to experiential marketing with Geofilters. Companies are starting to use Geofilters to engage people in specific locations. For as little as $5 for a few hours, events are also creating custom Snap Geofilters to tell a broader story - from a guest's perspective. So...what is a Geofilter?

Geofilter lets users overlay specific filters - available only to people within a pre-determined geofence - on photos and video taken in Snap. For example, riders at SoulCycle can snap a video with their yellow logo or a heart fills your screen when you snap with jewelry at Tiffany. Prices vary based on how many hours you want to offer your filter and how big your geofence is (must be between 20k and 5 million square feet). The upload tool allows you to see different pricing options when creating your Geofilter.

How can a Geofilter enhance events? Creating an effective event hashtag has been around for a while but to increase the digital impressions for your event - at (currently) low costs - consider creating a Geofilter for your next event. Snaps might not live as long as hashtags but the ability to personalize an event with special filters that also reach other people in the area is appealing. If you are looking for a filter not offered through Snap, there are quite a few ways to help create the perfect personalized filter for any event, like Pepper Filters or Canva.

How is this changing experiential marketing? Business are taking note of this new on-demand Geofilter option and implementing experiential marketing campaigns around it. These campaigns bridge online & offline for people in very meaningful ways. One of the more successful campaigns has come from Delta Airlines, who recently joined Snap. Not only do they have their own Geofilters, they created a scavenger hunt around them. Delta’s Dreamhunt challenged the people of Los Angeles to find specific Geofilters around the city to win amazing prizes centered around key industries in the city. Bloomingdale's created something similar with their in-store scavenger hunt, Swipestakes. Geofilters were hidden in local stores across the country giving customers the opportunity to win a meet and greet with Rebecca Minkoff, tickets to Maddie & Tae or gift cards to the store.

As on-demand Geofilters gain popularity, why not be an early adopter and make one for your next event while it's still almost free?

Happy snapping!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: Snapchat, Delta

SUBMERGE! NYC's Marine Science Festival

Submerge! - NYC’s Marine Science Festival takes place this Saturday on Pier 26 in Tribeca from 11:00am - 4:00pm. Kids (and quite a few adults) will get to learn...for FREE...first hand about the Hudson River waterways and the influence humans have on marine life. This interactive day is sure to inspire some scientists in the making...

Kids will learn valuable information about Hudson River through marine robotics and the scientists that run them with hands-on experiments throughout the day. Interactive touch tanks will allow the public an up close and personal look at sea horses, stingrays, horseshoe crabs, and more. Kids will be given the opportunity to contribute to the ecosystem on the Hudson River by creating oyster habitats to improve their population.

Comedian, creator and host of You're the Expert, Chris Duffy, will be MCing the Science Stage and interviewing three very different and experienced scientists throughout the program. It might get a little wet in the front row with Mad Science's water experiments while Unusual Creatures perform songs that celebrate some of the most bizarre animals on earth.

We are thrilled to be working with Hudson River Park Trust on such an impactful and educational event. Stop by Pier 26 to pin the tail on the shark or take advantage of catch & release fishing and kayaking!

Happy learning!
-DTE

Photo Credit: NYSCI

Tradition Lives On

On Saturday, September 17th, the 183rd Oktoberfest begins on Theresienwiese, Munich’s fairgrounds. It will start like it has every year, with a large parade of horse-drawn carriages through the city transporting large quantities of beer to the Theresienwiese. Here the Mayor of Munich will tap the first keg to shouts of “O’zapft is!” and let the beer flow…

This fest is steeped in deep tradition. Although the Wiesn (what the Bavarians often call Oktoberfest) has grown in size, the organizers stay true to the values that played into the very first celebration. Only true Munich beer, defined as being brewed within the city limits, is allowed the be served. The beer must also be brewed following very strict purity laws in effect since 1516.

Over 7.2 million people visited the grounds in 2015 and consumed over 1.8 million gallons of beer. Drinking beer is not the only tradition followed in this 17 day-long fest. German food is available for mass consumption, including over 1,200 different kinds of sausages, large Pretzels (which Germans eat plain, never with mustard!), various rotisserie chicken dishes and traditional Bavarian pork shanks!

If you aren’t able to fly to Munich this year for Oktoberfest, there are plenty of copycat festivals around the world. So grab your stein and celebrate!

Prost!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: @oktoberfestmuenchen

Omega House in Rio

As the dust settles on the 2016 Summer Olympics, we take a look back at some successful sponsorships. From Samsung’s enhanced virtual reality to Airbnb’s exclusive suite rental in the Olympic Stadium, there was no shortage of head turning, innovative activations at this year’s games in Rio. One luxury brand we were particularly impressed with drew upon its 84 year Olympic history to create unforgettable experiences in Rio...and beyond.

Leading up to the Games, luxury watchmaker Omega released their “Rio 2016” collection of three limited edition timepieces “inspired by the glory, triumph and unbreakable unity that brings the world together.”

Building upon the 2012 location in London, the Omega House opened at the Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim on Ipanema Beach, a remarkable three-story building with a terrace and panoramic views onto the Atlantic Ocean, exclusive only to members. Guests mingled on an all white terrace decorated with black and white photos of Omega’s long history with the Olympic games and two-story rope swings. The second floor of Casa de Cultura was adorned with a large collection of timepieces (1,000 of which were donated by a local physician) on display in four themed rooms. 

To showcase Omega’s long history with space exploration and the Speedmaster, Omega hosted a “Cocktails in Space” party at the house with Omega ambassador, Buzz Aldrin. Guests were greeted by a giant luminescent moon and hostesses in futuristic attire offering cocktails in space ration hydropacks made with ingredients astronauts actually bring to space. 

We leave you with these inspiring words from Buzz Aldrin:

“It’s the same thing that drives everyone who wants to appreciate what they stand for. What they can do. What their contribution may be. It may be small. But you want it to be the best that you can do. We’re all working towards something. And I can put that into other words. We explore, or we expire. You’ve got a choice.”

Choose well!
-DTE

Photo Credit: ©OMEGA Ltd.  

Schneetag

Schneetag is German for "snow day" - and one of the most ridiculously entertaining events. Going on its 8th year this April 10th, Schneetag is one of the four annual festivals that close Aspen's ski season. During this event the most courageous build themed contraptions and "fly" them downhill. It doesn't end there, they then head off a jump and across an ice cold 75x20 foot pond at the bottom of the hill.  

This event is not one to miss! Teams of four sign up knowing the consequences are a little chilly. Though the event is lighthearted and full of laughter the teams have strict rules! The "vehicle" must be 100% human powered, weigh less than 400 lbs (including weight of the person "driving") and measure less than 10 feet wide. 

Before the teams cross their fingers and fly downhill they must perform a short skit. Themes can range from animals to celebrities. One of our favorites may be the Miley Cyrus impersonator who slid downhill...on a wrecking ball. 

The judges score teams based on costumes, theme, creativity and flight time. We imagine Schneetag is much funnier when you're not the one in the ice cold pond! If you are ever looking for a guest judge, you know who to call ;) See Schneetag in action here.

Happy Flying!
-DTE 

Photo Credit: Aspen Snowmass, Where to Ski and Snowboard