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Destination Winnipeg- Version Three

Destination Winnipeg- Version Three

Overview

When your site is one of the busiest in the city and province, it would make sense to want to be proactive in terms of technological change and the use of modern web media and that is precisely where Visual Lizard helped Destination Winnipeg (DW).

Destination Winnipeg’s goal was to add new functionality to its website while enhancing the useful functionality and content it already contained. They wanted to increase their connectivity with users in a new and dynamic way so we added several new sections, including a personal blogging page (video), My Winnipeg travel planner, RSS subscription service as well as visible social networking links (Facebook, Twitter).

A significant addition to its website was the expansion of the Economic Development section which was vital in order to reflect the branch of Destination Winnipeg that caters to the business community.

Details and technical challenges

The general design and layout of DW’s site is a departure from the past (Visual Lizard has worked with Destination Winnipeg for ten years) and a step into modern times.  The homepage features highlighted promotions at the top and mini-blocks of information which connect you with a plethora of useful tourist and economic information.

Destination Winnipeg was eager about rethinking its Events Calendar.  From display to content management, they wanted a change. Working with Fusion Design, we programmed two entrance points for the Events Calendar which provide visitors with a location view through Google Maps, and information about the venue/event, tickets and accessibility.  Visitors also have the ability to add an event to an itinerary called My Winnipeg which can easily be printed or e-mailed to a friend.

The combination of the Destination Winnipeg Reservation website with DW’s main website was a major challenge. We needed to have the ability to connect profiles with the reservation system, which was programmed by another company. The reservation site now offers users all the information they need plucked from DW’s profiles and events datatables.

The 411 on the 204 blog section contains seven different blogs. The challenge of building a Blog section was accomplished by enabling bloggers to have their own unique administrative capabilities using our Catalyst Content Management System.

Finally, Visual Lizard worked with Destination Winnipeg to update its profile system which will soon allow the profiles to be populated into any of its publications.

Features

  • Events Calendar (two entrance points on site with weekly and extended listings, built-in Google Maps technology, ticket information and contact information)
  • Blog section (Nightlife, Style, Food, City Living, Out in Winnipeg, Arts & Culture, Sports)
  • Promotions piece
  • My Winnipeg (provides a classification of venues, events and exhibits that the user adds to their visiting itinerary)
  • Winnipeg Essentials/Tools to Plan your Visit (Currency converter, maps, publication guides, travel tips)

Timeframe

The Destination Winnipeg project took approximately six months to complete.  Over the course of the first couple of months, we met with our partners to establish the scope and design details and finalized the initial programming requirements.  The middle months were very time intensive as many hours were spent doing the bulk of the heavy programming.  In the last month, minor functionality adjustments were made and Destination Winnipeg worked with us to finalize stylistic changes and functional subtleties.

Partners

  • Destination Winnipeg
  • Visual Lizard Inc.
  • Fusion Design

Launch Date

July, 2009
 

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Destination Winnipeg Inc. is Winnipeg’s economic development and tourism services agency, an arm’s length organization led by a private sector board with core funding from the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba. - Destination Winnipeg

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