PRESS RELEASE


July 2009

In collaboration with NYC & Company, Google just unveiled a new campaign for Google Maps that celebrates New York City for both consumers and businesses. The new innovative global campaign ‘Google Maps–Favorite Places’ brings together technology, business and celebrity to strengthen the marketing of Google Maps as the premier resource for navigation through promoting some of the most interesting local businesses in 13 cities worldwide (go to http://www.google.com/favoriteplaces or Google Maps and look for the link on the homepage).





Given that an estimated 80% of U.S. internet users access web search to find local business information, the intention behind this new campaign is to assist locals and visitors to New York (and all participating cities–which include San Francisco, London, Paris, Moscow, Hong Kong,
Tokyo, Madrid and Prague) find fabulous, sometimes little-known treasures in dining, shopping, and culture that are the favorite places of prominent trendsetters and experts. The program's objective is to synergistically promote Google Maps and support local business development through these personal endorsements, enabling businesses to connect with customers online as well as in person.





In New York, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa recommends his favorite restaurants; Diane Von Furstenberg and Isaac Mizrahi share their favorite places to shop; and Yo-Yo Ma, Mark Morris and Maya Lin list where they most enjoy art exhibits and theater. Other celebrities and dignitaries participating in the campaign include Jimmy Buffet, Cynthia Rowley, Danny Meyer, Al Gore, and Alice Waters.

The genesis of the campaign parallels the NYC & Company program ‘Just Ask the Locals,’ which featured insider tips on everything from the best late-night eats and great bargains to the liveliest outdoor markets throughout New York City. The new Favorite Places campaign, also using celebrities, venues and content, draws from this successful formula. Some of the elements include:

a cool outdoor media campaign that will appear on NYC & Company properties such as bus stop shelters and street pole banners in New York (Attached are some of the outdoor ads that will be seen around town);

window decals of the Google Maps ‘My Map‘ pin appearing in stores, restaurants, galleries and other venues. In San Francisco, life-sized "pins" like those on Google Maps will identify businesses selected as favorite places;

information about Favorite Places on Google Maps globally accessible via mobile extension to help users get local expertise on the move (for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 handsets);

listings of the favorite locations and links to the NYCGO.com website on Google Maps as part of the NYC & Company branding component;

free, easy ways for NYC businesses to get online, including Google's Local Business Center, which allows business owners to control their business listings on Google and Google Maps.


NYC & Company and Google executives are available to discuss this unique, creative program designed to impact business development, build the Google Maps brand, and entice people to experience some of the favorite local haunts of successful, in-the-know trendsetters. NYC &
Company, NYC's official marketing and partnership agency, has developed exclusive promotions and unique, customized partnerships with brands that also include American Express, Coca-Cola, Snapple, Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, JetBlue Airways and others.




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