GPTMC Dishes It Up on Foodspotting

As a self-proclaimed "foodie-in-training," it's no surprise an app like Foodspotting would capture my interest and appetite. Started in 2009 and launched in January 2010, the guide was created to help users not only decide where to eat, but what to eat through its rating system and photo-sharing capabilities. Since its launch in 2010, more than 1.5 million foods have been spotted around the world.

One organization taking the food-sharing phenomenon to the next level is the Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation (GPTMC - www.foodspotting.com/visitphilly). Recently, GPTMC (@VisitPhilly), in partnership with Foodspotting Philly (@Foodspotting Philly), hosted an "Eat Up" of 25 hungry people. Traveling throughout the city on a bus, attendees were able to visit various restaurants with featured dishes from GPTMC's recently created "Taskykake-inspired Dishes" guide. Foodspotters and bloggers were able to visit Stephen Starr's SquareBurger for delicious Butterscotch Krimpets shakes and then follow it up with Peanut Butter KandyKakes ice cream at 10 Arts by Eric Ripert. The night ended at Square Peg with Tastykake Apple Pie Milkshakes.

TastyKake Apple Pie Milkshake @ Square Peg

With tourists (and locals) always looking for a great bite to eat, GPTMC is incredibly savvy for becoming a leader in the "culinary tourism" trend. It was one of the first destinations to launch a major program on Foodspotting and has gained more than 1,500 followers - more than any other destination. Philadelphia has become a city of fantastic cuisine, from five-star dining to authentic Italian eateries. Guides are added to the Visit Philly Foodspotting guide regularly including Down-Home Eats: Philly BBQ, Finger-Lickin' Fried Chicken and Wings, Gayborhood Grub, and Old-School Red Gravy Italian Restaurants in South Philadelphia.

What do you think of tourism marketing groups' uses of Foodspotting? Let us know!

Google Announces Purchase of Zagat

Last week, in a surprising move by Google, Zagat was bought out by the multi-billion dollar corporation. For those who are unfamiliar with Zagat, it is one of the world's leading providers of consumer survey-based information on places to dine, drink, travel and more. It started as a hobby 32 years ago, and has been expanding steadily ever since. Today, there are reviews that cover over than 100 countries worldwide. Google executive, Marissa Mayer, was the one who announced the deal on the official Google blog, and even went as far as to tweet a haiku about it:

Delightful deal done; Zagat and Google now one; foodies have more fun! http://goo.gl/Gwnxg #gogooglelocal

Her excitement is palpable and it is obvious that Google has big plans for Zagat, a company that has found success by housing ratings and reviews based on the opinions of over 350,000 surveyors from around the globe.

For the founders of the company, Nina and Tim Zagat, Google’s offer most likely came as a pleasant surprise. It is known that the Zagats made an attempt to sell the site in 2008, but were met with little success. It is estimated that Google purchased the company for $125 million—a price the Zagats were obviously pleased with. They issued a statement about the company’s new fate on their site to let their users know about the recent sale:

“After spending time with Google senior management discussing our mutual goals, we know they share our belief in user-generated content and our commitment to accuracy and fairness in providing users with the information needed to make smart decisions about where to eat, shop and travel. We believe this union is the right next step for our employees, our users and for our business, all of which will benefit from the additional resources and reach that Google provides. Going forward, we will remain active in the business as co-Chairs, helping to ensure that the combination of Zagat’s and Google’s assets and capabilities will maximize our product quality and growth.”

Google already has listings and maps for restaurants and other small businesses, so to collaborate with Zagat can only bring more success to the corporation.

Have you used Zagat? Are you excited for the merging of Google and Zagat? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Katie Tully.

Sharing Outside the Box

When discussing the strategy and use of social media it’s easy to focus on the big three: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. But sometimes when you want to reach a specific audience, it’s important to shake things up and look for something a little outside the box. That’s what Lotus Farm to Table, in Media, PA, has done by enlisting the help of the local Philadelphia Foodspotting group.

Foodspotting is a global network that allows people to share opinions and artistic viewpoints about food. It connects people to dishes, not just restaurants. Users in this network snap photos, usually with their mobile phones, and upload them onto the Foodspotting website in real time. There, anyone can peruse the latest dish and find inspiration for their next culinary adventure. Folks in Philadelphia have taken it one step further, creating a group that hosts monthly events called “eat-ups.”

That is where Lotus saw an opportunity. By contacting one of the groups leading members, the restaurant was able to work in conjunction with the group to host an eat-up in the restaurant. The eat-up, which was scheduled for July 28, encourages the group to come and taste the food and unique teas, and while they’re at it, snap a few photos of the restaurant. Lotus has nothing to lose, since the groups pay for their meals at these events.

Lotus is hoping to start a dialogue about their dishes through photos, attracting new dinners based on the visuals. By engaging with a lesser-known medium in a social exchange, the restaurant could spark something that has yet to be embraced on a mainstream level by other players in the restaurant industry.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Jacob DeChant.