The way we work, play and consume has been rattled by efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. What we’ve learned through research and data shows that stay-at-home orders have touched nearly everything (except for our faces). Since New Year’s Day, Game Day Communications has been monitoring the ever-evolving impact, optimizing technology and instituting rapid response teams. We’re working virtually hand-in-hand with our partners, especially those hit hardest (Film Cincinnati, Flying Pig Marathon, Frisch’s Big Boy, Funky’s Catering Events, Pure Romance, Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, Sports ETA, Summerfair, Taste of Cincinnati, The Banks, among others), to tailor game plans and secure local, regional and national coverage of their custom messages. We’ve watched consumption of news grow dramatically, especially television news and daily news conferences from our governors and elected officials. According to Nielsen: 52% of us are watching...

Our members at the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority have recently launched Houston Sports Q'D UP.! Q'D UP connects viewers with some of their favorite Houston athletes, both past and present. This week, Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell was featured! They even host a Facebook Watch Party! Check it out HoustonSports.org! Keep it up Houston. Together, we are #SportsTourismStrong!

Our members in Kalamazoo recently launched the first of many #WhyStory Wednesdays! By sharing the #WhyStory behind each one of their sports event partners, they hope you’ll find inspiration to “Discover Kalamazoo Sports” a bit further and find meaning and significance in the role that sports play in our community. Their first feature is the Kalamazoo Curling Club!  Read more about their #WhyStory here: https://bit.ly/2XaCFRv Keep it up Kalamazoo. Together, we are #SportsTourismStrong!

Visit Tucson Sports recently started a social media campaign called #JerseyDayThursday to continue showing support and love for their beloved teams! They are calling for your help --  share a photograph of you and your favorite sports jersey. It doesn't need to be Tucson or Arizona related - any sport, and city, any country!  Keep it up Tucson. Together, we are #SportsTourismStrong!

Our members at the Rockford Area CVB are doing their part to help flatten the curve in IL with their #StayHomeRFKD campaign. They are taking their efforts a step further by offering a live virtual familiarization tour, "Home with the FAM", for national event operators, trade publication partners and media. The virtual FAM tour will take place on Friday, April 17 at 11am CT. Check out their website for more details. Keep it up Rockford. Together, we are #SportsTourismStrong!

The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) has launched a #MontCoStrong t-shirt fundraiser to help support Montgomery County, PA’s COVID-19 Response Fund, which was recently established to support local relief efforts in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The VFTCB designed the shirt, and is partnering with DJB Specialities, Inc., a VFTCB member in North Wales that specializes in custom apparel and promotional products, to sell them for $25 apiece. All of the proceeds from the #MontCoStrong t-shirt sales will be donated to the Montco, PA COVID-19 Response Fund, which will exclusively assist community safety net organizations critically impacted by the current public health crisis such as those serving low-income and food-insecure residents, senior citizens, veterans, homeless and homebound individuals. DJB is working in temporary office space, and constructing a state-of-the-art facility after suffering a catastrophic loss to a fire in February. The staff...

Virtual learning isn’t just for the kids. While in quarantine, maybe you should consider taking an online course or two. There are some great classes and webinars out there, some of them even free, to continue your education. For those who want to grow their skills in the sports tourism area, Sports ETA hosts great weekly webinars. Members lead the discussion on different topics such as how to thrive during COVID-19 or a deep dive into contracts. Plus, if you missed one, as a member, you can go back and watch the webinars on your own time. If you are looking to dive back into a college course or two, Coursera is offering some of their online courses for free through May 31, 2020. Choose from courses on career development, cloud technology or mental health, featuring the popular Yale course The Science of Well-Being. For the more visual people, there are several great online courses. Adobe has an Education Exchange which is filled with courses geared towards students, tea...

The Council Bluffs CVB is certainly stepping up their game by helping their community partners and the events holders in their community. Check out all these awesome initiatives: 1. Chipper, the Black Squirrel, has been Council Bluffs’ mascot for years!  We are one of the few places you can find a black squirrel.  That is why we started the Squirrel on a Whirl social media campaign.  2. Weekly UNdeniably Good News blogs - Council Bluffs image campaign is UN.  We are UNlike anywhere else. On purpose.      - UNdeniably Good News: A Surprise in the Window 3.  Website updates on hotels - https://www.unleashcb.com/stay/ 4. Website updates on restaurants - https://www.unleashcb.com/eat/ 5. COVID-19 Resource Blog (updated regularly) - https://www.unleashcb.com/blog/covid19_information_and_resources/ Keep it up Council Bluffs. Together, we are #SportsTourismStrong!

Greater Miami & the Beaches is a destination built on unique experiences. Now, more than ever, we are all seeking ways to connect and find activities that bring us together. The team at Greater Miami & the Beaches offers several virtual experiences, along with live webcams and virtual tours of Miami’s world-class museums, attractions, national parks, beaches and more. Check out all of the virtual experiences Miami has to offer. Listen to curated Miami playlists. Keep it up Miami. Together, we are #SportsTourismStrong!

AAU President and CEO, Roger Goudy, shared this message of hope with their 700,000 athletes and 150,000 volunteers. Watch video. Check out the AAU home fitness program Roger mentions in the video linked above! Keep it up AAU. Together, we are #SportsTourismStrong!