We’ve got big news to share. In our never-ending quest to grow our organization to better serve you, our businesses and stakeholders, we at Central Counties Tourism have officially launched our AVTR1 platform. Over the past year, we have been hard at work creating this exciting new resource because we think it is exactly what our stakeholders need to take their businesses to the next level when it comes to delivering a visitor-focused tourism product.
Your unique offering deserves a unique experience, and we know how hard you work to stand out amongst your competitors, and bring visitors to your location. We at CCT have worked just as hard to develop this platform. Let us help you engage new audiences, and strengthen your relationship with your existing ones, through the AVTR1 program.
The AVTR1 experience
What is AVTR1, you might ask? This premier augmented reality product can transform your customer or visitor experience into a compelling journey by telling your unique story with an entertaining, fully customizable, avatar that brings your recorded script to life. Wherever you need to communicate additional information or content to your guests, AVTR1 is there to deepen their connection with your business—at a very affordable rate, by the way!
It all happens through your visitors’ mobile devices. When you purchase a licence for this product, you will be given a designated number of QR codes (based on which licence level you decide works best for you) that you can use on signage throughout your location to activate your custom designed avatar. All your guests need to do is download our app through Google Play or the Apple App Store, and scan the QR code on a particular location’s sign. It couldn’t be easier.
Once your guests have scanned the AVTR1 QR code, they will see a 3D avatar generate on the screen of their mobile device. This avatar will be visible in 360 degrees, so no matter what direction they may be facing, they’ll see it. And, as we said, this avatar is your custom avatar. Its placement, size and distance are all based on your requirements. Through synchronized audio tracks, animations and closed captioning, your AVTR1 avatar will begin animating in real time, leading guests on an immersive tour, program or experience that is designed entirely by you.
How AVTR1 can help your business
Today’s tourism market is an ever-changing landscape in which technology is becoming more and more integrated. Even the most community-centred and timeless experiences (such as farms, museums, galleries, etc.) are experimenting with various types of technology to better serve their visitors. At the same time, guests are demanding an increasingly immersive and personalized experience. This is where AVTR1 is poised to jump in. Essentially, you’re able to bring on board a complement of technology-based staff to help deliver your story to your valued guests.
Perhaps you’re a brewery who wants help explaining the different tasting notes or crafting techniques of your menu. You might be a museum who needs help providing in-depth information about each of your exhibits. Or perhaps you are an artisan attending a farmer’s market who would love to be able to share those important and interesting five Ws of your craft with each and every one of your customers. There is no limit to the ways AVTR1 can help you share the unique story of your unique business.
What our stakeholders are saying
We’re thrilled that some of our stakeholders have already seen the potential that AVTR1 can offer their business, and we’ve had some early adopters of this amazing new tool. Kristyn Chambers, Rural Tourism Specialist for the Regional Municipality of Durham, is pleased to be moving forward with launching the region’s own AVTR1 program in partnership with Central Counties Tourism.
“This program will be used as an integral part in helping to link together the museums and historical societies throughout Durham Region that have a common theme and connection with the history of the railway,” she says. “The most important element of this project will be about providing the visitor with an immersive experience that can help bring this story to life and boost their overall experience in ways that traditional tourism may not. Visitors will be introduced to the AVTR1 program upon arriving at their first museum or historical site, and can begin to learn about the stories and experiences through engaging self-guided tours. Implementing this program in Durham Region helps to achieve goals within our strategic plan that align with extending a visitor’s stay, leveraging unique tourism products, and enhancing collaborative product development.”
AVTR1 in action: The YDH Spine Tingling Tour
Did you know that Central Counties has created a tourism trail of all the haunted locations in our region? The Spine Tingling Tour is an immersive experience that leads you through York, Durham and Headwaters with a downloadable map and podcasts for each location. With its vibrant and ongoing history of hauntings and gruesome happenings from long ago, we’ve worked hard to deliver thrills and chills for willing witnesses as we lead them through our regions’ most haunted places.
Naturally, we saw an amazing opportunity to put our own AVTR1 resource into action for ourselves. Several locations on the Spine Tingling Tour have integrated the tool into their stops, telling the stories of their own hauntings and strange happenings through custom designed avatars. Central Counties Executive Director, Chuck Thibeault, says, “While AVTR1 was born from an industry need, we realized that it was the perfect fit for one of our own experiences, the Spine Tingling Tour. The tour, which was developed for the Halloween season, used to be static, but has now been brought to life with this exciting new technology. Places like the Canadian Automotive Museum now have it available year-round for their guests to enjoy.”
Experience AVTR1 Today
Are you ready to take the next step and discover what AVTR1 can do for you and your business? Introductory annual subscriptions start at $999. You can have as few as three QR codes, or as many as 30. It all depends on your specific needs. To get started, contact us through our online AVTR1 contact form found on our website here.
One of our staff will be in touch with you very shortly to answer any questions you may have, and get you set up so that you can bring your stories to life.
And, as always, should you wish to get in touch with us directly for more information on what we do and how we can help you, reach out to your region’s Industry Relations Manager:
Sara Sterling, York Region
ssterling@cenralcounties.ca
(905) 940-9999 x 7
Lisa John-Mackenzie, Durham Region
ljohn-mackenzie@centralcounties.ca
(905) 940-9999 x 8
Rebecca Landman, Headwaters Region
rlandman@centralcounties.ca
(905) 940-9999 x 6
Locations outside of Central Counties Tourism, contact:
Chuck Thibeault, Executive Director
cthibeault@centralcounties.ca
(905) 940-9999 x 1
