Visitors to the region are set to receive a world-class welcome as part of a new interactive showcase at Birmingham International Airport. Featuring a striking interactive wall and new welcoming visitor centre, the initiative brings to life iconic images and brands of some of the region’s key business, tourism and cultural strengths to remind everyone why the Heart of England is the place to live, work, visit and invest.
Believed to be a first for a UK Airport, the wall’s imagery is triggered by a motion sensor each time a visitor passes. This example of the region’s creativity and innovation is just one part of the broader campaign supported by Advantage West Midlands, Marketing Birmingham and Birmingham International Airport: ‘Welcome to the Heart of England’, which has been launched at Birmingham Airport and the LG Arena (8th April 2010).
The 18 metre long interactive wall is the longest motion triggered interactive projection screen in Europe. An integrated sound system delivers a soundtrack which progresses down the walkway at the same rate as the animation providing sound effects.
The new Visitor Centre, which has been created by Marketing Birmingham, for both business and leisure travellers, will provide information on tourist attractions and visitor destinations across the entire region.
The airport is one of several identified ‘gateways’ to the region being used as a platform to heighten the Heart of England’s profile to a global audience.
Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham, stressed the importance of this latest initiative:
“The visitor economy is the fourth largest contributor to the West Midlands economy. Each year more than 140 million visits are made to our region, generating over £5 billion and we know that first impressions really do matter.
“Marketing Birmingham is delighted to lend its support to the ‘Welcome to The Heart of England Campaign’. By opening this new visitor information centre at the airport we now have the opportunity to ensure that every visitor is fully aware of the fantastic attractions Birmingham and the wider region have to offer.’
Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham International Airport, explains:
“We are excited about the new ‘Welcome’ campaign. Promoting the Heart of England in this way will have far reaching benefits for our economic prosperity and Birmingham Airport has a vital role to play.
“For every extra million passengers that we attract to the Airport, we generate around a thousand jobs across the region. Positioned at the heart of the country we are perfectly placed for those visitors from abroad who want to experience all that the region, and further afield, has to offer. Birmingham’s reputation continues to rise and is truly a destination which provides the perfect base for foreign visitors.”
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