Since time immemorial, tourist spots worldwide have greeted visitors with brochures which promote everything about their destination. But with the advent of technology where almost every traveller has a smartphone, a computer, tablets, and every other gadget he/she could bring, the concept of brochures may soon die out. Ways of promoting tourist sites are going digital as well with a new interactive visitor kiosk developed in South Carolina and deployed as far away as New York City.
Chad Priest is the chief operating officer of City Corridor, the technology firm that developed the flat-faced kiosks with large touch screens. Through these touch screens, visitors browse through ads for attractions, make reservations, print out maps, menus and many more. These kiosks also have a bank card reader for the visitors to be able to purchase tickets to attractions on the spot.
Priest said that the idea for the kiosks began from one of those cluttered racks in Charleston, a city attracting 4.5 million visitors a year.
"We said there's got to be a better way, with all the technology we have now," said Priest
Forty-two of the kiosks are now located in hotels and other businesses in Charleston. He said that they are the answer to what he calls the "spray and pray mentality" of using tourist brochures.
Chad Priest's background is in retail and digital signs. He developed the kiosks with Caleb Yaryan, the company's chief technology officer with a background in software and network security.
Advertisers can also utilise the kiosks by being offered quick feedback on how many people click their ads or print coupons. These businesses can also quickly alter the content of their ads through a computer.
Thirteen kiosks are now placed on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Last summer, four were also placed at the New York City visitors center in Macy's in Herald Square.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
