As part of the FRANCIS project, the outreach team in India successfully implemented a multi-faceted strategy to engage key stakeholders in the hospitality and travel sectors, promoting awareness and encouraging participation in the second challenge of this exciting initiative. Here’s a glimpse into the efforts and accomplishments that made this campaign a success.
Engaging Over 750 Stakeholders
To ensure broad and diverse participation, the outreach efforts targeted approximately 750 individuals and organizations. This included a rich mix of large and small hotels, hospitality associations, and travel enthusiasts from across India, representing various regions and perspectives in the hospitality and travel industries.
A Multi-Channel Approach
The campaign utilized a combination of traditional and digital outreach methods to maximize its impact:
- Email Campaigns: The team initiated contact with stakeholders through informative emails, sharing details about the FRANCIS Challenge, including the chance to win a €3000 grant and collaborate with industry experts.
- Follow-Up Calls: To solidify engagement, dedicated follow-ups via phone calls addressed queries and provided clarifications. The team averaged 75–80 calls per day, including weekends, ensuring consistent communication.
- Personal Visits: In Delhi, key stakeholders received in-person visits for more personalized interaction, fostering trust and enhancing understanding of the challenge. Stakeholders were also invited to visit the team’s office for in-depth discussions.
Creative Content Distribution
The outreach team used both physical and digital methods to distribute flyers, ensuring that the challenge’s information reached stakeholders effectively. This included:
- Face-to-Face Engagement: Flyers were handed out directly to hotels and restaurants, complemented by conversations to explain the challenge.
- Digital Flyers: These were shared via email and WhatsApp, enabling easy access and further dissemination within stakeholders’ networks.
Harnessing Social Media
Recognizing the power of digital platforms, the team launched an Instagram handle dedicated to the hospitality industry. A skilled social media freelancer managed the account, posting engaging reels and updates that organically boosted visibility among relevant audiences.
Dedicated Support for Greater Engagement
- Call Management: A dedicated team member ensured continuous follow-ups with interested participants, with a particular focus on mid-size and smaller organizations, which displayed notable enthusiasm.
- Digital Media Content: A creative approach to social media content, including visually appealing reels, helped spark interest and sustain engagement.
Overcoming Challenges and Looking Ahead
While larger organizations were less inclined to participate due to the grant size, mid-size and smaller entities embraced the opportunity enthusiastically. This response underscores the importance of tailoring outreach efforts to the interests and capacities of different stakeholders.
Through this dynamic and adaptive outreach strategy, the FRANCIS Challenge has successfully reached a diverse and engaged audience in India’s hospitality and travel sectors, furthering the project’s mission to inspire sustainable innovation.
Stay tuned for updates on the participants’ innovative solutions and their journey within the FRANCIS project!