With sales of MP3 players up more
than 81 percent over 2003, the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism
announced today its entrance into this rapidly growing technology arena.
With the introduction of “MPSee Ohio,” Ohio becomes the first state in the
country to offer a travel tour program using the MP3 technology
downloadable from its website, http://www.discoverohio.com/ . The tour features the voice of Michael Stanley, lead vocalist and
songwriter of the Michael Stanley Band and popular Ohio on-air celebrity
and radio DJ. Stanley lends his unique vocal talents to providing
overviews of a variety of holiday lighting displays found across the state.

“MP3 technology has a tremendous potential as a targeted delivery tool,”
said Claudia Vecchio, State Tourism Director. “Creating a personalized
experience is key to tourism and the MP3 play delivers customers that
choice via a very travel-friendly medium.”

The Holiday Lights tour showcases a dozen lighting displays and offers a
general explanation of the experience and driving directions to each
location. The locations in the program are:

  - Fremont Holiday DeLights at Rodger Young Park in Fremont
  - Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo
  - Deck the Hall at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron
  - ZooLights at the Cleveland MetroParks Zoo
  - The Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State Park in Lewis Center
  - Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
  - Deck the Halls at the Statehouse in Columbus
  - Hometown Holiday Weekends in Mari
  - Marietta and the downtown Belpre
  - The 22nd Annual PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo &
    Botanical Garden
  - Holiday In Light at Sharon Woods in Sharonville
  - Wintergarden and The Tike’s Shop at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster
    Performing Arts Center in Dayton
  - Legendary Lights at Clifton Mill in Clifton

Those wishing to download the Holiday Lights MPSee Ohio tour can visit
http://www.discoverohio.com/ . Click on the tour icon featured on the main
page. Guests have three options for downloading this information. First is
the MP3 download. The program also provides instructions for downloading
this program directly to an MP3 system or through the computer software.
The second option is to download printed driving directions to the
property. The third option is to download the program transcript. Guests
can choose to download one or all of the featured lighting display
overviews.

This is just the first of several MPSee Ohio projects on the drawing board
for the upcoming year. The Division is currently developing audio tour
programs for its Underground Railroad experience, presidential sites and
outdoor adventure trails for biking and hiking.

The Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism is housed within the State of Ohio
Department of Development. The Division’s mission is to enhance the
economic health of Ohio through marketing the state’s unique travel and
tourism and quality of life attributes under the brand, Ohio ... So much
to Discover!
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