McLean, Va. (June 14, 2010) – USA TODAY, a brand recognized by business travelers, is tapping into the location-based mobile market with new offerings and incentives on Gowalla.
Gowalla is a mobile and web service that gives people around the world a new way to communicate and express themselves through the everyday places and extraordinary settings they enjoy.
"USA TODAY has always been a traveler’s companion. We can’t think of a better way to reach our core audience than to offer our valuable content while they are in the process of traveling," said Victoria Borton, general manager of USA TODAY Travel.
"This partnership allows us to bring USA TODAY’s award-winning travel content to our service, offering timely and relevant information to our community as they go out with Gowalla this Summer," said Andy Ellwood, director of business development for Gowalla.
Through the Gowalla location-based social network, USA TODAY will make airport travel easier to manage and more fun along the way. After Gowalla users check-in at any of the nation’s busiest airports, they will be presented with one of three USA TODAY Travel features:
"Today in the Sky" Content – USATODAY.com’s popular online air travel community, moderated by Ben Mutzabaugh, offers the latest in airline, airport and air travel news with a unique voice and a deep connection to its readers.
USA TODAY Airport Guides – Available for more than 40 of the busiest airports in the country. These handy guides let travelers know the cheapest place to park, the quickest way to get through security, the best options for dining and shopping, real-time flight information and more.
USA TODAY Trips – Curated by USA TODAY Travel’s team of reporters and editors, these trips provide travelers with eight to 10 recommended places to visit in 10 U.S. cities.
As an added incentive, travelers who check-in at the most unique airports between now and Labor Day may be invited to be highlighted in USA TODAY’s "Today in the Sky" community. Additionally, anyone who visits all recommended sites on a USA TODAY Trip will receive a USA TODAY Jet Setter Pin for their Gowalla Passport.
USA TODAY was founded in 1982 with a mission to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation. Through its flagship newspaper and popular Web site, USA TODAY engages the national conversation and connects readers online through social media applications. USA TODAY, the nation’s number one newspaper in print circulation with a total average daily print circulation of more than 1.8 million, and USATODAY.com, an award-winning newspaper Web site which launched in 1995, reach a combined 5.9 million readers daily. The USA TODAY news and information brand also includes: USA TODAY Education, USA TODAY Mobile, and USA TODAY Sports Weekly. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).
As an added incentive, travelers who check-in at the most unique airports between now and Labor Day may be invited to be highlighted in USA TODAY’s “Today in the Sky” community.