“A Cherry Pie Christmas” may have started more than just a holiday movie tradition after its debut last winter. Not only did it prompt Wisconsin officials to open a film office and award grants to future movie projects, but it also garnered Travel Wisconsin and Destination Door County additional recognition for the innovation it created within the tourism industry.
At last week’s U.S. Travel Association ESTO Awards, Destination Door County was a finalist for the Bridging Communities Award for its Door County Christmas Movie Trail, which had more than 3,000 participants from 35 states and generated more than $36,000 in trackable sales between Nov. 1 and Jan. 5.
Travel Wisconsin won the Innovation Award for its role in developing “A Cherry Pie Christmas,” which not only increased lodging revenue and room rentals during a slower time of year for Door County but also built national awareness of Wisconsin as a winter destination. Destination Door County President and CEO Jon Jarosh says it was an honor to be celebrated by the industry for doing something remarkable.
Much like your tree and ornaments, the Door County Christmas Movie Trail will be brought out again this winter, with some new wrinkles added to the promotion. “A Cherry Pie Christmas” will also appear on streaming platforms for American and international viewers, in addition to a potential DVD release and a live showing at the Southern Door Auditorium on Dec. 12.
