Athletic Network Host: LCVC launches iMagazine touting tourism-Digital document describes Lafayette

Ken Stickney, Daily Advertiser, August 15, 2013

Mike Spears, CEO of developer Firefly Digital, demonstrates the new ‘Allons’ interactive digital travel magazine at Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise in Lafayette on Wednesday. The magazine was developed for the Lafayette Convention and Visitor’s Commission and will be available for the Apple iPad. / Paul Kieu, The Advertiser

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http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20130814/NEWS01/308140021/LCVC-launches-iMagazine-touting-tourism

The Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission and its media partner, Firefly Digital, have launched an online magazine, Allons, to market Lafayette tourism in a way they believe is both interactive and unique.

“To our knowledge, this is the first time this technology is being used for this application — to promote tourism,” said Ben Berthelot, executive director of LCVC, in a Wednesday news conference at the LITE Center. “It’s the first of its kind in the tourism and travel industry.”

Mike Spears of Lafayette-based Firefly said the technology for Allons was developed for textbooks but was adapted to promote tourism. He described Allons as a “revolutionary way of telling a story,” a “creative platform” that tells Lafayette’s story in a way that is visually beautiful, engaging and personal.

Allons, which is accessible by computer, iPad and iPad Mini, was made available on the LCVC website Wednesday morning.

Berthelot said the partners launched the first issue of Allons by describing Lafayette through the words and reflections of a leading local musician — 2013 is the year of the musician in Louisiana — and the iMagazine focuses on Marc Broussard of Carencro, who has released four albums in the “Bayou Soul” style.

The iMagazine includes an interview with Broussard and, through interactive tools, focuses on aspects of what Broussard says he likes about Lafayette: music, fun, drinks, places and food. For example, Broussard touts The Green Wall menu selection at Tsunami restaurant downtown as a favorite food, and the iMagazine format takes the user to the restaurant and even allows the user to see how to make the dish.

Likewise, the current issue of the iMagazine gives users a variety of insights into places, sounds and attractions that make Lafayette special to Broussard and, the partners hope, to those interested in visiting Lafayette.

Spears suggested users are more personally attuned to content delivered through the iPad because they spend more time with them than they do with the Internet. The iMagazine’s next issue, which is tentatively scheduled for the fourth quarter of the year, will focus on zydeco musician Terrance Simien.

Berthelot said the content is based on the choices made by the central figure in the issue — Broussard this issue, Simien next.

Thus, he said, the “politics” of making choices is eliminated for the LCVC and content about the Lafayette varies with each issue.

Spears said Firefly, founded 15 years ago in Lafayette, hopes to use the technology with other clients.

Berthelot said it takes about $10,000 to produce an iMagazine issue, about the cost of two ads in leading regional magazines.

Athletic Network Footnote: Congratulations to Mike Spears and Firefly Digital, AN host and sponsor since our inception, for their wonderful work on this project and so many others. Click here to visit their website: http://www.fireflydigital.com/site.php