By Tim Kelly
The first big weekend of the Ocean City vacation season is in the books, and despite inconsistent weather, the Memorial Day holiday was a big success.
More than 80,000 visitors descended on OC, according to Michele Gillian, Executive Director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Those who were on hand received a preview of what should be another great summer in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
What could make it even better?
The Ocean City Vacation App, that’s what. The app, available on the Apple App Store and Google play, puts Ocean City in the palm of the user’s hand.
And for one lucky person or family, downloading the app will win a free Ocean City vacation getaway. The winning downloader will win a stay in a state of the art beach house from August 25 to September 1, as well as additional perks and prizes worth a total of $2,500.
To be eligible for the grand prize, entrants must download the Ocean City Vacation App. And while just one lucky person or family will walk away with the free vacation, everyone who downloads the app is a winner. The app’s capabilities make it simple to find Ocean City events and activities, pay for goods and services, and learn about dozens of local businesses.
Users can purchase beach tags, concert and events tickets, find descriptions, locations and contact information for local businesses and attractions, learn which beaches are guarded and when, and much more – all on their phone, tablet or other devices.
Use this link to enter the contest. http://www.oceancityvacation.com/contest.html
“We are excited about the Vacation App, and we think the contest is going to help (raise awareness and the number of downloads), said Gillian.
The winning entrant will claim use of a house provided by Ocean City realtors. The luxurious fully furnished house is located near beach and boardwalk, has four bedrooms and two baths and sleeps 10 people.
The winner will enjoy Ocean City’s beach – voted America’s best; its boardwalk, restaurants, special events and attractions, all from a centrally-located beach house.
Contest entrants who do not win will still have an advantage. The new Vacation App on their phones allows visitors to locate and research things to do, places to go and everything else that makes Ocean City such a hit with vacationers, she said.
“With ‘geofencing’ – a new capability of the app – “visitors will up to the minute information on special events, sales at our businesses,” while they are driving or walking around town, Gillian said. Imagine getting an “e-coupon” for a store on Asbury Avenue while you are strolling downtown. With the Vacation App it is a reality. Those without the app won’t have that.
Enhancements to the app are underway which will allow users to pay for parking, purchase goods and services, and virtually eliminate the need to carry cash in Ocean City.
This could mean that a family might enjoy an entire vacation without ever opening a wallet or pocketbook.
The app enhancements are being developed by WebiMax, a leading digital marketing firm, whose founder and CEO is Ken Wisnefski, an OC resident and an owner of OCNJDaily.com.
Gillian said the app is user-friendly and appeals to different demographic groups. Millennials and tech-savvy individuals are not the only ones who will use and benefit from the app. She said most people, even those not so well-versed in technology, carry smartphones nowadays, and app usage is gaining in popularity.
With this app, Gillian said users will have beach reports, a directory of local businesses, updates and alerts. “All kinds of great information right at (the user’s) fingertips.”
“It’s going to make am Ocean City vacation even more of a pleasure,” she said.
And for one lucky app-downloader, our Grand Prize winner, that pleasure will be absolutely free.
