THE LAST SUPPER FOR RICHMOND FOODIE BLOGGER

Tourism Richmond’s award-winning 365 Days of Dining Campaign reaches successful conclusion

Richmond, B.C., CANADA (June 5, 2013) – Tonight, Lindsay Anderson enjoys her last meal as the Richmond Foodie Blogger for Tourism Richmond’s 365 Days of Dining campaign. For 365 consecutive days, Anderson has been eating her way through Richmond’s 800-plus eateries, taking photos, shooting videos, tweeting (@365Richmond) and blogging about the experience atwww.365daysofdining.com. Anderson began her dream job on June 6, 2012 after successfully outshining 1,507 international applicants to snag the highly-coveted Foodie Blogger position, which boasts a salary of $50,000, living compensation, a $30 daily stipend for all restaurant meals, and a one-year membership to the Richmond Olympic Oval. Her last blog post will be revealed tomorrow – Thursday, June 6, 2013.

The year-long 365 Days of Dining campaign has exceeded Tourism Richmond’s expectations in raising awareness of Richmond, BC as a culinary destination while generating some invaluable content about the city.  "We knew the ability to go the distance in both sustaining interest in the campaign,n and for Lindsay to persevere, would be tough as would generating fresh content," said Tracy Lakeman, CEO of Tourism Richmond. "We supported Lindsay to ensure she was successful and generated several contests throughout the year. Lindsay’s done an exceptional job in what is a very non-traditional role." Through engaging photographs and creative blog posts Lindsay’s efforts have helped persuade visitors that Richmond’s natural beauty, rich history, multiculturalism and diverse cuisines make Richmond a must-add to any West Coast itinerary.

Award-winning campaign elevates Richmond, BC to culinary destination status
Since embarking on an extensive search for a food ambassador in March 2012, to capitalize on the international growth in culinary tourism, Tourism Richmond’s 365 Days of Dining Campaign has grabbed global attention. Applications for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity were received from far-flung places including Finland, Malaysia, the Czech Republic, Thailand and South Korea with media outlets around the world reporting on the campaign. The www.365daysofdining.com blog successfully sustained interest throughout the year, welcoming frequent visitors from across Canada and the United States as well as Hong Kong, London, Sydney and other international destinations. The campaign resonated across a wide audience, and the response – from readers, travellers, media, food bloggers, tourism industry peers, and more – has been overwhelmingly positive. 365 Days of Dining was named "Best Social Media Campaign (Public)" at the Vancouver Social Media Awards in April 2013.

At the campaign’s launch, Richmond had been enjoying a rising reputation amongst in-the-know food lovers for its authentic Asian cuisine – with media from across North America, famously declaring Richmond to be home to "the best Chinese food outside of China" – but navigating the city’s 400-plus Asian restaurants seemed intimidating to most visitors and even many locals. Thewww.365daysofdining.com blog helped to demystify the city’s culturally-diverse cuisines, and Anderson’s 198 featuring Asian eateries prove that anyone can enjoy an authentically Asian dining experience in Richmond. Says Anderson, "Language was not an issue. Most of Richmond’s Asian restaurants offer English-language menus or pictures. On the few occasions when English translations were not available, there was always a friendly, helpful server to guide me." Anderson also highlighted the city’s maritime roots and fresh seafood offerings in her 41 visits to the scenic and historic fishing village of Steveston.

In 365 days, Anderson has done more than just eat – she’s told the story of Richmond. Originally from Prince George, BC, Anderson approached her year in Richmond with fresh eyes and a willingness to try anything once. She experienced the city like a visitor while enjoying staycations at 12 local hotels. She explored the city’s culture by attending museums, art galleries, the theatre, religious centres, popular festivals and city-wide events, including the Steveston Salmon Festival on Day 26, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival on Day 114, and the city’s two world-famous Asian night markets on Days[Back to Press Releases Main]