It is with much excitement that we announce our inclusion in #Stellenblog 2017! Together with a few incredible Influencers from South Africa and abroad, this Friday 5 May 2017 we will take the to streets, vineyards, kitchens and outdoors of Stellenbosch to uncover the stories of this special place, its people, the food and the wine.
Plus we will be doing some of it with Caleb! He is probably the first baby to ever join the Stellenblog villa. Watch out everyone you’re in for a treat! For a few days we will be exploring Stellenbosch as a family and enjoying all that it has to offer parents with little ones.
There’s so much fun to be had in Stellenbosch with kids!
So follow our #Stellenblog Adventures on our Facebook Page: The Travel Manuel, , Twitter @thetravelmanuel #stellenblog ##visitStellenbosch and on Instagram: thetravelmanuel and vaughanmac_
MORE ABOUT THE STELLENBOSCH EXPERIENCE CAMPAIGN AND #STELLENBLOG
Background – wine tourism campaign
South Africa’s first and foremost wine destination, Stellenbosch, embarked on a dynamic wine tourism marketing initiative in 2014, a collaboration between Stellenbosch Wine Routes, Stellenbosch 360 and Destinate.
The initiative, which covers the greater Stellenbosch region, aims to not only promote Stellenbosch globally as a leading wine tourism destination, but to showcase the depth of Stellenbosch’s offering beyond its quality wine. In essence, we want to promote Stellenbosch as a desirable destination rather than merely a day trip or a wine tour.
The initiative is spearheaded by Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, founder of Destinate, a specialised destination and marketing agency launched in 2013 after a successful 10-year stint as the CEO of Cape Town Tourism.
The Stellenbosch Experience campaign is primarily digital with a number of experiential campaigns delivered. The main campaign is #Stellenblog, an international blogger trip to Stellenbosch in association with iAmbassador in April.
Project
Bloggers are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the “Stellenbosch way” of life. Tailor-made itineraries are designed around each blogger and their readership. Each day will involve a few surprise elements, building upon the theme of “discovery” and challenging the traditional perceptions of Stellenbosch.
Accommodation
After a weekend in town with some time to settle in, relax and soak up the unique energy of the university town, the bloggers will move into a beautiful “connected” secret villa in the heart of the Winelands, experiencing life on a working wine farm.
We will illustrate that Stellenbosch is the perfect base for discovering the surrounding regions and worth so much more than a day trip or a wine tour. Only locally sourced wine and food will be served. Special events hosted by wine makers, local chefs and wine estates will be organised with “locals” as hosts and special guests. Top local bloggers and media representatives will also be invited to join in on the programme where appropriate to boost the reach and exposure for the campaign.
#Stellenblog Party
A highlight of the campaign is the #Stellenblog party on the Monday night 8 May 2017. It brings many of the country’s most connected influencers and stakeholders together to share their stories over the best of Stellenbosch’s food and wine as showcased by the campaign partners.
The vibrant launch party will again set the scene for the week-long campaign. The campaign is boosted with a tweet-up with top local and the hosted international bloggers in the historic heart of Stellenbosch before moving on to the “secret location” of the #Stellenblog Villa for an evening full of mystery and magic in the company of local personalities, industry stakeholders and top online influencers. Approx 200 people are earmarked to attend the event.
Food, wine and magical story-telling awaits.
Here’s who we will be travelling with :
Local Influencers
1. Innocent, Rendani and Vuyo – I SEE A DIFFERENT YOU.
Multi disciplinary visionaries and visual storytellers. https://www.facebook.com/ISeeADifferentYou/
2. Heather Mason- 2 Summers
A travel blogger, originally from America and now based in Joburg, who gave up everything to travel full time and find her favourite place in the world. http://2summers.net/
3.Mark Jackson and Dawid Botha – Botha & Jackson: videographers. http://www.bothajackson.co.za/
International Bloggers
1. Audrey Bergner – That Backpacker
Travel Blogger & Video Creator
Samuel & Audrey. ThatBackpacker.com
2. Samuel Jeffery – Nomadic Samuel
Videographer and YouTuber.
https://www.youtube.com/user/NomadicSamuel
3. Becki Enright – Borders of Adventure (UK). Travel writer and explorer, adventures with a social conscience.http://www.bordersofadventure.com/
Follow our next adventure to Stellebosch with #stellenblog!
For more information, visit www.stellenboschexperience.co.za.