New Hope’s tourism app makes use of expertise to woo guests, locals

Whether your sweet tooth is craving the best chocolate in town or you just want to relax with a pampering day, the New Hope app have you covered at the push of a button.

The New Hope Borough Council has launched a new website highlighting everything the popular tourist destination – with over one million visitors annually – has to offer.

It is the first time officials have used technology as a tourism tool to promote the Delaware River city to visitors and locals alike.

The website, which does not require downloading mobile apps, invites users to dine, shop, explore, or hang out at a number of local businesses listed. The city council worked with Landmark Hospitality on the project.

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“It works by geolocation. Wherever you are in New Hope, you can know where the nearest locations are,” said Tommy Rausch, chief experience officer, Landmark Hospitality.

He worked with Laurie McHugh, a member of the New Hope Borough Council, to bring the New Hope app to life.

There are already several entries to flip through, including Pierre’s Chocolates and New Hope Fitness.

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Using a phone, tablet or laptop, users can make reservations, buy tickets, scan QR codes and find out how to get to where they want to go.

“What is really great is the integration into the New Hope Visitors Center,” said Rausch.

“When you can almost imagine in the visitor center that posters are hanging on the wall, and then all the posters with the QR codes and also NFC (near field communication), where you can simply go near with your phone and trigger an action” , he said. “We’re implementing some really cool things that really get people excited, see what’s going on, and then take the next step with their phone.”

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The real purpose of the app, according to Rausch, is to use technology to connect people to New Hope’s offerings so that they can switch off their device and explore the world around them.

“We spend so much time on our phones every day and my goal is always not to plunge you into an endless world of scrolling information, but rather to give you a little inspiration to go there and then experience real life “Said he said.

The New Hope app is not only free for users.

“We are working with all dealers to raise awareness,” said Rausch. “We’re all giving them free full listings in the app where they can update them with videos, photos, and offers.”

Those involved in the development and launch of the app hope that while the companies keep working during the pandemic, the project will only help them continue to thrive.

“COVID has hit our dealers so hard and we actually had to stop people from coming because of COVID concern,” McHugh said.

“The ward council is really looking for a way to help Main Street and our merchants, and this has just been the perfect opportunity to do so,” she said.