Anyone planning a vacation from anywhere in the world can have an online 360-degree look on Google Maps at the Highway 97 corridor through 100 Mile House.
Now, they can look inside the South Cariboo Visitor Centre (SCVC).
Visitor services co-ordinator Julie Gilmore says SCVC got on board with a Google Business Photos Project offering Google street views for the inside of businesses, allowing customers or clients who find businesses on the Internet to “walk through” and explore the establishment in an online tour.
“It is a valuable tool. We all know how social media and the Internet is taking over.”
SCVC was the first business in 100 Mile House to participate in the project, when InsideView4Business “Google Trusted” photographer Jody Wall travelled to 100 Mile House last spring seeking businesses looking to expand the Internet visibility.
Now, Gilmore notes people can actually view what it it looks like inside the tourism centre, moving their viewpoint right through the building and out the rear door to the backdrop of the 100 Mile Marsh.
“I think it can only help boost bringing tourism into our area … I think it engages people.”
The SCVC tour can be viewed live at www.goo.gl/Z0tmmq (or at www.maps.google.ca, by mouse-clicking-and-dragging the man-shaped symbol to its business location).
Wall says he informs local businesses about building their online presence and takes multiple point-of-interest photographs, customized to the business and budget, that also capture street view imagery.
He adds this is easily embedded on websites, social media pages and other digital media, noting people who invest time online are more inclined to make online or on site purchases or bookings.
Gilmore says she encourages local businesses to consider joining up to get the “visual of our town out” to the global masses.
Canim Lake’s KAYANARA Guest Ranch & Resort joined in late August, which he notes will be online shortly.
More information is available at www.insideview4business.com.
