DELTA SKY’S LOVE letter to Marquette County has been published.
It’s 33 pages long and five million Delta passengers will be reading it for the entire month of December.
No, it’s not the lead story of the magazine; in fact, it’s not even mentioned in small print on the cover (which features a handsome, chiseled face) but so what? A huge chunk of this international publication is devoted to our humble, little county right after the eight page story on Cuba and well before the two pages devoted to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
“Hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing and more–Marquette County has it all, with a gorgeous backdrop.” That’s one of the observations in the article.
Another: “On the outskirts of Marquette, you’ll likely spot a buck bolting across your path, an eagle soaring above or even get face to face with a curious otter or porcupine.” You’ll likely spot them? Okay, that’s probably a bit of an overstatement. We have plenty of wildlife here but it’s not like the beasts are dancing about, begging to be included in your selfies.
“A thriving arts scene, craveworthy dining options and a robust beer industry help set Marquette County apart.” The author raves about our museums, our symphony orchestra, our theaters, our restaurants, our breweries, even the brand new wine bar, the Zephyr.
Also included–four mini-features on city manager Mike Angeli, NMU provost Kerri Schuiling, Tom Wahlstrom of Elizabeth’s Chophouse, and Nheena Weyer Ittner of the Children’s Museum. They have now become mini-international celebrities.
“From food co-ops to cutting-edge startups, Marquette County is a beautiful place to do business.” That’s a central theme of the article. Business. It’s booming.
Marquette is “…home to a world-class hospital, cutting-edge university and the kinds of restaurants and cultural amenities one might never expect to find along Michigan’s northern shoreline.”
Gosh, our home sounds even better than we thought it was.
Hyperbole? Yeah, maybe a bit. But Delta Sky isn’t intended as straight news, certainly not investigative journalism. It’s promotional, informative, entertaining–a good way to pass the time during a boring flight.
It’s interesting to note, too, that the length of the section on Marquette County was dependent on how many advertisements were sold. There were a lot. At least 50, by our count.
Travel Marquette, which coordinated efforts with Delta Sky, did a helluva job getting the word out and selling space in the magazine.
Now in the months ahead, we can all prepare for the tourist onslaught.
Let’s just remind the wide-eyed tourists to be courteous to those herds of bucks constantly bolting across their paths, the countless eagles filling the sky overhead, and the curious otters and porcupines lurking around every corner.
You got news? Email briancabell@gmail.com.