CW Adds Info Kiosk on Local Businesses

By Desiree Parker Thursday, December 08, 2011

Colonial Williamsburg’s visitor center has added a new informational kiosk so guests can browse for local businesses that aren’t part of the CW family.

CW’s visitor center, one of two state-certified regional visitor centers, has offered information on local attractions, lodging, restaurants, shopping and recreation outside its own products through displays and an information desk at the rear of its building. Now, CW has added a computer kiosk that will allow guests to search fora variety of local businesses through Google or Yelp.

“We are very excited to offer guests this consumer-focused, specially designed digital wayfinding solution,” said Skip Ferebee, director of admission sales and consumer development for Colonial Williamsburg. “The Historic Triangle offers a rich menu of options for out-of-town guests, and we are providing an opportunity for them to make informed choices based on simple applications they are already comfortable using.”

The kiosk is located in the newly-remodeled wing of the building where the other regional information is displayed. Pennsylvania-based Livewire developed the kiosk system that navigates just like a mobile or smart phone app.

The screen offers a ‘playlist’ of static images; touching a business search result item will bring up detailed results including the name, phone number, ratings and reviews, keywords and location for each entry.

Google Maps will mark the location and plot driving directions from the CW visitor center to the destination.

“We chose to use the industry’s best local business search engines, putting our guests in control of the information provided,” said Ferebee. “They can read reviews from other consumers, get directions and even have a Google map link sent to their mobile phone so they can navigate to the business or call them directly for more information.”