Help Missoula Become the Most Popular Social Media Community in the U.S.

The city of Missoula has the possibility of being the host of the Social Media Tourism Symposium - also known as SoMeT. Our thriving college town will go head-to-head against 12 other cities in the United States in a "social media battle of the ages."

According to the press release:

“SoMeT is one of this country’s premiere social media conferences,” said Barbara Neilan, Director of Destination Missoula. “And Missoula is up against some stiff competition, ranging from Tampa/Clearwater, Florida and Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the Pocono Mountains and Eugene, Oregon.”

The winning city is chosen via Facebook votes in a contest similar to a Sweet 16, with each city moving further in the contest based on the popular vote. First round voting is held March 13–15, with anyone being eligible to cast a vote for their favorite city.

“Living, working and playing here, we know how wonderful Missoula is,” Neilan said. “What we need is for everyone else who has a place in their heart for our city to grab their smartphone, tablet or laptop and vote for Missoula.”

Last year’s conference, held in El Paso, Texas, brought in 232 attendees from all over the world. During their six days in El Paso, they generated 6,678 tweets that reached 962,900 people for 10.7 million impressions.

“You can’t buy PR like that for a community,” added Neilan. “It is priceless!”

First-round voting is open on www.facebook.com/SoMeTourism at 10 a.m. MST, March 13 and closes at 10 a.m. MST, March 15. To vote, simply log into Facebook and give Missoula a vote.

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Missoula, but it is going to take a village,” said Mary Holmes, Destination Marketing Sales Manager for Destination Missoula/TBID. “We need Missoula to ramp up like only Missoula can, to turn out the vote and win this one.”