Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s ‘Spread The Love’ campaign to provide money vouchers to customers

Joanne Klimovich Harrop | Thursday, February 4, 2021 6:26 a.m.

Courtesy of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

A room at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, one of the 14 hotels in the “Spread the Love” campaign.

A campaign by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership gives hotel guests $100 in vouchers when they check in that can be redeemed on matched purchases at 15 hotels, 30 restaurants and 24 retailers in the city.

The campaign is called “Spread The Love.” The list can be found here.

“If you’re looking to escape your usual routine or want a romantic surprise for your significant other, this is an amazing time to experience all that this great city has to offer,” said Richard Hooper, vice president of marketing and communications for the partnership.

The offer will be available through Feb. 28. Vouchers must be used by March 7.

In the month of love, we invite you to show some TLC to your favorite Downtown businesses while treating yourself ?

Book a stay in a participating hotel and get $100 in value to dine, shop, and experience the best of Downtown.

Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/XCOXopTYKH pic.twitter.com/PiLFehIDga

— Downtown Pittsburgh (@DowntownPitt) February 3, 2021

Funding for the campaign is being provided through an RK Mellon Restaurant Recovery grant and the PDP. Officials project it will generate over $300,000 for the local economy.

Hooper said the PDP believes this is a great way to “Spread The Love” to businesses that really need support.

[gps-image name=”3499126_web1_PTR-LARRIMORS-1.jpg”]

Tom Michael, co-owner of Larrimor’s, a men’s and women’s clothing and accessories boutique, said the campaign might attract customers who haven’t previously shopped at Larrimor’s. He said prior to the pandemic, travelers would come to the store.

“The PDP has done so much to help Downtown businesses and are trying so many different ways to help us,” Michael said. “They’ve kept us informed about everything they are doing and they welcome our input.”

We’ve got your Super Sunday tee ?https://t.co/EGzq0qFTDM pic.twitter.com/GP5tkYMWfn

— Steel City (@SteelCityBrand) January 25, 2021

This event is another way the PDP is promoting the city, said Krista Marple, store manager for Steel City, a Pittsburgh clothing brand. She said the company has worked closely with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership through previous events such as “Shopopoly,” where shoppers visited stores, and received a stamp at each one, and were eligible for prizes.

“The PDP comes up with some good promotions,” Marple said. “We always want to be included and this latest one is a cool idea. During non-pandemic times we get a lot of tourists who are visiting for games or other events. They are looking for Pittsburgh stuff, so hopefully guests staying in Downtown hotels this month will stop by.”

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh on William Penn Place is happy to be a part of the campaign, said Sarita Mallinger, senior director of digital marketing & media for Kimpton hotels and restaurants.

“The PDP has been doing so much to bring visitors back to Pittsburgh,” Mallinger said. “That is a good thing for all us. As hospitality people, it has been such a challenging time.”

Mallinger said they are seeing more local guests in the hotel, especially with less people traveling for business and sporting events and other happenings in the city postponed or canceled because of the pandemic.

“There are so many things for people in Pittsburgh to do, right here in their backyard,” Mallinger said. “We invite them to come Downtown for a change of scenery and enjoying shopping and dining. We are all feeling a sense of optimism that 2020 is behind us.”