XploreRide

In an industry where travelers crave authenticity and innovation, Hawaii HIS Corporation set out to reshape the future of tourism, launching XploreRide, the islands’ first extended reality (XR) travel experience. The idea was bold: blend immersive technology with cultural storytelling aboard a zero-emissions bus, offering a deeper, more sustainable way to explore Hawaii.

But with a concept that defied traditional categories, part tour, part attraction, part cultural journey, they faced a critical challenge: How do you explain something the market has never seen before? To bring XploreRide to life and help the world understand not just what it was, but why it mattered, we positioned XploreRide as a groundbreaking addition to Hawaii’s tourism landscape, one that fused heritage with high-tech, and sustainability with storytelling.

Through our integrated communications strategy, we worked closely with the client to develop core messaging that articulated the unique intersection of culture, innovation, and eco-conscious travel, establishing XploreRide as a category-defining experience rather than a traditional tour. We led with our Persona-Led Targeting model and conducted research to define key traveler personas from tech-forward adventure seekers to values-driven families and tailored messaging and media targeting accordingly. To generate buzz and credibility, we hosted an exclusive media and influencer event, inviting guests to step aboard and experience the sights, sounds, and stories firsthand. Experiencers left with a deeper understanding of the value XploreRide brought to Hawaii’s tourism identity. We secured features across local, national, and industry-specific outlets, including:
• Hawaii News Now
• TravelPulse
• Travel and Tour World
• KITV
• ABC17 via CNN Newsource
• Travel Age West
• MSN

We also partnered with family lifestyle influencer @lifewithfivekids, whose real-time content gave followers a personal lens into the experience and amplified trust and relatability.

Over the course of six months, we helped XploreRide reach over 1 billion media impressions, with additional features in national and local media outlets. The campaign helped establish XploreRide as one of Hawaii’s most talked-about and innovative new travel experiences. With XploreRide, we turned an ambitious concept into a cultural and commercial success, proving that the right story, told the right way, can shift an entire industry.

Through our integrated communications strategy, XploreRide transformed from a novel idea into a defining experience within Hawaii’s tourism landscape. The brand now stands as a model for how technology can amplify culture, offering travelers a deeper, more meaningful connection to the islands while setting a new industry standard for experiential travel.