Deaf Journey Media
“Lindsey Row was an outstanding director of public relations and communications! It was a pleasure working with her, and I’m incredibly grateful for her efforts in hosting my first press trip to the Quad Cities. She went above and beyond to ensure my experience was accessible and inclusive. She even reserved an accessible room for me at The Current Iowa, Autograph Collection by Marriott, which featured thoughtful accessibility amenities like a visual doorbell light, a clear reflection of their commitment to inclusivity. Lindsey’s meticulous preparation and scheduling made my Visit Quad Cities trip seamless and enjoyable.”
In November 2024 Visit Quad Cities engaged Deaf Journey Media, led by Lily Yu and her husband and business partner Daniel Heidemeyer. Based in California, Lily and Daniel have traveled to all 50 states and internationally, documenting their experiences as deaf travelers while promoting accessibility and inclusivity to their 115,000 social media followers.
This partnership required approximately 10 hours of itinerary planning, including coordination with partner attractions to secure discounted or complimentary experiences, developing content deliverable agreements, and hiring a local ASL interpreter to support the visit. VQC staff met with Lily and Daniel during their trip at our Union Station Destination Center, gaining valuable insights into accessible travel and identifying opportunities to improve the Quad Cities’ inclusivity. Lily and Daniel expressed enthusiasm for their experience and shared interest in returning for a second trip to the Quad Cities.
Aligned with the organization’s objective to improve inclusivity and partner with accessibility solutions experts, this partnership resulted in some fantastic content highlighting the QC:
Professional Visual Content: Daniel’s professional photography and Lily’s drone-certified videography produced high-quality visuals from multiple Quad Cities attractions.
Short-Form Video Content: Videos were shared across Deaf Journey Media’s platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
Blog Post: A detailed recap of the weekend highlighted key itinerary stops and destination attractions.
Instagram Collaboration: The Instagram reel was co-posted as a collaboration between @VisitQuadCities and @DeafJourneyMedia, maximizing audience reach and engagement.
This partnership not only elevated the Quad Cities as a destination committed to accessibility but also reinforced VQC’s efforts to connect with diverse audiences and showcase the region’s accessibility to all travelers.
