Paid Media
How Visit Vancouver Washington
Leveraged the 2026 FIFA World Cup™
to Attract Visitors Beyond Seattle
Client Snapshot
Visit Vancouver Washington | Vancouver, Washington
Visit Vancouver WA is a destination marketing organization (DMO) serving Vancouver and Clark County, Washington. As the region’s official tourism authority, its mission is to strategically market the area for leisure travel, meetings, conventions, sports events, and group tourism, all with a focus on boosting visitor spending to stimulate local economic growth and community vitality.
When Vancouver, Washington became an Official FIFA Fan Zone for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, Visit Vancouver Washington had a unique opportunity to showcase the destination on an international stage.
With Seattle serving as one of the tournament's host cities, Vancouver was positioned to welcome fans looking for a place to stay, explore, and experience the excitement beyond the stadium. Through its Official FIFA Fan Zone and a dedicated campaign landing page, Visit Vancouver Washington aimed to encourage travelers to extend their trips from Seattle—or plan a visit specifically to experience the fan zone and discover everything Vancouver has to offer.
To help maximize this opportunity, Rooted Rock Marketing developed and managed a paid search campaign designed to capture travel demand months before the tournament while continuing to reach high-intent visitors as the event approached.
The Opportunity
The Strategy
Our paid media strategy focused on reaching travelers actively planning their World Cup trips while introducing Vancouver as a convenient and memorable destination.
Key campaign tactics included:
Launching a dedicated Google Ads campaign promoting Vancouver's official FIFA Fan Zone.
Driving all traffic to a custom landing page built specifically for World Cup visitors.
Targeting high-intent searches related to accommodations, travel planning, and World Cup experiences near Seattle.
Prioritizing audiences throughout the Seattle metro area and surrounding drive markets while also expanding reach into international audiences planning travel to the Pacific Northwest.
Messaging that positioned Vancouver as a relaxing alternative to staying in Seattle while remaining close to tournament action.
Beginning promotion more than six months before kickoff to capture travelers during the planning phase and continuing through the tournament with ongoing optimization and remarketing.
Campaign Highlights
Campaign Flight
December 5, 2025 – July 8, 2026
Platform
Google Ads
Primary Goal
Drive awareness and visitation to Vancouver, Washington by encouraging travelers attending FIFA World Cup matches in Seattle to visit or extend their stay in Vancouver.
Results & Impact
77,786 Impressions
Ads reached nearly 78,000 prospective visitors researching World Cup travel and experiences.
13.55% Click-Through Rate
A CTR of 13.55% significantly exceeded typical search campaign benchmarks, demonstrating highly relevant messaging and targeting.
10,542 Clicks
The campaign generated more than 10,500 clicks, driving qualified traffic to the dedicated FIFA campaign landing page.
$0.33 Average Cost Per Click
The campaign maintained exceptional efficiency with an average CPC of just 33 cents, allowing budget to stretch much further than expected.
2,072 Partner Referrals
The campaign generated 2,072 clicks to partner website listings, helping increase visibility for local businesses and attractions throughout the Vancouver, Washington region.
FIFA and FIFA World Cup are trademarks of FIFA. Rooted Rock Marketing is not affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA. References to FIFA are used solely to describe work performed on behalf of our client.