Crescent Heights BIA Celebrates Asian Heritage Month with 5,000+ Interactions Through Driftscape
July 17, 2025
The Challenge: Rethinking Visitor Engagement
Crescent Heights Village in Calgary is a culturally rich neighborhood with deep Asian roots and a growing mix of small businesses. Heading into Asian Heritage Month 2024, the BIA wanted to do more than post on social media or publish a list of events.
But they faced a few common challenges:
Locals weren’t exploring beyond familiar spots
The BIA lacked tools to turn engagement into real-world visits
Print materials were costly, slow to update, and hard to measure
There was no clear way to track outcomes or demonstrate success to stakeholders
They needed a mobile-first approach that could activate community pride, drive measurable foot traffic, and support their member businesses in a meaningful way.
The Solution: A Local Culture App That Turns Exploration Into Action
To bring Asian Heritage Month to life, Crescent Heights BIA partnered with Driftscape to create a self-guided, gamified experience that celebrated the neighbourhood’s stories and businesses.
Here’s what they launched:
Interactive Points of Interest (POIs) mapped across the district to highlight cultural stories and Asian-owned businesses
A Points & Rewards system that encouraged visitors to check in at multiple spots
Coupons offering discounts on food and retail to incentivize return visits
A mobile-first experience that was easy to use and completely flexible—visitors could explore on their own schedule and create their own path
This was more than a campaign—it was a local movement built on digital exploration, pride of place, and repeat foot traffic.
The Challenge: Rethinking Visitor Engagement
Crescent Heights Village in Calgary is a culturally rich neighborhood with deep Asian roots and a growing mix of small businesses. Heading into Asian Heritage Month 2024, the BIA wanted to do more than post on social media or publish a list of events.
But they faced a few common challenges:
Locals weren’t exploring beyond familiar spots
The BIA lacked tools to turn engagement into real-world visits
Print materials were costly, slow to update, and hard to measure
There was no clear way to track outcomes or demonstrate success to stakeholders
They needed a mobile-first approach that could activate community pride, drive measurable foot traffic, and support their member businesses in a meaningful way.
The Solution: A Local Culture App That Turns Exploration Into Action
To bring Asian Heritage Month to life, Crescent Heights BIA partnered with Driftscape to create a self-guided, gamified experience that celebrated the neighbourhood’s stories and businesses.
Here’s what they launched:
Interactive Points of Interest (POIs) mapped across the district to highlight cultural stories and Asian-owned businesses
A Points & Rewards system that encouraged visitors to check in at multiple spots
Coupons offering discounts on food and retail to incentivize return visits
A mobile-first experience that was easy to use and completely flexible—visitors could explore on their own schedule and create their own path
This was more than a campaign—it was a local movement built on digital exploration, pride of place, and repeat foot traffic.
How Driftscape helped Crescent Heights Village
Gamified experiences that draw crowds: A scavenger hunt and business spotlight contest gave locals and visitors a reason to explore the district in playful, interactive ways.
Digital coupons and rewards: Smart promotions encouraged people to visit shops, cafés, and restaurants while boosting visibility for participating businesses.
Mobile-friendly, no-download tours: Visitors could join instantly through a browser-based experience, removing barriers for casual passersby.
AI-powered business directory: Each of the district’s shops got its own spotlight with automatic updates—no heavy lifting for staff.
Real-time flexibility: Organizers updated locations, offers, and event details instantly, keeping momentum alive throughout the campaign.
Actionable visitor analytics: Engagement data gave the BIA clear insights on what worked, proving ROI and guiding future programming.
The Results: 5,000+ Interactions and Real-World Business Impact
During May 2024, the campaign delivered powerful results:
5,000+ POI views across the Asian Heritage Month content
Multiple return visits driven by coupon-based incentives—visitors returned days later to redeem offers they discovered through the app
Notable increases in foot traffic, especially to lesser-known businesses
The BIA avoided an estimated $6,850 in print costs by using Driftscape instead of producing guides and flyers
All engagement was tracked in real time, giving the BIA data to report back to stakeholders and plan future initiatives with confidence
What Made It Work
Creating a strong link between the app promotion and the cultural celebration of Asian Heritage Month
Mobile storytelling turned passive listings into cultural touch points
Coupon redemptions created return visits, a key win for small business owners
The platform was low effort to manage—no new hires or heavy lift required
The BIA could update, monitor, and promote content instantly with no reprinting or lag time
“Working with Crescent Heights Village was a joy. Their team had a clear vision to make local businesses shine and bring people back to the streets. With Driftscape, we built a digital scavenger hunt that spotlighted shops in ways paper maps never could. Watching thousands of interactions roll in while the BIA staff managed everything with just a few clicks showed the real impact of community-driven digital storytelling.”
— Tony, Driftscape
Key Takeaways
A local culture app can turn cultural celebrations into trackable, interactive events
Discounts and coupons not only drive first visits—they bring people back
Mobile tours increase engagement and visibility for under-the-radar businesses
BIAs can save time and money while still reaching more people
Real-time analytics let teams measure what works without tech overhead
Community-focused storytelling builds pride, participation, and positive press
Ready to Turn Your Cultural Event Into a Walkable Success?
Use Driftscape to launch an interactive mobile experience that engages your community, supports local businesses, and tracks results—without the paper chase.
Want to see the Points & Rewards feature in action?