Sip Around the Rainbow

Sip Around the Rainbow was created as a way to bring more visitors and locals into River Walk partner businesses during the Pride River Parade and throughout the month of June. Summer is traditionally a travel slowdown in San Antonio, and it can be difficult to encourage people, especially locals, to spend time downtown in the heat. Our marketing team launched a citywide campaign called “The Many Cools of San Antonio,” highlighting places where visitors could cool off with refreshing drinks, unique experiences, and indoor activities. I saw an opportunity to build on that momentum with something interactive, fun, and community driven.

Sip Around the Rainbow became a partnership marketing campaign designed to incentivize people to explore multiple River Walk establishments through a digital passport experience. Each participating partner selected a signature drink inspired by a color of the progressive Pride flag. This allowed guests to “sip their way around the rainbow” by trying drinks that ranged from red to violet and extended into pink, baby blue, brown, and black. Every drink had both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic option, which ensured the experience was accessible and inclusive for all ages.

To gamify the experience, guests earned points each time they visited a participating partner. More drinks meant more points, and more points unlocked additional rewards. For partners who were unable to create a themed drink, I secured their involvement through giveaways that included dinner vouchers, hotel stays, attraction tickets, and curated prize bundles. This allowed every business, regardless of capacity, to participate and benefit from the increased visibility and traffic.

The campaign was created and launched in a short time frame, yet collaboration across partners was enthusiastic and supportive. Sip Around the Rainbow aligned naturally with the existing marketing campaign, met partner needs, and gave visitors a genuine reason to explore multiple establishments during Pride month. It was fun, intentional, and successful in driving engagement, and it strengthened relationships with businesses all along the River Walk. Most importantly, it was inclusive, community centered, and celebrated Pride in a way that felt authentic and welcoming to everyone.