Virtual Audio Tour Start-up Features Route 66 Town
Kingman grows destination with ListenUp, Arizona's AI Audio App

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2024

Kingman, AZ – The City of Kingman Office of Tourism is thrilled to announce a new innovative partnership with the Arizona based technology startup, ListenUp; the first-of-its-kind audio experience, serving as a free multilingual private tour guide for anyone with an iPhone.

ListenUp's geospatial audio tour transforms destinations like Kingman into captivating museum-like adventures, sharing hyperlocal tales of the city's history, lifestyle, diversity, and folklore. Unlike any other app, ListenUp's multilingual feature ensures accessibility for all, delivering an entertaining yet educational experience irrespective of one's background or budget. The app accomplishes this feat by employing generative AI to create bespoke experiences on the fly in just about any language.

To test the app’s usefulness, the Kingman Office of Tourism collaborated with ListenUp to provide translations of Kingman content for travel writers recently on assignment from Germany. The app gave a perspective of Kingman history that would have otherwise been missed if not translated into German.

As a rural community with limited marketing resources, Kingman Tourism was eager to take advantage of the opportunity. “This technology captures history from all over the web and curates stories which can then be improved on by users” said Tourism Services Manager Josh Noble, “there’s little more for us to do other than promote it and watch it grow into a visitor experience.”

ListenUp’s goal is to have 100% coverage of Route 66 content in 25 languages by the 2026 Mother Road Centennial anniversary. To meet that goal, ListenUp is seeking partnerships with Arizona municipalities, like Kingman, to become fully ListenUp enabled with a special focus on native and rural towns. 

"We are excited to bring Kingman’s rich history and vibrant culture to our visitors through ListenUp," expressed Becky Fawson, President & CEO of the Kingman Chamber. Kingman is among a small cohort of forward-thinking destinations with a rich history and cultural presence. ListenUp enables users to experience the perfect fusion of technology and tradition, making every corner of Kingman an educational, entertaining, and inclusive adventure for everyone.

“Visiting the historic town of Kingman, known as The Heart of Historic Route 66, is now a more enriching journey with ListenUp in your ears,” said Irina Ilyinsky, Cofounder of ListenUp. Just like having a knowledgeable guide by your side, ListenUp navigates you through the city, narrating its history and cultural significance with engaging storytelling.

The app can be downloaded for free on the Apple App Store. For more information, visit www.explorekingman.com/listenup

Media Contacts:

Josh Noble, City of Kingman Tourism Services Manager

928-718-2581

jnoble@cityofkingman.gov

Irina Ilyinsky, ListenUp Co-Founder

Irina@joinlistenup.com