Tourism Industry

  • Most Topular Stories

  • The Destination Branding Gap

    Travel 2.0 Blog
    Troy Thompson
    1 May 2012 | 3:44 pm
    Destination branding…or place branding…is a unique challenge. It is not a product, widget or thing. Hell, DMOs don’t own or even make the product. They are just representing it. Which creates a gap. posted in Brand by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Keeping Tourism Marketing Simple It is the first step in the path to confusion. Presenting too much information, too quickly. And tourism marketers, DMOs and CVBs, are experts in the field. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed

  • Creating A Dream, Not Selling Reality

    Travel 2.0 Blog
    Troy Thompson
    3 May 2012 | 12:46 pm
    Tourism promotion is not about listing all of the possible options for the virgin visitor, but rather building upon a dream. Whether or not it is likely is not our concern, our job is to help them dream. posted in Advertising by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Keeping Tourism Marketing Simple It is the first step in the path to confusion. Presenting too much information, too quickly. And tourism marketers, DMOs and CVBs, are experts in the field. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed

  • Tech trends 2012

    Sheila's Guide
    Sheila
    15 May 2012 | 2:26 pm
    Each spring I do a “snapshot in time” webinar for the AWC (Association for Women in Communications – I’m on the AWC National Board of Directors) about technology trends for communicators. It also includes a quick wrap-up of trends I noticed at that year’s South by Southwest Interactive tech conference. Key items for 2012 include the power of images (social photography like Pinterest, Instagram and Foodspotting,) social business, integrating social media, data/measurement/ROI and three of the Interactive Award winners who are doing interesting things. Look for the…

  • Does “Simple and Doable” Mean Internet Marketing is Easy?

    ruraltourismmarketing.com
    Joanne Steele
    16 May 2012 | 11:28 am
    I have heard from a number of small local business owners confused about what I mean when I say internet marketing is simple and doable. They think that I’m saying that internet marketing is easy! I’m not. Let me explain… Internet marketing is a lot like dieting. Losing weight is simple – you reduce your [...]

  • Access your Important Files from Anywhere with Dropbox

    The Tourism Tech Corner
    Jeremy Williams
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:42 am
    I’ve been writing a lot lately about web-based apps, including ones that you can use to automate social tasks (ifttt) or just save time and batch your updates (Buffer). Each of these apps can help save you time while still allowing you to participate in social media. One of the apps I haven’t talked about yet is an app I use every single day. Dropbox is a free app that allows you to sync files (through the cloud) and access them anywhere you can connect to the internet. In today’s world, work no longer lives 100% at the office and personal matters no longer live 100% at…
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    Sheila's Guide

  • Tech trends 2012

    Sheila
    15 May 2012 | 2:26 pm
    Each spring I do a “snapshot in time” webinar for the AWC (Association for Women in Communications – I’m on the AWC National Board of Directors) about technology trends for communicators. It also includes a quick wrap-up of trends I noticed at that year’s South by Southwest Interactive tech conference. Key items for 2012 include the power of images (social photography like Pinterest, Instagram and Foodspotting,) social business, integrating social media, data/measurement/ROI and three of the Interactive Award winners who are doing interesting things. Look for the…

  • Travel Post Friday: breakfast drink in Malaysia

    Sheila
    11 May 2012 | 2:31 am
    A good breakfast makes me happy. Good coffee to go with it; even better. Fresh “Juice of the Day” – a bright red, cheery watermelon concoction without seeds or pulp – means I’m smiling and humming and chirping to myself pretty much for hours. Thanks, Seri Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, and the MITBCA (Malaysia International Tourism Bloggers Conference and Awards) for a glass of heaven. (If you like this post, please consider subscribing to the blog via RSS feed or by email – the email signup box is on the right sidebar near the Search box. Thanks!) 

  • The excitement of growing a business

    Sheila
    9 May 2012 | 3:57 am
    It was sort of an accident, but a very happy one. My Tourism Currents social media training business has always been a two-person operation since our launch; just me and my co-founder Becky McCray. We’ve been so busy ourselves developing content, marketing and doing training/speaking that we had not seriously considered bringing anyone else onto our team, at least, not yet. That changed about two weeks ago, in the middle of a Google Hangout video business call with Leslie McLellan, a marketing expert based in Lake Arrowhead, California who was one of our BlogWorld tourism track speakers…

  • The work is in the details

    Sheila
    3 May 2012 | 9:06 am
    Pay attention to details like this….the color, the texture, the presentation, the craftsmanship….and the stained glass window of your life will be Tiffany Studios-quality. (If you like this post, please consider subscribing to the blog via RSS feed or by email – the email signup box is on the right sidebar near the Search box. Thanks!)

  • I don’t have all day – give me itineraries

    Sheila
    24 Apr 2012 | 9:17 pm
    Hey, you. You there, at the CVB or DMO or Tourist Board. You know all about your town, right? Awesome, ’cause I’m new here and don’t have much time to see your coolest stuff. A tailored itinerary list with all kinds of ideas including local, non-chain places to stay, cuisine I can’t get anywhere else, insider tips and a variety of things to do would be super-helpful. Please give me links and maps, too. I don’t know where things are located, but YOU do. That PDF itinerary with only a few details, a scanned-in and mostly unreadable map, no links and with…
 
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    ruraltourismmarketing.com

  • Does “Simple and Doable” Mean Internet Marketing is Easy?

    Joanne Steele
    16 May 2012 | 11:28 am
    I have heard from a number of small local business owners confused about what I mean when I say internet marketing is simple and doable. They think that I’m saying that internet marketing is easy! I’m not. Let me explain… Internet marketing is a lot like dieting. Losing weight is simple – you reduce your [...]

  • Don’t Mess with Facebook Rights and Responsibilities!

    Joanne Steele
    8 May 2012 | 12:31 pm
    If you aren’t following Facebook’s terms of service to the letter, you’re risking big consequences. Imagine spending tons of time building up a long friends list only to have it all disappear because you failed to follow the rules! That’s what is happening to a growing number of small local businesses who have used their [...]

  • Bipolar View of the Internet for Small Local Businesses and Rural Tourism.

    Joanne Steele
    1 May 2012 | 1:20 pm
    I discovered this infographic today.  I’ve spent so much blogging time today thinking about it that I decided to share my thoughts, which run in two different tracks for small local business and rural tourism businesses. Created by: Forensic Psychology Track #1. We shouldn’t be trying so hard to multitask. Track #2. We really do [...]

  • A Pinterest Page Example Any Rural Tourism Business Can Copy

    Joanne Steele
    24 Apr 2012 | 11:32 am
    There have been lots of blog posts about how to use Pinterest for business. Although the information in the ones I’ve read was useful, it either referred to large brands, or showed few examples, my recent Pinterest post included. So your questions about the logistics of exactly how a small local business could set up [...]

  • Are You a Rural Tourism Destination? If You Say No, Read On

    Joanne Steele
    17 Apr 2012 | 4:25 pm
    … if you say, “Yes!” this is for you too… It’s the beginning of the travel season in the Western Hemisphere, so the internet is full of predictions for tourism 2012. What about your small town? Do you have a tourism season? Does the idea make you laugh? The fact is that rural tourism is [...]
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    Travel 2.0 Blog

  • Creating A Dream, Not Selling Reality

    Troy Thompson
    3 May 2012 | 12:46 pm
    Tourism promotion is not about listing all of the possible options for the virgin visitor, but rather building upon a dream. Whether or not it is likely is not our concern, our job is to help them dream. posted in Advertising by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Keeping Tourism Marketing Simple It is the first step in the path to confusion. Presenting too much information, too quickly. And tourism marketers, DMOs and CVBs, are experts in the field. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed

  • The Destination Branding Gap

    Troy Thompson
    1 May 2012 | 3:44 pm
    Destination branding…or place branding…is a unique challenge. It is not a product, widget or thing. Hell, DMOs don’t own or even make the product. They are just representing it. Which creates a gap. posted in Brand by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Keeping Tourism Marketing Simple It is the first step in the path to confusion. Presenting too much information, too quickly. And tourism marketers, DMOs and CVBs, are experts in the field. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed

  • Why Your Social Campaign Needs a Sign

    Troy Thompson
    27 Apr 2012 | 12:12 pm
    Not just any sign, but a giant sign. Preferably one with really, really big letters. A sign that tourists cannot stay away from. A sign that photographs well. A sign that will show up on Instagram, Pinterest and Flickr. posted in Ideas by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Keeping Tourism Marketing Simple It is the first step in the path to confusion. Presenting too much information, too quickly. And tourism marketers, DMOs and CVBs, are experts in the field. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed

  • Meet Your New Brand Manager

    Troy Thompson
    24 Apr 2012 | 12:46 pm
    Your tourism brand is a lie. Only telling a portion of the story about your destination, region or country. Without the consumer’s perspective, your brand is incomplete and inaccurate. posted in DMOs by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Keeping Tourism Marketing Simple It is the first step in the path to confusion. Presenting too much information, too quickly. And tourism marketers, DMOs and CVBs, are experts in the field. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed

  • 22 Things You Would Have Learned at VTIC12

    Troy Thompson
    18 Apr 2012 | 11:44 am
    Conference presentations are boring. Covering the same old crap, telling you to do things you don’t have time for. Well, not this speaker…I challenge the audience. And sometimes, the audience challenges me. posted in Conference Reviews by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Keeping Tourism Marketing Simple It is the first step in the path to confusion. Presenting too much information, too quickly. And tourism marketers, DMOs and CVBs, are experts in the field. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed
 
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    The Tourism Tech Corner

  • Access your Important Files from Anywhere with Dropbox

    Jeremy Williams
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:42 am
    I’ve been writing a lot lately about web-based apps, including ones that you can use to automate social tasks (ifttt) or just save time and batch your updates (Buffer). Each of these apps can help save you time while still allowing you to participate in social media. One of the apps I haven’t talked about yet is an app I use every single day. Dropbox is a free app that allows you to sync files (through the cloud) and access them anywhere you can connect to the internet. In today’s world, work no longer lives 100% at the office and personal matters no longer live 100% at…

  • Save Time and Automate Tasks with ifttt

    Jeremy Williams
    21 Mar 2012 | 12:59 pm
    I recently wrote about how Buffer can help you easily share great content to your social profiles without having to spend all day online. ifttt is another app that can help you automate tasks you want to accomplish so you can spend your time on more important things. Quite simply, ifttt (short for If This Then That) is an app that lets you create automated Tasks or Recipes (tasks created and shared by others). For example, I have a task set up so every time I post a photo to Instagram, ifttt will automatically save a copy to a folder in my Dropbox account. I also have another task set up so…

  • Save Time and Get Active on Social Media with Buffer

    Jeremy Williams
    6 Mar 2012 | 12:58 pm
    Do you ever notice people that seem to always be online? Always posting to Twitter or Facebook? Just because they’re posting several times throughout the day doesn’t necessarily mean they’re on Twitter or Facebook all day long. They could be using one of several apps that allows you to schedule or spread out your posts throughout the day. One of the best apps I’ve found to do that is Buffer. Unlike robust social media management tools like HootSuite and TweetDeck (both excellent tools), Buffer does one thing and it does it exceptionally well. Buffer is a status update…

  • 2011 New Media Workshop – Video

    Jeremy Williams
    6 Dec 2011 | 10:50 am
    On December 1, our office hosted our second annual New Media Workshop. This year’s workshop focused solely on the power of incorporating video into your marketing efforts. Our three presenters (find their presentations below) go through the whys and hows of video and even provide a case study (The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis). For more information about how you can get involved check out this PDF or email Jeremy Williams at the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Joy Cropper – Williams Randall Marketing Jenny Messmer – The Children’s Museum of…

  • Niche App for Travel and Guides: Gowalla (#Tourism)

    Jeremy Williams
    30 Sep 2011 | 1:34 pm
    **UPDATE – Gowalla has been purchased by Facebook and the service will shut down at the end of January, 2012 Gowalla is a location-based app that, until last week, shared a lot of similarities with Foursquare – the leading location-based app today. First launched about two and a half years ago, Gowalla has steadily grown to an active user-base of two million (about one fifth the number of users that Foursquare has). I’ve always liked Gowalla and I think they have a better interface and user experience than Foursquare, but there have always been so few people in Indiana who…
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    Tnooz

  • Milestones for Gogobot and the other Travelzoo

    Dennis Schaal
    16 May 2012 | 1:22 pm
    Break out your scorecards: Social travel site Gogobot now boasts more than 1 million registered users and Travelzoo Australia has grown the subscriber base of its deal newsletters to 700,000. Whether or not you believe that Gogobot is “the world’s leading source of trusted travel advice,” as its public relations material boasts, its member base is indeed growing. Some eight months since Gogobot took the stage as Facebook launched new Open Graph integrations, Gogobot’s ranks have jumped 60% to more than 1 million registered users, says Travis Katz, Gogobot CEO, although…

  • TLabs Reprise – Urban Adventures 12 months on

    Kevin May
    16 May 2012 | 11:16 am
    Urban Adventures is a Thailand-based tour and activity platform, which first featured on Tnooz in April 2011 [TLabs Showcase - Urban Adventures]. So what happened in the intervening 12 months? Are you making money yet? Sure. We are a travel company first who is trying to leverage the benefits of technology as opposed to a tech company trying to leverage travel. We have our own products and have sold over 65,000 seats to date. This calendar year alone we should take 60,000 passengers so we have money coming in. What has been the biggest problem – building the product/service or marketing it…

  • HomeAway says it is merely like a classified ad, but phishing victims not buying it

    Dennis Schaal
    16 May 2012 | 10:59 am
    Airbnb had its moment of viral reckoning last year when “EJ” eloquently wrote of how the San Francisco apartment she rented out got trashed beyond recognition. Under admittedly different and less-dramatic circumstances, HomeAway is facing its own crisis of confidence, although the victims — renters and vacation rental property owners — have not attracted protracted media attention. HomeAway, which owns such sites as HomeAway.com, VRBO, VacationRentals.com and 32 others around the world, has acknowledged that customers and vacation rental owners advertising on its…

  • WestJet sees Air Canada fly off into the distance – Top Canada travel sites, May 12 2012

    Tnooz
    16 May 2012 | 10:21 am
    Just weeks after resuming its position at the top of the leading travel websites in Canada, Air Canada has added significantly to its market share at the expense of WestJet. Air Canada added 3.5% market share to its tally last week as WestJet dropped away with a 2% decline of its own. Most popular travel websites in Canada for the week ending April 28 2012: Agency RankWebsiteDomainPercentage of VisitsPrevious Position 1Expedia Canadawww.expedia.ca15.96%1 2Flight Networkwww.flightnetwork.com5.92%2 3Hotwirewww.hotwire.com3.36%3 4www.cheapoair.cawww.cheapoair.ca3.35%9 5Red Tag…

  • KDS heralds killer application for business travel

    Linda Fox
    16 May 2012 | 8:50 am
    Corporate travel and expense management specialist KDS has hopes of ‘mass adoption’ for its latest development, Project Neo, which will be released next year. The technology, in beta with travel management companies and customers, reduces the search, book and expense process to three screens from the current process of more than three times that. It is designed to enable users to book a door-to-door trip based on destination and desired time of arrival information and using devices such as iPads. The technology then presents a small set of results within a two-hour window –…
 
 
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    Resort Marketing

  • Winter 2011-12 Results

    Eric Hoffman
    7 May 2012 | 3:02 pm
    Preliminary numbers from the 2011-12 Winter Season have been released by the National Ski Area Association, and boy do they stink…down 15% to 51 million, or back nearly to 1991-92 levels…wow, that was the season I moved to Park City and was a long time ago! Other interesting items of note: 50% of resorts opened late this past season 48% of resorts closed early this past season Lowest national average snowfall since the 1991-92 season (interesting coincidence?) The biggest YoY drop was 17.6% drop in 1980-81, but there was a 22% increase the next season (reason for hope?) Read the…

  • How Much Emphasis on Digital Marketing?

    Eric Hoffman
    3 May 2012 | 1:10 pm
    A recent post in HotelMarketing.com about Starwood committing 75% of its marketing spend to digital media sent me back to reading this great deck about the power of digital marketing. The question I see now is how much digital spend are you putting forth? Are you ahead of the curve, or behind? Are you concerned or excited?! I’m excited and think the opportunities in digital are only getting better…post your thoughts in the comments, thanks! How Much Emphasis on Digital Marketing? is a post from: The Resort Marketing written by Eric Hoffman.

  • Digital Content Advice

    Eric Hoffman
    18 Apr 2012 | 1:41 pm
    I had a conversation with a friend recently which reminded be about some advice that a pro photographer gave me years ago as we were considering transitioning to digital. “Reformat your memory cards often.” I don’t know that this is as essential as it might have once been, but I do know that I’ve heard more stories about lost photos and video as we all are using our digital cameras and phones for our only devices and it’s certainly a potential horror show situation if you lose a slew of photography or video for business or personal reasons, so here are a couple…

  • Winter winds down

    Eric Hoffman
    1 Apr 2012 | 10:56 pm
    The winter of 2011-12 will not go down in the record books (at least not in a good way) as it was one of low snow totals and warm temperatures for most almost all areas in the US. It certainly goes to show that the winter mountain resort business is one which can never be absolutely accurately predicted as it truly seemed like, with the business climate picking up, leisure travel in a rebound and after a solid 2010-11 winter season that this might be a winter to remember. Well, Mother Nature showed that she still plays a major role in the winter mountain resort business cycle and by waiting…

  • Slip Sliding Away

    Eric Hoffman
    5 Mar 2012 | 10:51 pm
    I’ve posted impressive avalanche videos in the Resort Marketing Blog before, but no wet snow avalanches yet. Until now, check out these two separate clips about this monster which took out a ski lift in France last week: A news segment – click the “CC” button to get English subtitles And even crazier, here’s a video shot from the lift taken during the slide, yikes! Use this as a reminder that wet snow avalanches, while not as impressively fast as their dryer snow counterparts, can still be very powerful and destructive and deserve respect – be careful, in…
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    Being There Doing That

  • Home Sweet Home

    admin
    18 Apr 2012 | 2:54 pm
    Anyone who has seen the movie “The Holiday” with Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law and Kate Winslet knows how the home-exchange works. Upon experiencing small personal trauma you look online for attractive place to escape current problems. Next, you stumble upon person (who happens to have extremely attractive, single brother) in the exact same situation as you and make the switch. The results: save money on travel accommodations, immerse yourself in local culture and fall madly in love with said attractive single brother. All joking aside, home exchanges are a growing trend in the…

  • About

    admin
    18 Apr 2012 | 2:52 pm
    If ever there was a consumer decision with plentiful choices and beyond-appealing options, it would have to be in the travel and tourism industry. Ogilvy’s Travel and Economic Development team knows the travel world from the front door to a destination and back. Our global team of travel professionals works with airlines, car rental, rail and cruise lines; destinations and attractions; lodging providers; online travel planning and ticketing resources; and countries, visitor services and trade boards to help each differentiate their product or service to important decision makers. True to…

  • Bras, Bachelors and Beaches

    admin
    18 Apr 2012 | 2:51 pm
    Japan’s latest efforts to boost tourism numbers certainly creates talk-ability if nothing else.  Launched at an Asia-Pacific summit this week, a ‘Welcome to Japan’ bra displays images, sightseeing spots and can greet visitors in three different languages with the touch of a button (literally!). The not-for-sale bra, created by underwear label Triumph, is in the style of a tour guide’s uniform and hopes to help attract 30 million visitor to Japan next year. Dual purpose tour guide flags are inserted on each side of the bra providing “good support and an attractive bust line”,…
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    Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

  • The Prince Cameo

    Bill Geist
    11 May 2012 | 10:14 am
    Prince was da bomb in the 80s. When I was in radio, my station helped break a lot of new talent to an unsuspecting audience...and Prince was one of those artists. By the time 1999 hit, we were four or five tracks deep, turning our listeners on to way more than the title track. When Purple Rain came out, it was the entire album...not just the "hits." In time, as with most artists, the flame dimmed, the hits were less omnipresent and the artist faded from view. But, Prince is one of those artists that, when he walks on a stage...it's like the '80s. Or, at least 1999.

  • You'd Think the Phone Companies Might Be Concerned

    Bill Geist
    10 May 2012 | 10:13 am
    I've often considered where a company's responsibility lies when a product it sells and services is used improperably. Of course, it's fairly easy when bodily injury results. Government steps in and makes the company fix the defect or stop producing the product. But, when the government fails to step in and stop (and, instead, encourages) the wrongful use of a product...what then? And, what if that wrongful use actually threatens the company's future profitability on one of it's legacy product lines? What if Congress actually causes the company's former flagship…

  • Stop the QR Insanity

    Bill Geist
    9 May 2012 | 11:36 am
    QR codes rock for connecting consumer to product or service...with a meaningful offer or interaction. But, as the old adage goes, when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail...and QR codes are just not appropriate in e-mail, on interstate billboards and...ummm, ad boards placed on an airport people mover. Like this one (click image to enlarge). By the time someone sees it, fumbles for their mobile device, finds the scan app...well, they're in the next concourse. Don't just do because all the cool kids are. THINK, people.

  • Two Good Guys Gone

    Bill Geist
    7 May 2012 | 7:41 am
    Last Friday sucked. The events of last Friday hurt even more in the cold, hard light of Saturday morning. Our industry lost two Destination Marketing pros from the same state within 24 hours. One name was "household" in our industry, the other, not so much. Regardless, losing either one sucks. Losing them both sucks more. Destination Marketing was in Orlando's Gary Sain's blood, as his Dad set the stage for Las Vegas becoming the iconic destination it is today. And, yet, it wan't his pedigree that earned him the top spot with the DMO with second largest budget in…

  • New 'Massa

    Bill Geist
    4 May 2012 | 7:09 am
    Most of our Music Friday posts harken back to tracks that are faves or have been sadly overlooked (or both). Today, it's fresh meat, babies. Joe Bonamassa posted the title track to his upcoming album release on YouTube on Tuesday. Since then...over 36,000 views. If you haven't caught his latest treasure, we have it for you right here, my friend. And a live version he tried out on a crowd in England a few months back...with a hilarious intro. Happy Happy Weekend!
 
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    Canadian and World Tourism

  • Canada is falling behind in Tourism. But early 2012 shows hopeful signs

    Jaime
    27 Apr 2012 | 3:58 pm
    According to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Canada is falling behind in tourism rankings, international visits and income: "Between 2002 and 2010, almost all countries posted international tourist arrivals gains – except Canada. This means that strong brand interest is just not converting into arrivals. Who wouldn't want to come here? We are blessed with the basics: Unique natural vistas, safe and inviting cities, renowned festivals and attractions… but the basics are not enough in this increasingly competitive sector. Like all other export consumers, the burgeoning…

  • High loonie + cuts to CTC + increase cross border allowances for Canadians = tough summer for Canadian Tourism

    Jaime
    1 Apr 2012 | 5:39 pm
    Finance Minister, the Hon. Jim Flaherty, tabled the Federal Government's budget 2012 and it's not very good for the 600,000+ Canadians that work in the tourism industry (investments in Quebec notwithstanding - more on that in my next post). 1 - according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada - the CTC will see a small cut to it's budget this year, but a substantial cut of $14.2 million in 2013/2014. The CTC is underfunded as it is, so this does not bode well for Canada's tourism profile internationally. Without sustained and predictable funding, it is very difficult to plan long term…

  • Watch this Now. Kony 2012

    Jaime
    8 Mar 2012 | 5:09 pm
    KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo. KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. HOW TO HELP: Visit: http://kony2012.com Donate to Invisible Children: https://www.stayclassy.org/checkout/set-donation?eid=14711 For info on Invisible Children: http://invisiblechildren.com For official MEDIA and artist REPRESENTATION ONLY: Christina Cattarini cattarini@sunshinesachs.com DIRECTOR: Jason Russell LEAD EDITOR: Kathryn Lang EDITORS: Kevin…

  • Conexion Spain Virtual Trade Fair starts March 12

    Jaime
    7 Mar 2012 | 2:17 pm
    Conexion Spain Virtual Trade Fair for US and Canadian tourism operators who want to build their outbound business to the 2nd most visited destination in the world starts in 5 days: March 12, 2012 As I mentioned in my previous blogpost, I participated in this virtual tourism fair last year and I found it fascinating both from the technology stand point and as an excellent place to learn more about Spain (one of my favourite countries) and make great connections with Spanish tourism destinations and businesses. If you sell Spain, join the Conexion Spain (and maybe I'll see you there).
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    General Tempe News - RSS Feed

  • The Fun is Just Getting Started in Tempe When the Sun Goes Down!

    3 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    The Tempe Tourism Office promotes summer Broadway shows, flashlight tours, live music performances and Prowl & Play at the Phoenix Zoo Tempe, Ariz. – For live music, Broadway shows, zoo adventures and more, nighttime is the perfect time to explore Tempe. Make the Tempe Tourism Office your first stop when looking for attractions and entertainment to keep you cool this summer. When the sun goes down the fun is just beginning at the Phoenix Zoo. Prowl & Play allows guests to explore the zoo after dark and provides them with a unique and memorable experience that is fun for the…

  • Think Tempe First for Family Fun!

    27 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tempe, Ariz. – Looking for a fun-filled vacation getaway for the whole family? Look no further than Tempe, Ariz. Boating on Tempe Town Lake, SEA Life aquarium, wave pools, desert hikes and creating your own ice cream treat…these are just a few of the choices for fun in Tempe. Visit www.TempeTourism.com for family friendly itinerary ideas. Active families are attracted to Tempe Beach Park and Tempe Town Lake, a recreational haven located adjacent to the Mill Avenue District, the Tempe Center for the Arts and Arizona State University. Explore the 5 miles…

  • Meet in the Middle of it All: Tempe, Arizona

    25 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Think Tempe First for Meetings Tempe, Ariz. – Tempe, Ariz. welcomes meeting attendees with more than 5,000 sleeping rooms and an abundant amount of meeting space, from beautiful hotel courtyards to distinctive off-site venues. There are 45 hotel and resort properties in Tempe. Accommodations range from cozy budget properties to upscale retreats, so there is certainly a match for every taste and budget. Think Tempe First to make every meeting a success. Travel to Tempe is quick and easy. This city is located less than ten minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor…

  • Express Yourself in Tempe, Ariz. - www.LGBTinTempe.com Provides Helpful Information for Travelers

    25 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Express Yourself in Tempe, Ariz.  Tempe, Ariz. – Looking for a friendly and diverse destination? Think Tempe first! Tempe offers a blend of cosmopolitan culture and style, a welcoming spirit, scenic desert beauty and more than 330 days of sunshine every year. A visit to www.LGBTinTempe.com or a click on the LGBT Travelers link on the www.TempeTourism.com homepage provides comprehensive trip planning information. Located in the heart of Metropolitan Phoenix, Tempe is the perfect starting point for any Arizona adventure. Tempe is easily accessible via four…

  • Hip, Hot and Cool Describe Tempe’s Cultural Climate

    23 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Hip, Hot and Cool Describe Tempe’s Cultural Climate Tempe, Ariz. – Tempe is defined by its youthful vitality and its artistic expression, ever present at Arizona State University (ASU) and the downtown Mill Avenue District. Funky local bands, award-winning local theater, literary events, blockbuster Broadway productions, comedy shows and contemporary dance companies are all part of Tempe’s arts and cultural scene. All of Tempe's arts and cultural events can be found at www.tempetourism.com in the calendar section. Both on Mill Avenue and throughout…
 
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    Alabama's Gulf Coast: What's Biting?

  • Blue Water’s In and the Fish are Biting at Alabama’s Gulf Coast

    15 May 2012 | 4:05 pm
    Captain Randy Boggs of the “Reel Surprise” charter boat, based out of SanRoc Cay Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama, says, “Fishing can’t get any better.”

  • Good and Getting Better

    8 May 2012 | 4:05 pm
    Captain Kathy Broughton, of the charter boat, “Kitty Wake,” based out of Zeke’s Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama, is a legend on the docks. Kathy is one of the few female captains on the entire Gulf Coast, and because of her boat skills, fishing knowledge and customer satisfaction, she’s considered to be one of the boys, even though everyone knows she’s a lady. Captain Kathy will tell us what’s biting this week.

  • Sargassum Brings More and Different Fish to Anglers on Alabama Gulf Coast’s 6 Hour Trips

    1 May 2012 | 8:15 pm
    Editor’s Note: Captain George Pfeiffer of the “Emerald Spirit” charter boat docked at Sportsman Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama, tells us about new fish being moved-in close to shore, because of a line of floating vegetation, the sargassum weed. Many Gulf Coast outdoorsmen believe sargassum acts as the nursery for many Gulf of Mexico fishes. Also, this brown seaweed provides shade and cover for both baitfish and the sportsfish feeding on that bait.

  • And the Fish Just Keep On Coming on Alabama’s Gulf Coast

    24 Apr 2012 | 4:05 pm
    April at Alabama’s Gulf Coast beaches and coastal rivers offers so-many opportunities for fishermen of all ages.

  • Enjoy a Date with Jaws and Catch Speckled Trout and Mackerel at Alabama’s Gulf Coast

    17 Apr 2012 | 4:05 pm
    Editor’s Note: More anglers coming to Alabama’s Gulf Coast want to get up close and personal with “Jaws,” and shark fishing definitely tests your strength, power and endurance and creates memories will last a lifetime. Captain Troy Frady of Distraction Charters, a member of the Orange Beach Fishing Association (OBFA), docks at Orange Beach Marina. Frady says he’s never seen so-many people wanting to fish for sharks.
 
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    Awesome Alpharetta

  • Alpharetta Welcome Center Guest Wins Taste of Alpharetta Tickets

    10 May 2012 | 1:13 pm
    A National Travel and Tourism Week celebration helped draw more visitors to the Alpharetta Welcome Center and one was rewarded with tickets to the 2012 Taste of Alpharetta. One lucky winner, Claudia Varner of Alpharetta took home $25 worth of tickets to the 22nd Annual Taste of Alpharetta, enabling her to enjoy tasty samples from over 50 of Alpharetta’s restaurants.

  • Taste of Alpharetta Celebrates its 22nd Year May

    4 May 2012 | 9:32 am
    Celebrating its 22nd year, Alpharetta is bringing back its well-known culinary experience, Taste of Alpharetta on May 10 from 5 to 10 p.m. at its new location across from Alpharetta City Hall at 2 South Main Street. With gourmet food options, live music, and food competitions, Taste of Alpharetta is one of the city’s most anticipated events of the season. Come take part in the festivities and plan to stay the weekend to explore what makes Alpharetta so awesome!

  • Alpharetta Welcomes the Alliance Ride and Epic Handcycling Road Race

    30 Apr 2012 | 9:39 am
    Returning to Alpharetta for the third consecutive year is the Scott Rigsby Foundation’s 2012 Alliance Ride and Epic Handcycling Road Race sponsored by Jackson Healthcare. The event begins Saturday, May 5 at 7:30 a.m. at Jackson Healthcare’s corporate headquarters, 2655 Northwinds Parkway in Alpharetta. All proceeds support wounded warriors from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and will be used for the Georgia Warrior Alliance Wounded Warrior Family Retreat program. The race will start with an aerial display performed by the U.S. Army Silver Wings Team from Ft.

  • Alpharetta Celebrates National Travel & Tourism Week

    27 Apr 2012 | 7:05 am
    The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau is inviting residents and visitors to stop by the Alpharetta Welcome Center, 178 South Main Street, Monday, May 7 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. as part of the 29th annual National Travel and Tourism Week. The Welcome Center staff will be offering refreshments and information about Alpharetta and the services of the CVB. One guest will be selected to win tickets to one of the city’s most popular events, the Taste of Alpharetta on May 10.

  • Share Your Awesome Alpharetta American Girl Experience

    17 Apr 2012 | 2:30 pm
    If you have visited the American Girl store in Alpharetta, Georgia, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau would like to hear about your family’s experience. Whether you’re an Alpharetta resident or a visitor from across the country - or the world – the Alpharetta CVB wants to hear your positive, happy and uplifting stories. Put your experience in writing, share a video or send photos showing just how great your visit to American Girl in Alpharetta was. Submit your story between April 16 and May 18, 2012 and the CVB will pick their favorites to post on the Awesome Alpharetta…
 
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    tourism industry news - Google News

  • Revived Industries Offer Promise as Haitians Rebuild - AS/COA Online

    16 May 2012 | 12:16 pm
    AS/COA OnlineRevived Industries Offer Promise as Haitians RebuildAS/COA OnlineLast November, President Michel Martelly announced that Haiti is “open for business,” despite facing the challenge of over a million homeless and a cholera epidemic. Now, mining, tourism, and coffee could foster new jobs and investment in a country and more »

  • International tourism's strategic growth trends build American jobs - Examiner.com

    16 May 2012 | 11:58 am
    NetGlobersInternational tourism's strategic growth trends build American jobsExaminer.comThat growth trend provides vital support for over 7 million people in the United States, employed in travel and tourism industries, especially the 1.2 million, who are tied directly to international travelers. Growth at a time of financial uncertainty Mandala Research to Support US National Travel and Tourism StrategySan Francisco Chronicle (press release)US tourism roadmap yields widespread supportetravelblackboard.usInternational visitor spending surges by USD1.5 billion in…

  • Tourism show in Edmonton aids in luring a new wave of international travellers - Edmonton Journal

    16 May 2012 | 11:03 am
    Tourism show in Edmonton aids in luring a new wave of international travellersEdmonton JournalBut wooing tourists is growing tougher; Canada has seen its ranking as a destination for international tourists fall from eighth in the world in 2000 to 15th in 2009, according to documents Industry Canada officials used last year to brief Maxime and more »

  • Perdue proclaims Tourism Day in North Carolina - BusinessWeek

    16 May 2012 | 10:44 am
    My Fox 8Perdue proclaims Tourism Day in North CarolinaBusinessWeekBev Perdue is proclaiming a day where the North Carolina tourism industry is recognized for its importance to the state's growth and economic stability. The governor has proclaimed Wednesday as Tourism Day. A statement from the governor's office says Perdue declares Wednesday 'Tourism Day in North Carolina'WNCTall 28 news articles »

  • Tourism hit as Huangyan dispute escalates - China Daily

    16 May 2012 | 7:07 am
    International Business TimesTourism hit as Huangyan dispute escalatesChina DailyThe drop in Chinese tourists to the Southeast Asian nation is likely to have a big impact on the Philippines' tourist industry. Manager Zhang with the CITS said many local agencies in the Philippines are extremely worried about the current situation Philippine tourism industry braced for extended China travel banChannel News AsiaChina-Philippines South China Sea Dispute Hurting Philippines' Tourism IndustryInternational Business TimesPhilippines travel industry faces sharp dropXinhuaMalaya -Manila…
 
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    Travel and Tourism Industry News

  • The Philippines brings FUN to the Middle East

    traveleditor
    13 May 2012 | 8:49 pm
    The Philippines successfully rolled out its new tourism campaign It’s more fun in the Philippines at the recently-concluded 19th Arabian Travel Market (ATM) at the Dubai International Convention Centre targeting the Middle East high-end market. Thunderbird Poro Point Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. shared, “As the region’s leading travel event, the [...]

  • OH ORLANDO! 3 Ways to Enjoy Orlando This Vacation!

    traveleditor
    12 May 2012 | 5:24 pm
    Sometimes it’s all we focus on to get through the day. Month after month of grueling work and repetitive routines will leave you frustrated and drained. The one thing you can look forward to is your Vacation! The world if your oyster and even choosing a vacation spot and activities can end up being more [...]

  • Summer Festivals and Family Fun in Missouri

    traveleditor
    12 May 2012 | 10:25 am
    Summertime! School’s out. The days are long. It’s vacation time. That doesn’t have to mean an extended getaway and spending lots of money — in the Show-Me State, a vacation can be a single day or weekend when you attend our summer festivals and fun events. The Missouri Division of Tourism’s website, VisitMO.com, highlights more [...]

  • It’s more fun to retire in the Philippines

    traveleditor
    29 Apr 2012 | 8:11 pm
    It’s more fun to retire in the Philippines! Come to think of it, it’s really more fun to enjoy running, hiking, biking, cooking, food tripping and then sunset-watching before the cool evening or stargazing when the night falls. These, as one thinks of a leisurely life in the horizon under the retirement program prepared by [...]

  • Best Florida Charter Flights

    traveleditor
    29 Apr 2012 | 7:29 pm
    Florida is definitely one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. This state is also known as a state that has a huge requirement for private charter flights. Charter Flights in Florida If you who would like to avoid the huge crowd and you want to have the most privilege and the benefits [...]
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    Different places to travel

  • Sonamarg – path of gold or golden meadow in Jammu & Kashmir.

    Traveller
    15 May 2012 | 6:41 am
    Sonamarg which means path of gold or the golden meadow is a paradise on Earth. Sonmarg or Sonamarg is a town of Jammu and Kashmir state in India. Sonamarg itself signifies its beauty. This place is set in a backdrop of snowcapped mountains and bright flowers. This place is located at 87 km from Srinagar [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Travel – Dodecanese Islands – an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands

    Traveller
    14 May 2012 | 1:47 pm
    The Dodecanese Islands (which means “twelve islands”) are an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the South Aegean Islands of Greece. These islands are off the southwest coast of Turkey, to the southward of Samos Island and to the northeastward of the Crete Island. Byzantine churches and medieval castles are [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Poonch – a border town in Jammu and Kashmir

    Traveller
    13 May 2012 | 12:16 am
    Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Poonch is based on the Mah?bh?rata evidence. The evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang. The districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas in epic times. Poonch [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Travel – Contadora, Panama – one of the islands in the Pearl Islands in Panama

    Traveller
    10 May 2012 | 1:42 pm
    Contadora Island is one of the islands (the 5th largest) of the Pearl islands in Panama. These islands are along the Pacific Ocean and about 50 miles from Panama City. Some of the most popular activities for which these islands are known among tourists includes diving, snorkeling and sports fishing. There are about 13 beaches [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Mattan or Martand – Surya Temple and a major Hindu pilgrimage in Jammu & Kashmir.

    Traveller
    10 May 2012 | 10:36 am
    Mattan is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district which is in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Overview • This pilgrim village is just off the road that leads to Pahalgam. • The word ‘Mattan’ is an abbreviation of ‘Martand’. • It has traditionally been a major Hindu pilgrimage. • [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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    Softscribe Inc.

  • Softscribe Inc. Writing Shines with 2012 Communicator Award

    Julie Squires
    9 May 2012 | 6:40 am
    We were delighted to learn we earned a 2012 Communicator Award of Distinction in technology public relations Writing, which is such a strong part of Softscribe’s DNA that it is even in our name.  It is a privilege to share our passion for communicating in service of our clients and in partnership with our editorial friends, influencers and analysts. The International Academy of Visual Arts (IAVA) selected from more than 9,000 worldwide entries. It bestowed Communicator Awards on “work that made a lasting impact” with marketing and communications excellence. IAVA recognized…

  • Softscribe Inc. Writing Shines with 2012 Communicator Award

    Julie Squires
    7 May 2012 | 1:01 pm
    Atlanta – May 7, 2012 – Softscribe Inc., an Atlanta-based technology public relations firm, announced that it earned a 2012 Communicator Award of Distinction in the Writing category. The International Academy of Visual Arts (IAVA) selected from more than 9,000 worldwide entries. It bestowed Communicator Awards on “work that made a lasting impact” with marketing and communications excellence. IAVA recognized Softscribe for an online customer viewpoint entitled “Hotels, Guests Shift to Behavioral eAdvertising”  for then-client Cendyn. The narrative explains how behavioral targeted…

  • Top 4 Marketing Back-to-Basics for B2B Tech Companies

    Julie Squires
    1 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Spring is a good time to clean up your marketing basics, especially if you set annual company goals in Q1. We like to organize marketing activity around CONTENT, SEARCH and SOCIAL MEDIA. Here are my top 4 tips: CONTENT 1. Start with your business goals. List the top 3 and tie marketing to these. Make every step move towards Mount Olympus. How do you know what your stakeholders want to know? Conduct at least 5 buyer persona interviews before you create your messaging. 2. Combine indirect marketing – PR – with direct marketing – eNewsletters, email, print, mailing and the web. Re-purpose…

  • How to Use LinkedIn in B2B Social Sales

    Julie Squires
    4 Apr 2012 | 2:00 am
    As my friend and colleague Barbara Giamanco, co-author of The New Handshake, is fond of saying: “Selling is marketing, but Marketing is not selling.” She also says the sales close rate is “84% if you have an internal sponsor and 44% with a referral.” That, and the fact that there over 100 million professionals on LinkedIn, make it a strong referral network.  Building on my earlier blog about “How to use LinkedIn to Drive Dollars here are 3 tips from Barbara on LinkedIn for social sales.  Please click here for more in-depth information, including 2 TUTORIALS, on how to use…

  • The Hunter Conference Mandate to Hotel Operators: “Raise your rates!”

    Michael Squires
    23 Mar 2012 | 11:13 am
    “Raise Your Rates!” The quote came from FelCor Lodging Trust’s Chairman Tom Corcoran during his March 21, 2012 keynote address at the Hunter Investment Conference in Atlanta. Corcoran was responding to bullish industry forecasts from economists, financial consultants and hotel company executives. Corcoran and other leaders affirmed that the recovery is underway, but that many revenue managers hired since 2008 have never seen a strong market. The overall feeling from operators and analysts was that now is the time to motivate revenue managers to trust their revenue management systems and…
 
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    annehornyak.com

  • Things I learned this week: May 13

    Anne Hornyak
    13 May 2012 | 9:59 pm
    How can it be Sunday night already?! To be honest, I can’t even remember what happened this past week. I know I had a few really good days and then the weekend hit me hard (again) and I spent most of it sleeping and resting. It’s the middle of month 5 of mono. This week’s #tourismchat was about blogging and bloggers. Check out the transcript. I added a few more destinations to my CVBs on Pinterest board. Pin of the week:

  • Easy Facebook Tips

    Anne Hornyak
    6 May 2012 | 7:40 pm
    Want more engagement on your Facebook page? Change the way you write your page’s posts. Here are five simple tips: Keep it short and be concise. Don’t use more than two sentences. Want likes? Ask for it. Ask your fans to “click like” in the post copy. Want comments? Try a fill-in-the-blank post. Photos work wonderfully. Use at least 1-2 photos each week. Be consistent with your content and frequency but don’t be afraid to be random every once in a while. Experiment with content, assets and posting time to get the best results. What works well on your page?

  • Things I learned this week: May 5

    Anne Hornyak
    5 May 2012 | 4:20 pm
    It’s been a busy week and I’m tired – really tired – but I’m not exhausted, which is incredible. The best way to combat burnout is with face time. Spending the entire week in Portland, I now have a new appreciation for sunny, dry days. My CVBs on Pinterest board is in an LA Times Travel article! Google Drive may be super beneficial. I need to play around with that more. Life without dog fur is nice for a few days but nothing says happiness more than puppy kisses. Pin of the week:

  • Things I learned this week: April 28

    Anne Hornyak
    28 Apr 2012 | 12:56 pm
    I was FINALLY starting to feel a little more normal again. For most of the week. And then it hit me. Hard. I’m still sick. I’ve already slept for 12 hours and will probably take another nap this afternoon. Usually I feel physically worn out and I just have to lay around and rest but this time my body is craving sleep too. I had 4 REALLY good days this week and must have overdone it. I mowed the backyard Wednesday night and the front yard Thursday night so that probably didn’t help. At least it’s the weekend so I can rest as much as possible before Monday. <sigh>…

  • CVBs on Pinterest: April update

    Anne Hornyak
    26 Apr 2012 | 8:36 pm
    It’s time for another update! My list has now grown to 181 CVBs on Pinterest, not including international destinations. I’ve been tracking these basic stats weekly but it takes nearly 2 hours each Sunday to keep up so I’ll be changing my strategy soon. What I’m seeing: the CVBs that pin daily, or almost daily, see a gain of 20+ followers each week. Those who don’t pin weekly have almost no growth at all. Of course, the larger destinations see a larger weekly growth. And so do those accounts who have a larger following. Everything seems to be proportionate on size…
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    Amadeus corporate blog

  • Airline traffic trends indicate hub and spoke model more prevalent in North America

    amadeus
    16 May 2012 | 11:47 am
    Posted by Daniel Greaves (Airline Distribution Strategy Manager, Amadeus IT Group) Though widely known to airline industry insiders, you might find this point raised by a blog reader regarding our Global airline traffic trends report interesting. We found that the average connecting rate of the ten busiest airports in Asia is 19% compared with 32% for the top ten hubs in Europe. Our data agrees with the notion that Asia is a much more point-to-point market than Europe. And in North America the hub and spoke model is even more prevalent: the average connecting rate for the top ten hubs in…

  • Join us in Dubai for our Airline Solution Showcase

    amadeus
    15 May 2012 | 12:10 am
    Posted by Daniel Greaves (Airline Distribution Strategy Manager, Amadeus IT Group) We are delighted to welcome you to our Airline Solution Showcase at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre Hotel from 29 – 30 May. This dynamic showcase will feature a range of topics including insights on how to maximise your revenue, Airline Ancillary Services, and EMD among many others. We’ve designed this showcase to inform and teach, and also to be a forum for discussion and networking. During these two days you will have the opportunity to get to know our products with firsthand…

  • The future of travel looks to be a healthier one

    amadeus
    14 May 2012 | 3:17 am
    Posted by Stuart Brocklehurst (Group Communications Director, Amadeus IT Group) We’ve all seen retro photos from the late 1960’s during the golden age of air travel when smoke filled cabins were common place. Eventually, as business travellers became more conscious about their wellbeing, smoking was banned on all flights and a new era of healthy travel was ushered in. Accordingly, employers are putting a greater emphasis on an individual’s ability to “adapt and self-manage” their health by taking better care of themselves. Our research supports this trend and found that 77% of…

  • Real-time baggage tracking coming soon to a suitcase near you

    amadeus
    11 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    Posted by Patricia Simillon (Airlines Operations Strategy, Airline IT, Amadeus IT Group) Your plane lands after a six hour flight to the Caribbean. Finally, after all of the hectic months of work in the frigidly cold city – your tropical dream holiday has arrived. You’ve packed everything needed for a relaxing vacation and now all you have to do is pick up your baggage and head to the beach front resort. Patiently waiting in front of the baggage carousel watching as one holidaymaker after another collects their baggage – you notice that the crowd is growing thinner and thinner by the…

  • Amadeus recognised as preferred GDS during ATM 2012

    amadeus
    10 May 2012 | 2:55 am
    Posted by Nasser Batha (Regional Director, Markets, Amadeus MENA) Amadeus flexed its innovation muscles during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012, held in Dubai (30 April-3 May). You may know that we launched our regional mobility solution, Amadeus Mobile Traveller, a real milestone in the mobility landscape in this part of the world. During these days, Amadeus further demonstrated its leadership by showcasing a number of productivity optimisation solutions at ATM. These included Amadeus Air Preferences, a powerful solution that enables travel agents to respond instantly to market change and…
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    Marketing Times for the Hotel & Travel Industry from Net Affinity | Hotel Marketing News

  • Global Smartphone Usage

    William
    16 May 2012 | 6:36 am
    Last October, Google launched their Mobile Planet, a resource enabling anyone to visualize the ways smartphones are transforming how people connect with information, each other and the places around them. Today, they are releasing new 2012 research data, and the findings are clear—smartphone adoption has gone global. Today, Australia, U.K., Sweden, Norway, Saudi Arabia and UAE each have more than 50 percent of their population on smartphones. An additional seven countries—U.S., New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland—now have greater than 40 percent smartphone…

  • Building Your Brand on Facebook

    William
    15 May 2012 | 12:04 pm
    t’s no secret that Facebook has decided the best way to spur more advertising on the platform is to encourage marketers to use their brand Pages more effectively. With that goal in mind, Facebook looked at postings on 23 brand Pages over one month to see which posts did the best. The upshot: When you talk about things related to your brand, you’ll get more engagement. “Topics related to brand or about the brand were significant predictors of increased engagement,” says Sean Bruich, head of measurement at Facebook. “When pages post about topics related to brands, they increase…

  • Top 30 UK Hotels on Twitter #Top30UKHotels

    William
    15 May 2012 | 5:46 am
    This week, our Top UK Hotels on Twitter has seen 5 new entries on the list! The Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair, London celebrates their 102nd week at the top of the table. Congratulations! Download this list as a PDF here Rank Hotel Location Followers TwitterGrade 1st Chesterfield Hotel London 50,122 100 2nd Fairmont Hotels Uk 31,802 100 3rd Fallowfields Oxfordshire 23,483 100 4th Premier Inn UK 13,411 100 5th Citizen Glasgow 11,178 100 6th Celtic Manor Resort Newport South Wales 11,042 100 7th May Fair Hotel Mayfair, London 9,862 100 8th MacdonaldHotels UK 8,799 100 9th The Dorchester London…

  • Top 30 Irish Hotels on Twitter #Top30IEHotels

    William
    14 May 2012 | 4:38 am
    It’s time for this week’s Top 30 Irish Hotels on Twitter. 13 hotels have moved up the list this week and we have no new entries! Sheen Falls Lodge celebrate their 16th week victory at the top of the table this week. Download the list as a PDF here Rank Hotel Location Followers TwitterGrade 1st Sheen Falls Lodge Co.Kerry 5,518 100 2nd Cliff House Hotel Co. Waterford 5,119 100 3rd Mount Juliet Co. Kilkenny 4,102 100 4th Gregans Castle Co. Clare 3,762 100 5th Ireland Blue Book Nationwide 3,879 97.2 6th Travelodge Ireland Nationwide 3,621 97.2 7th Ballymaloe Co.Cork 3,506 97.2 8th Jurys Inns…

  • Top 30 Irish Hotel Pages on Facebook #Top30IEHotels

    William
    14 May 2012 | 3:35 am
    Our ‘Top 30 Irish Hotels on Facebook’ list this week has seen 1 hotel move up the list and no new entries!! Kinnitty Castle, Co.Offalycelebrate their 36th week at the top of the list, Well done! Download the list as a PDF here Rank Hotel/Group Location Fans 1st Kinnitty Castle Co. Offaly 25,527 2nd The Glenside Hotel Co. Louth 22,951 3rd Carlton Hotel Group Nationwide 20,643 4th Bewleys Hotel Nationwide 20,386 5th Hastings Hotels Northern Ireland 18,733 6th D4 Hotels Co.Waterford 15,930 7th Fitzwilton Hotel Co. Dublin 15,785 8th Carton House Co. Kildare 14,466 9th The Brehon Co. Kerry…
 
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    The Travel Word

  • Blissing Out in the Dry Tortugas, West of Key West, Florida

    cynthia
    16 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    I can’t sleep. On a soft-sand beach, I’m wrapped in my unhung hammock as if it’s a blanket, since the U.S, National Park Service doesn’t allow them in trees. The ocean current swooshes onto the shore and the clear night sky reveals four planets in alignment. A seaplane lands on Dry Tortugas Island in Key West, Florida, where some wonders are reserved for those who stay to camp and kayak. Photo courtesy of Amber Nolan Earlier today, we arrived at Garden Key, the main island in the Dry Tortugas, an American national park just 70 miles from Key West, Florida (about two hours on the…

  • The Top Five Things to Do in Cape Verde

    laurel
    15 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    This article was published by our friends at Africa.com, who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article on Africa.com. Located off the coast of West Africa, Cape Verde is one of the continent’s best-kept island secrets. The archipelago of 10 islands has recently been attracting more and more island hoppers looking for a tropical destination that’s still relatively unknown and secluded. The islands’ blend of Brazilian and West African cultures boosts the excitement level of Cape Verde, and if you’re a watersports fanatic, this is the destination for you.

  • Three Ecotourism Hot Spots in Malaysia

    cynthia
    14 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Malaysia is a hard-to-rival ecotourism destination. And now, through a combination of charismatic animal species and government programs to protect them, several areas of Malaysia have found a way to regulate and harness tourism as a positive force for animal conservation. Whether it’s dolphins, monkeys, turtles or elephants you’re hoping to encounter (and maybe even help), Malaysia is the place to be. The four “Turtle Islands” of Talang-Satang in Malaysia are responsible for 95 percent of all the turtle landings in Sarawak. Photo courtesy of Flickr/enklocek The Irrawaddy Dolphins of…

  • Video Spotlight: Toy Thailand

    admin
    13 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    It’s always interesting to see film-makers experimenting with new techniques, especailly ones that bring a complete new visual style to their work. In this week’s Video Spotlight feature, Joerg Daiber makes use of ’tilt shift’ photography to bring a completely unique perspective to what would otherwise be familiar scenes filmed in some of Thailand‘s most popular destinations. The careful manipulation of scale, blur and time creates an effect that tricks the eye. Scenes take on a miniature quality – buildings look like models and pedestrians become stick…

  • How Exactly Do Tourism Dollars Support Conservation?

    laurel
    11 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    This article was first published by our friends at TerraCurve.com, who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article on their blog. As conservation tourism becomes more and more popular, how can travelers be certain of exactly where and how their money is being spent? One wildlife conservation group is leading by example by clearly outlining exactly how travelers’ dollars contribute to the sustainability of conservation projects and surrounding communities. The Los Roques Scientific Foundation of Venezuela never ceases to educate visitors by allowing them to observing one…
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    Local Travel

  • Going local in the Sacred Valley, Cusco, Peru

    Jessica Festa
    8 May 2012 | 10:49 pm
    The Sacred Valley of Cusco, Peru. Photo courtesy of Jessica Festa During a trip to Cusco in Peru, I was lucky enough to take an Urban Adventure tour with Intrepid Travel. Their Sacred Valley Tour takes you to the famous area and allows you to have a very local experience – visiting a market, tasting Chicha beer, trying local village activities, and eating typical foods. In fact, Chocla con Queso – a corn on the cob with enormous kernals and topped with cheese and chili sauce – is my new favorite food. Sacred Valley, or Wilma Mayu as the Incas called it in catchua, is named after its…

  • Swiss valley votes against millions in gold to protect mountains

    Alex Narracott
    3 May 2012 | 10:28 pm
    This month we were inspired to learn that the residents of a remote Swiss valley community have voted against receiving tens of millions of pounds each in favour of preserving their cultural heritage and environment. The incredible vote was cast by the valley’s 450 inhabitants in April (2012) after it was discovered that their area was sitting on a goldmine worth at least $1.2 billion. Whilst some locals were less convinced by the decision, the majority of folk in the Medel Valley voted against the retirement-plans-changing sum of money in favour of regional conservation. “The…

  • British walkers explore new local hiking path in Turkey

    UK Friends of Abraham's Path
    1 May 2012 | 12:43 pm
    British walkers at the Beyazit homestay explore a new path in Turkey The first British walkers have returned from exploring over 110 kilometres of the Abraham’s Path segment just opened in Turkey. They stayed in homes that have never before welcomed international visitors and followed the path through remote Kurdish and Arabic villages to the oldest religious sites in the world. The 105-mile (170-kilometre) walking route has been set up by local people in the region, under the guidance of Abraham’s Path Initiative. It takes the walker to ancient sites, such as the recently excavated…

  • Responsible (and local) tourism for travellers

    Martin Hatchuel
    26 Apr 2012 | 1:45 am
    What is Responsible Tourism? How do I do it? Why is it different to ecotourism, sustainable tourism or any other -ism tourism? How will it benefit me? And how will it benefit the people I visit? [Editor's note: This impressive slideshow touches on a lot that is at the heart of Local Travel, especially the Local Travel values.] Responsible Tourism for Travellers by Martin Hatchuel 2012 View more presentations from Martin Hatchuel

  • Why all travel is local… and why conscious hosts will be indigenous

    Anna Pollock
    23 Apr 2012 | 1:30 am
    Welcome to the Marae in Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Anna Pollock While I also subscribe to the importance of the journey and, where possible, would prefer to travel slowly and savour the transition from the familiar to the unknown, most times I have to fly. Then I stop being a traveler and, instead, become a producer of air passenger miles and carbon; a unit of yield as far as the airline is concerned; and a human piece of baggage that doesn’t have the benefit of being placed on a conveyor belt! The biggest tragedy of modern, mass industrial tourism is that it has…
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    Small City Branding Around the World

  • Repositioning of Britain’s Industrial Cities Pays Off

    Bill Baker
    14 May 2012 | 11:25 am
    It wasn’t so long ago that many of Britain’s industrial cities initiated aggressive tourism strategies and commenced city-wide efforts to reposition themselves as cultural and sporting centers. It seems that these investments have been paying off with the largest of the industrial cities establishing themselves as the UK’s most popular tourist destinations in the 2011 international visitors survey by Visit Britain. BTN reports that while London and Edinburgh continue to maintain their traditional supremacy as the two most popular urban destinations in the UK, Manchester, Birmingham,…

  • Walkability is Vital to Small City Tourism Success

    Bill Baker
    11 May 2012 | 11:59 am
    In the tourism readiness reports for small cities we develop, one of the critical success factors that we look for is their walkability. I just came across an article by Dan Burdon, “The Roads Scholar” in which he provides an excellent checklist for cities.  In the AARP article, Dan provides his checklist of the five things that make small towns walkable.   Dan says that his rationale for the focus on walking is because, “people worldwide want to live in a town or city that is walkable. Places that seek to become more walkable and livable - everyplace from Maui to Abu Dhabi,…

  • Why Venice is one of the World’s Most Fascinating Tourism Destinations

    Bill Baker
    10 May 2012 | 3:28 pm
      Give yourself a well-deserved three minute break to watch this great video of a Day in Venice. You will see why Venice is one of the most fascinating, romantic and spectacular cities in the world. Being in Venice is like being in a 360° theater production and this video catches much of that. Take a break. You deserve it!

  • Will the Hobbits be the Biggest Boost Yet For New Zealand’s Brand Awareness?

    Bill Baker
    8 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
    The Sydney Herald reports that Tourism New Zealand has announced the national tourism organization is very close to signing a deal with the makers of The Hobbit movies to promote the country as a tourism destination. Released between 2001 and 2003, the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings was credited with boosting tourism to its New Zealand locations, where visitor numbers rose by 40 per cent. Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said, "I think The Hobbit is going to be that and more. We learned a lot of lessons from Lord of the Rings and we are doing everything we did back then…

  • Ad Featuring Argentinian Nationalism Upsets Britain

    Bill Baker
    5 May 2012 | 9:51 pm
      Tapping resident pride and patriotism is often one of the objectives of national branding efforts. The Olympic Games provide an environment in which many countries try to project their national identity in ways that will aid their economic development, advance polical objectives and boost national self esteem. However, it seems as though Argentina may have gone a tad too far in advancing its geo-political and self esteem objectives in a commercial run on local television. The ad that features Argentinian Fernando Zylberberg, a star field-hockey player, training for the London…
 
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