Tourism Industry

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  • 2012 Forecast: The Other Social Networks

    Travel 2.0 Blog
    Troy Thompson
    18 Jan 2012 | 10:27 am
    Facebook and Twitter dominate our social lives, both personally and professionally. But as we move into 2012 an odd pattern is developing. More and more destinations are experimenting with other social sites to deliver a more relevant message. posted in Future Watch by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Forecast 2012: Supporting Brand USA 2012 will be a critical first year for Brand USA. While promoting a nation as diverse in tourism product as the U.S. will be a challenge, Brand USA’s greatest demand may just be saving your DMO. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS…

  • Goodwood Hotel, West Sussex: hotel review

    http://www.tourism-review.com/ - RSS Daily news
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 pm

  • The beginning of the end for Google

    Sheila's Guide
    Sheila
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:53 pm
    People may think I’m nuts, but Google+ is going to be the lever that begins prying Google away from total domination of much of our online lives. What follows is, of course, conjecture, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is that I don’t trust my instincts often enough, so here goes…. They’ve Shot Themselves Over Search, Of All Things By using Google+ to manipulate their own search results, Google abandons the very core of their business culture – serving up unfiltered, “best” results as they attempt to organize the world’s…

  • Does your lofty sales goal ultimately hurt your chance of success at the launch of your tour and activity start up?

    Travel & Tourism Technology Trends
    Matt Zito
    23 Jan 2012 | 2:56 pm
    This is article #4 in a 5 part Start up series for tour and activity travel businesses. In working with travel start ups a consistent theme I come across is the lofty sales expectations the founders place on themselves and their start up at launch. I believe this to be a huge mistake that reduces your overall chances of success. Money gets spent frivolously on activities that focus on attaining a large number of sales at launch and you spend four times as much time doing things that are unnecessary chasing an unattainable sales goal. The biggest challenge in a travel start up is actually…

  • Cruise Lines International Association Launches Safety Review in Wake of Concordia Accident

    Travel Industry
    maggierauch
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:42 pm
    Workers test lifeboats on the ship Constellation. Accidents on the magnitude of the recent Costa Concordia tragedy may be rare in the cruising industry, but one trade association has taken the crash as an indication that industry-wide safety standards need to be closely reevaluated. The Cruise Lines International Association, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., announced today that it will undertake a cruise industry operational safety review aimed at assessing “the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety.” Components of the review will include: 1. An…
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    Sheila's Guide

  • The beginning of the end for Google

    Sheila
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:53 pm
    People may think I’m nuts, but Google+ is going to be the lever that begins prying Google away from total domination of much of our online lives. What follows is, of course, conjecture, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is that I don’t trust my instincts often enough, so here goes…. They’ve Shot Themselves Over Search, Of All Things By using Google+ to manipulate their own search results, Google abandons the very core of their business culture – serving up unfiltered, “best” results as they attempt to organize the world’s…

  • Carnival of Cities for 25 January 2012

    Sheila
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:45 pm
    Welcome to the Carnival of Cities blog carnival, where we tour the world in a single post, via submissions from a variety of different blogs, all about any aspect of one, single city or fair-sized town. The previous Carnival edition was hosted on the Perceptive Travel Blog, and you’ll find the next one (February 8, 2012) on Edutech Musings. If you would like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog, please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks! Off we go…. Cities in the Americas Seattle, Washington, USA   Mary Jo Manzanares presents Tourist at…

  • How to know when your content is pinned on Pinterest

    Sheila
    24 Jan 2012 | 2:34 am
    As a follow-up to my earlier post about Pinterest for tourism and hospitality, I’ve learned how to tell when your content is pinned to someone’s Pinterest Board. Use this URL:  http://pinterest.com/source/YourSite.com/ So, for example, to look for items that are pinned from this blog, I’d use http://pinterest.com/source/sheilasguide.com/ Here’s how I found that the multi-author travel blog I write for – Perceptive Travel Blog - has had a few things pinned:  http://pinterest.com/source/perceptivetravel.com/ No reason you can’t leave a comment and thank…

  • How our Facebook Page gained a 101 percent increase in Likes

    Sheila
    22 Jan 2012 | 2:23 pm
    Over a six week period (1 December 2011 through 17 January 2012) we gained 137 new Likes/fans for our Tourism Currents Facebook Page. That is a 101% increase over a similar time frame from the previous year. We did not buy Facebook ads or Sponsored Stories. We did not run a contest. We only did one thing differently …. we started interacting more on our own Home page (News Feed) with other Pages that we’ve Like’d. That was it. Sure, our Tourism Currents Page doesn’t have massive numbers of supporters, because we have a deliberate, laser-targeted focus on social…

  • Pinterest and tourism: visual inspiration for your visitors

    Sheila
    18 Jan 2012 | 10:06 pm
    Most of you probably have the same reaction that I do when someone announces a “new social network”  -  oh, no, not ANOTHER one! It’s enough to keep juggling the time-suck challenges of all the current ones, right? So, it takes a lot for me to pay attention to yet another way to stare at some sort of glowing screen, and I have to see the new tool’s application to tourism and hospitality since that’s my business. That’s why I’m not interested in Google+ right now (other than its implications for search) but I’m quite intrigued by Pinterest, a…
 
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    Travel & Tourism Technology Trends

  • Does your lofty sales goal ultimately hurt your chance of success at the launch of your tour and activity start up?

    Matt Zito
    23 Jan 2012 | 2:56 pm
    This is article #4 in a 5 part Start up series for tour and activity travel businesses. In working with travel start ups a consistent theme I come across is the lofty sales expectations the founders place on themselves and their start up at launch. I believe this to be a huge mistake that reduces your overall chances of success. Money gets spent frivolously on activities that focus on attaining a large number of sales at launch and you spend four times as much time doing things that are unnecessary chasing an unattainable sales goal. The biggest challenge in a travel start up is actually…

  • Jump start your new tour and activity business through distribution.

    Matt Zito
    12 Jan 2012 | 11:48 am
    5 Tips to starting a successful tours and activity travel business. This is Tip #3. In the first two articles I wrote about how to partner and package to help your start up get business in the early stages. This third article is about implementing a simple distribution system so at launch you have other marketers and or marketplaces selling your tour and activity products. There are many new tour and activity distributors and tour and activity marketplaces like Viator, TourCMS marketplace, Isango, GetYourGuide, Kijubi, Smart Destinations and Kumutu. The tour and activity distribution system…

  • Partner with travel suppliers in your destination to create a unique one-of-kind package for your tour and activity business.

    Matt Zito
    29 Dec 2011 | 10:36 am
    5 Tips to starting a successful tours and activity travel business. This is a series of 5 articles to help tours and activity entrepreneurs start a new business. I’ll post one new article each week here at T4. Tip #2: Partner with other travel suppliers in your destination to create a unique one-of-kind package for your tour and activity business. At the Travel Business Academy we teach entrepreneurs how to build online travel businesses including tour operators, destination activity providers and individual guiding businesses. Packaging is the product that trip and tour operators sell to…

  • 5 Tips to starting a successful tours and activity travel business.

    Matt Zito
    21 Dec 2011 | 12:43 pm
    This is a series of 5 articles to help tours and activity entrepreneurs start a new business. I’ll post one new article each week here at T4. Tip #1: Introduce yourself and your company’s services to the established travel business owners and tour/activity operators in the destination you plan on starting your business. A simple way to build a new client base is to reach out and build relations with the established travel businesses that operate in the destination or local area where you are launching. Small business owners in the tours and activity business have a tendency to be…

  • Open Travel Tour/Activity Schema – What it means for small business

    Stephen Joyce
    16 Dec 2011 | 5:46 pm
    For most small tour operators, the concept of creating a standardized set of XML messages for the distribution of tour and activity data probably sounds like gobbledegook.  For data geeks and standards enthusiasts like the team behind Rezgo, this is a huge milestone in the march towards making small businesses a more visible part of the travel landscape.  For over three years, Rezgo has been working with other tour and activity technology companies to develop a way for all of our systems to communicate with each other efficiently and seamlessly.  As part of the process, we donated our…
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    Travel Industry

  • Cruise Lines International Association Launches Safety Review in Wake of Concordia Accident

    maggierauch
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:42 pm
    Workers test lifeboats on the ship Constellation. Accidents on the magnitude of the recent Costa Concordia tragedy may be rare in the cruising industry, but one trade association has taken the crash as an indication that industry-wide safety standards need to be closely reevaluated. The Cruise Lines International Association, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., announced today that it will undertake a cruise industry operational safety review aimed at assessing “the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety.” Components of the review will include: 1. An…

  • 5 Romantic Valentine’s Day Hotel Packages

    Donna M. Airoldi
    24 Jan 2012 | 1:21 pm
    It seems like just a few days ago we welcomed in the New Year, yet already we’re gearing up for Valentine’s Day hotel deals. 2012 will be over in a blink, so if you want to create fond memories to last the entire year, consider one of these five romantic getaways. Milliken Creek Inn & Spa Heart of Napa Authentic Trio at the Milliken Creek Inn & Spa, Napa Valley Wine, chocolates, spa treatment—the holiday package from this 12-room luxury boutique property in Napa Valley has it all. Even better: it’s good weekends from Feb. 1 through July 31, 2012. The Milliken Creek package…

  • President Obama’s Plan to Boost U.S. Tourism

    maggierauch
    20 Jan 2012 | 10:39 am
    President Obama announced plans to increase travel to the United States from Disney World's Main Street, USA. Thursday at Disney World in Orlando, President Barack Obama announced an executive order aimed at boosting international tourism visits to the United States. The initiative is getting a positive reception from the travel industry, which has advocated for years for some of the changes the new order includes. David Scowsill, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, called it “a major step forward for the world’s biggest travel and tourism economy,”…

  • Will Costa Concordia Tragedy Impact Cruise Industry in 2012?

    maggierauch
    17 Jan 2012 | 9:39 am
    Four days after the cruiseliner Costa Concordia ran aground and capsized off the coast of an Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea, authorities are still searching the wreckage and have yet to arrive at a final casualty count. As of Monday night, 29 people were still missing and at least six were dead. The Costa Concordia, docked during one of its early years at sea. The details of how the accident occurred and how the evacuation was handled by crew are also still being investigated. And the impact on the cruise industry and on Carnival Corporation, which owns Costa Cruises, is also…

  • Majority of Americans Plan to Increase Travel Spend in 2012 per AmEx Survey

    Donna M. Airoldi
    16 Jan 2012 | 2:14 pm
    According to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker, 61 percent of respondents say they plan to spend more on travel and vacations this year than in 2011. The online survey was conducted by Echo Research from Dec. 27 to 30, 2011, with results culled from a random sample of 2,000 U.S. adults. In addition to overall results, responses were divided into two sub-groups: Affluent—defined as having a minimum annual household income of $100,000 (562 respondents), and Young Professionals—defined as being younger than 30 year of age, with a college degree and a minimum household…
 
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    ruraltourismmarketing.com

  • Do Facebook Likes Mean They Love You?

    Joanne Steele
    24 Jan 2012 | 6:16 pm
    My husband checks his Facebook page everyday. He thoroughly enjoys keeping up with his “friends.” He rarely posts anything himself and has liked very few business pages. Why am I telling you this? Because he’s a textbook example of a 65+ Facebook user according to a study reported by Brian Solis in a post, “I [...]

  • Should Small Local Businesses Be Concerned About Internet Piracy?

    Joanne Steele
    19 Jan 2012 | 12:40 pm
    If you visited this website yesterday, you saw that we joined with thousands of websites in the protest against the internet piracy bills currently being considered by the House and Senate. Why is RTMG concerned about SOPA and PIPA you might ask? NOTE: Go to “The Problem with SOPA (And How to Stop It)” for [...]

  • Time Management Tip: One Thing at a Time

    Joanne Steele
    3 Jan 2012 | 10:40 am
    It’s the New Year. We’re full of resolve… to be a better person, a better business person, a better marketer. The question now is how to get’er done. How to accomplish all those things on our “To Do list for 2012.” Time management is not a new top topic here at RTMG. I outlined the [...]

  • Do You Need to Get Serious about Internet Marketing in 2012?

    Joanne Steele
    27 Dec 2011 | 4:23 pm
    There is a myth among small local business owners that “everyone is an internet marketing master but me.” The reality is that more of you are struggling with internet marketing than are comfortable with it. I get lots of emails confirming that. I belong to a forum, “Social Media in Travel” on LinkedIn. People in [...]

  • Happy Holidays to all

    Joanne Steele
    20 Dec 2011 | 9:38 am
    I’ll be taking the week to celebrate with family and friends. Here’s wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year
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    Travel 2.0 Blog

  • 5 Questions: Joe Vargo on Pinterest

    Troy Thompson
    19 Jan 2012 | 10:40 am
    Pinterest has got me thinking. And, specifically, Joe Vargo has got me thinking. Considering the implications of this new content curation site. A visual scrapbook of travel plans, that frankly, do a better job of inspiration than 99% of DMO websites. posted in Social by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Forecast 2012: Supporting Brand USA 2012 will be a critical first year for Brand USA. While promoting a nation as diverse in tourism product as the U.S. will be a challenge, Brand USA’s greatest demand may just be saving your DMO. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS…

  • 2012 Forecast: The Other Social Networks

    Troy Thompson
    18 Jan 2012 | 10:27 am
    Facebook and Twitter dominate our social lives, both personally and professionally. But as we move into 2012 an odd pattern is developing. More and more destinations are experimenting with other social sites to deliver a more relevant message. posted in Future Watch by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Forecast 2012: Supporting Brand USA 2012 will be a critical first year for Brand USA. While promoting a nation as diverse in tourism product as the U.S. will be a challenge, Brand USA’s greatest demand may just be saving your DMO. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS…

  • Forecast 2012: Supporting Brand USA

    Troy Thompson
    17 Jan 2012 | 8:52 am
    2012 will be a critical first year for Brand USA. While promoting a nation as diverse in tourism product as the U.S. will be a challenge, Brand USA’s greatest demand may just be saving your DMO. posted in Future Watch by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Forecast 2012: Supporting Brand USA 2012 will be a critical first year for Brand USA. While promoting a nation as diverse in tourism product as the U.S. will be a challenge, Brand USA’s greatest demand may just be saving your DMO. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed

  • North Dakota’s Legendary Ad

    Troy Thompson
    13 Jan 2012 | 10:10 am
    Destinations have always stretched the truth. The mountains are just a bit taller, the air slightly cleaner and nightlife is always so much more vibrant. But being something you’re not has consequences. posted in DMOs by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Forecast 2012: Supporting Brand USA 2012 will be a critical first year for Brand USA. While promoting a nation as diverse in tourism product as the U.S. will be a challenge, Brand USA’s greatest demand may just be saving your DMO. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed

  • Could TLDs Provide Funding for DMOs?

    Troy Thompson
    12 Jan 2012 | 5:21 pm
    Look, let’s be honest, the whole .travel idea did not really go over that well. And it looks like ICANN is repeating the mistake with the new TLD policy (.anything). But what if I told you these new domain names could fund your DMO. posted in Technology by Troy Thompson Leave A CommentPopular: Forecast 2012: Supporting Brand USA 2012 will be a critical first year for Brand USA. While promoting a nation as diverse in tourism product as the U.S. will be a challenge, Brand USA’s greatest demand may just be saving your DMO. Connect with Travel 2.0: @travel2dot0 | LinkedIn | RSS Feed
 
 
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    Deep Dish Creative

  • Its not an Eatery

    Lara Dickson
    12 Jan 2012 | 12:50 pm
    I was so excited to stumble across a recent article about one of my old favorite Seattle watering holes, Palisade. Seems they’ve introduced an iPad Wine List for guests to peruse tableside. With over 500 wines on their analog (aka paper) wine list, the custom iPad app will no doubt be an invaluable tool for [...]

  • Many hands make beautiful work

    Lara Dickson
    9 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pm
    Nevermind the (albeit brilliant) Gotye lyrics as performed by Walk Off The Earth, but perhaps be impressed by their perfect synchronization of beats, plucks and vocals while playing a single guitar. As soon as I saw this video I imagined my own efforts to corral a team of people to collaborate on a pipe-dream web [...]

  • My first ever e-Newsletter: Useful Stuff

    Lara Dickson
    7 Jan 2012 | 11:04 am
    After two years of planning to, I finally committed to creating my very first e-newsletter, Useful Stuff. The difficulty stemmed more from what on earth would I want to promote, would it be interesting enough, and who would bother signing up to receive it? A friend demanded, “Just send it out already!” So here you [...]

  • San Francisco’s favorite tourist sites as kinetic sculpture

    Lara Dickson
    3 Jan 2012 | 9:30 am
    Now this is a piece of work. 35 years, 3,000 hours, and 100,000 toothpicks resulted in this incredible kinetic sculpture created by Scott Weaver. The elaborate sculpture, named Rolling through the Bay, features multiple “tours” that move pingpong balls through neighborhoods, the waterfront, historical sites, and iconic symbols of San Francisco. See close up images [...]

  • Top 3 blog posts for 2011

    Lara Dickson
    27 Dec 2011 | 12:00 pm
    Looking back over this site’s (sporadic!) blog activity on Google Analytics, I thought I’d share the three most popular posts. These posts aren’t necessarily the most tweeted, shared or commented on, but judging by the unique traffic and time spent on each story’s page, they are definitely worth recapping here. Vermont is OPEN for Business [...]
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    Travel Online Partners (TOP)

  • (Google) Analytics Jargon Explained

    Andy Hayes
    11 Jan 2012 | 2:10 pm
    I’ve had a lot of thanks for the tips in our email marketing jargon explained piece, so I thought I’d dive right in with some explanations of typical analytics jargon, because sometimes it can feel downright confusing! For the purposes of today’s discussion, I’m mostly referring to Google Analytics, but in fact these terms are used wildly across a variety of analytics platforms. If you’re not sure what analytics means, that’s ok – let’s start right there.  Web analytics are simply tools that you use to measure how much traffic your website…

  • How to Manage a Community like a Pro

    Andy Hayes
    29 Dec 2011 | 7:56 pm
    Before I get started with this review of Online Community Management for Dummies, I have to provide a hearty disclosure. That’s because one of my best friends wrote it – one of first people I ever met online, Deb Ng. So heck yes, my review is biased, but when your friends do great work, you tell people about it. Deb’s book is the first “for dummies” book I’ve read. Not that I have anything against them. I was not surprised that the dummies format makes things very digestible and also well organised so you can just read the sections most applicable to you…

  • Are you a different person on different social networks?

    Andy Hayes
    20 Dec 2011 | 2:12 am
    Here’s a question I get a lot – I thought I’d just answer Joline’s email today via the blog (thanks Joline!): So, we’re doing the Facebook thing, and the Twitter thing, and we wanna make sure that we’re really being targeted to how users interact on those platforms. I read the recent post on Should I take travel bookings on Facebook – that was helpful, thanks, we’ve decided “not right now.” Ok, so my question is, I’ve seen other people have special links on their Twitter and Facebook pages.  Like,…

  • Promotion Probably Isn’t The Problem…

    Andy Hayes
    12 Dec 2011 | 11:32 am
    My good friend Becky McCray from Tourism Currents always is a pithy tweeter, and this weekend was no exception, especially when I saw this gem pop up in my Twitter stream: Promotion Probably Isn’t the Problem I see this a lot – you could easily change the word restaurant to”website” or  ”tour” or  ”bed and breakfast.”  People jumping up and waving frantically, trying to flag down traffic to get people to stop for something they aren’t interested in, and isn’t that good anyway. Looking at what people say when taking our free…

  • It’s Time to Get More Focus (Big Biz Changes Inside)

    Andy Hayes
    5 Dec 2011 | 7:30 am
    Yup, it’s that time again. It’s time for myself and the TOP team to take some of our own advice. One of my personal pet peeves is when someone tells me “they’ll do anything.” What does that mean? It’s really hard to refer clients to someone who “does anything,” because when you do anything, you kind of… well, you do nothing. Nothing special anyway. Going Back to Our Roots One of our first packages was our website evaluation package. It was very successful.  It was based on the work I’d done for years when my work at PeopleSoft…
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    Tnooz

  • Alaska Airlines jettisons prayer cards — Whoopi has a View but Jenn does not understand it

    Dennis Schaal
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:44 pm
    In a form of travel non-distribution, Alaska Airlines says starting next month it will discontinue its decades-old practice of handing out prayer cards to passengers along with in-flight meals. With the airline halting handing out prayer cards, which it has been doing since the 1970s, the Seattle-based airline says it wants to respect the diverse wishes of all its passengers and obviously feels that The Lord’s Prayer is no longer palatable as a side order of spiritual nourishment to accompany Cheese and Fruit Platters ($7). A controversy over the airline discontinuing its dissemination…

  • Kayak: iPhone users buy travel online, Android not so much

    Dennis Schaal
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:21 pm
    If you want to reach mobile consumers who’ll actually buy travel online, should your company put resources into iOS apps or is Android the better way to go? Actually you need both, but consider the experiences of travel metasearch site Kayak. Kayak has attracted more than 10 million downloads of its mobile apps for iPhone/iPad, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Phone 7 and HP Touchpad, with iPhone and Android notching first and second place, respectively, in terms of apps which have scored the most downloads, says Paul English, co-founder and chief technology officer. But there is a…

  • MySwitzerland social media video – funny, very clever, but does it boost visitor numbers?

    Kevin May
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:09 pm
    Tourism Queensland discovered that it takes more than the gushing of the advertising industry to ensure a high profile marketing campaign was actually worthwhile. Launching in early-2009, unfortunately just as the global economic crisis kicked in, Best Job in the World and its various offshoots captured the imagination of marketers for its cross-platform approach and original idea, but visitor numbers to the Australian state did not mirror the enormous praise it received in numerous quarters. Which is a shame. But it does beg the question as to whether so-called innovative marketing…

  • GOL makes massive push at the top – Top Brazil travel sites, January 21 2012

    Tnooz
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:30 am
    GOL is consolidating its strong position at the head of the leading travel websites in Brazil and putting clear water between it and rival carrier TAM. The market leader added a further 4% market share on its previous week, as TAM lost 2.75% of its own. The gap between the pair 11% share of traffic, a far cry from two weeks ago when TAM was just 1% behind GOL. Most popular travel websites in Brazil for the week ending January 21 2012: Agencies RankWebsiteDomainPercentage of VisitsPrevious Position 1Decolarwww.decolar.com21.10%1 2ViajaNetwww.viajanet.com.br17.02%2 3Hotel…

  • eDreams looks to social media to change fate of lesser known destinations

    Linda Fox
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:32 am
    eDreams has kicked off a social media campaign in a bid to improve the tourism economy for five destinations starting with Madagascar. The quirky promotion is being run over five weeks on the brand’s Facebook pages for the UK, France, Spain and Italy and invites users to take part in a Turn The World Around Game and explain why they want to visit the destination. The initiative is part of a wider TTWA campaign with a second phase to be unveiled in the spring focusing on tourism facts and figures. According to Bob Samii, head of social media and SEO for eDreams parent Odigeo, eDreams has…
 
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    Hotel Blogs - When Hotel Marketing gets Social

  • When hotel groups rewrite a story: RoomKey

    Guillaume Thevenot
    17 Jan 2012 | 3:25 pm
    We started the new year with a lot of news regarding the online travel world. Just by reading Tnooz, I can't keep up with the new stuff coming out of new ventures and also all these changes happening with OTAs....

  • Twitter and French Hotel Chains - September 2011

    Guillaume Thevenot
    26 Sep 2011 | 5:39 am
    As every month, Thomas from Artisan Referenceur and I give a little update on the ranking of French hotel chains using Twitter. This is the September list where Accor and Relais & Chateaux are clearly leading the pack with more...

  • Twitter and UK Hotel Chains - August 2011

    Guillaume Thevenot
    31 Aug 2011 | 6:30 am
    Quick update on where UK Hotel chains are doing on Twitter since our last post in July. The top 7 UK hotel chains remain at the same position in terms of their ranking based on number of followers. It would...

  • Amadeus Hotel Roundtable 2011 (video) part.1

    Guillaume Thevenot
    16 Aug 2011 | 7:15 am
    Back in June, I was invited to participate in the Amadeus Hotel roundtable organised by Simon Taylor who heads up Product initiatives for hotel distribution in the UK. The panel was very interesting with executives from Premier Inn, HBAA, The...

  • The 7 Fatal Mistakes Hoteliers Make In Getting More Business

    Guillaume Thevenot
    16 Aug 2011 | 4:27 am
    Are you letting new business opportunities slip through your fingers? Do you struggle to bring in business at certain times of the year? Are you unsure what marketing you should be doing and want to know how to make your...
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    Ogilvy PR 360 Digital Influence Blog

  • Brand Personality Goes A Long Way

    Jacques Oury
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:58 pm
    Consider the famous exchange from Pulp Fiction in which Jules and Vincent debate the rationality of abstaining from pork. Jules just doesn’t dig on swine, that’s all, because they’re basically dirty, like dogs. VINCENT:     Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? JULES:          I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy, but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way. VINCENT:     Ah, so by that rationale, if a pig had a better personality, he would cease to be a filthy animal. Is that true?

  • Sh*t We Say: Lessons from a Long-Tailed Meme – Part 1

    Blake Bowyer
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:21 pm
    “It’s an English basement.” That might not mean much to you, but it probably made you chuckle if you fall into one of the two groups: Current or former D.C. residents Viewers of Sh*t People In D.C. Say Of course, this video is one of many variations of the Sh*t Girls Say series - which has a cumulative YouTube viewership of 20+ million and growing. You know the premise: Stereotypical expressions from people of a certain ilk, organized by gender, hobby, lifestyle, or geography. There are takes on skiers, hipsters, suburban moms, and even sh*t nobody says (a personal favorite)…

  • Breaking Down Polarization

    John Stauffer
    23 Jan 2012 | 7:38 pm
    In a recent Washington Post article, Polarized News Market has Altered the Political Process in South Carolina Primary, we peak into the news consumption habits of a South Carolina voter. Two election cycles ago the South Carolina native would read newspaper for political news, now she “settles in at her desktop to fire up Facebook.” “Selective Exposure”, described by researchers from UCLA and Stanford suggests to that consumers are “tucking themselves inside information silos” and that this is compounded by the speed and like-mindedness of social…

  • The Great Web Blackout

    Aimee Rose
    20 Jan 2012 | 9:43 am
    We all survived the blackout, but how effective was it? The question may take some time to answer, but support for SOPA/PIPA appears to have weakened in its wake. The biggest light shed this week may have been that on the rift between Hollywood and Silicon Valley. And why not? I mean, we have content creators and content access providers – and they both have their interests. But when Bills are drafted that seemingly only protect the rights of one, surely the other will see a few ruffled feathers. We ‘Creatives’ are lucky. We get compensated for our ideas and the intellectual property…

  • SOPA, PIPA, & Digital Activism

    Emily Achler
    19 Jan 2012 | 12:34 pm
    Yesterday’s battle royale over the future of the Internet has been characterized in many ways - technology companies vs. media conglomerates, content vs. distribution, and perhaps most convincingly by the Harvard Business Review as the Young Startups vs. the Old Guard. And indeed, change was in the air (and over the servers) yesterday. In protest of a pair of laws now before Congress that address online piracy, some of the most highly-trafficked websites in the U.S. made their sites inactive, dark, or otherwise blocked access in some way. Sites like Wikipedia, Reddit, Boing Boing, and…
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    Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

  • Funky Sax

    Bill Geist
    27 Jan 2012 | 7:45 am
    As I noted last week...I'm discovering a bunch of artists that don't get much play in America by switching from satellite to internet radio. While she's toured America, played with Prince and Dave Matthews and actually had a number one hit on the American Jazz Charts, I have a feeling that the name Candy Dulfer isn't exactly household. Or, maybe I'm just not paying attention like I used to. She and her band smoke this cover of the Average White Band's "Pick Up the Pieces"...perfect for this Music Friday.

  • The Power of Secret Shopping Yourself

    Bill Geist
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:32 am
    The teaser spots have begun. And, JC Penny is about to reinvent itself. As the story goes, part of the impetus for new CEO Ron Johnson came when he subscribed to his company's consumer e-mail alerts...and was deluged with sales announcements. Sometimes two different announcements in the same day. Last year, JC Penny e-mailed 590 separate sales alerts. It didn't work, as the average shopper only bought four times last year. So JC Penny is about to radically redesign their strategy, their stores and their culture. And, it's about time somebody did in the Department Store…

  • And, I'm Supposed to Whip This Out, Ummmm, Where?

    Bill Geist
    25 Jan 2012 | 1:28 pm
    In my mail the other day, I recieved a missive from my Governor, asking me to support him in fighting off the recall effort against him here in Wisconsin. I'm sure tens of thousands received the same letter. Included in the envelope was an official "Friends of Scott Walker" membership card. It even has my name embossed on the front (click image to enlarge) and a place for my signature on the back. However, given that over a million Wisconsinites have signed petitions for Mr. Walker's ouster, I have two questions. Where am I supposed to show this card...and what do I get…

  • I Just Don't Understand

    Bill Geist
    24 Jan 2012 | 6:57 am
    Allow me to set the stage. It's January...the dead of winter in the Midwest. Occupancy isn't what anyone would call acceptable. Residents pretty much stay home during the week...especially on frigid Monday nights. Thus, restaurants and bars could be excused if they elect to close on Mondays. Ain't nobody downtown. Except...there is a 300-person convention in town on this particular Monday night. And, with that background, I have a few questions. I've never run a hotel...but why would the HQ hotel restaurant and room-service be dark with a full house? I've never run a…

  • Peering into the Mind of the Traveler

    Bill Geist
    23 Jan 2012 | 9:49 am
    There's good...and not so good in the brand new "State of the American Traveler" survey just released by our friends at Destination Analysts. 33% of American says they intend to increase spending on leisure travel...but that means that 67% don't. Virtually half of all Americans say that finances are no longer a reason why they don't travel more...but that means 50% say their finances do. And, 6% hooked up with someone new on a trip this year...but that means that you probably didn't (not that that is necessarily a bad thing...unless, of course, you were going for…
 
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    Industry

  • Oregon Bikeways Program Now Includes Eight Trails

    27 Jan 2012 | 12:12 pm
    The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) and Oregon Tourism Commission (dba Travel Oregon) announce two new state-designated scenic bikeways, bringing the total number of trails to eight, furthering Oregon's position as a premier cycling destination. The move comes after the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission formally approved the routes in a meeting on January 25. The Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway in Cottage Grove features an all-ages, all-abilities cycling experience. Perfect for families, this 36-mile route boasts six covered bridges, many of which are listed on the…

  • KATU-TV Highlights Travel Oregon's New Philanthropy Fund Program

    25 Jan 2012 | 1:40 pm
    Travel Oregon, with support from Sustainable Travel International, is proud to introduce the Oregon Travel Philanthropy Fund. This Fund will support sustainable tourism development in Oregon by connecting businesses and travelers to projects that improve the natural environment and support local culture. It’s the first statewide program of its kind, another way to ensure that we will all be able to Travel Oregon Forever! See KATU's video below:

  • Oregon's Tourism Industry In The Spotlight As Todd Davidson Heads National Tourism Board

    24 Jan 2012 | 11:04 am
    Last week it was announced that Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson was appointed as chair of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. The Advisory Board will work closely with a federal intra-agency task force charged with developing a National Travel & Tourism Strategy taking advantage of the booming global travel market. Portland's KGW-TV highlighted Davidson's appointment and showcased the impact that tourism has on Oregon in a feature story below:

  • Deadlines Approaching: Oregon Governor's Conference Exhibitors And Award Nominations

    24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am
    Save $100 before midnight Friday, January 27! Thinking about an exhibit booth at the Governor's Conference? Save $100 by getting your exhibitor application form in and fee paid by this Friday, January 27. The exhibitor fee increases to $875 beginning Saturday, January 28. Exhibitor benefits include: name on the attendee postcard, name and website link on the conference website, a full conference registration ($275 value), an option to buy up to two more registrations for co-workers at a reduced price, and MORE! Visit www.OregonTourismConference.com or click here for more details. Due at noon…

  • Federal Tourism Initiative To Be Led By Travel Oregon CEO

    22 Jan 2012 | 12:22 pm
    Following President Barack Obama's Executive Order laying out a strategy for increasing international travel to the U.S., Secretary of Commerce John Bryson tapped Oregon Tourism Commission (dba Travel Oregon) CEO Todd Davidson as chair of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to help implement the initiative. The Advisory Board will work closely with a federal intra-agency task force charged with developing a National Travel & Tourism Strategy taking advantage of the booming global travel market. Designed to make it more efficient for international travelers to visit and experience the…
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    Canadian and World Tourism

  • Lessons from the Cruise Industry, specifically the Navigator of the Seas

    Jaime
    11 Jan 2012 | 8:19 am
    Some lessons or reminders from Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas 1 - Service design - have you taken a good look at your tourism service (all tourism businesses are service businesses) from the guests' point of view?  That's what the cruise industry seems to be doing very well. My wife and I commented how Royal Caribbean had thought of everything on the cruise we took with the family during the Holidays (see below). To analyze and assess the quality of your service, take a walk in your potential guests' shoes, from the moment they arrive, to the moment they leave. How can you make…

  • The best vacation: is it where you go, what you see or who you're with?

    Jaime
    3 Jan 2012 | 11:59 am
    I hadn't been interested in a cruise vacation for over 25 years. I had only been on one cruise to the Caribbean and I didn't really like it. Mind you, I wasn't in the best state of mind at the time. Had just broken up with my girlfriend at the time and ended up going on this cruise with my Dad, my sister and her then husband. I was young and felt most of the people on the cruise where old (probably the age I am now and older). Met one young woman and hung out with her some of the time. I drank too much and ate too much in those 7 days. The ship was big, but I remember it's gym was tiny, it's…

  • Ottawa Tourism gets creative with Holiday Wishes

    Jaime
    31 Dec 2011 | 5:34 pm
    Quirky Holiday message from my friends at Ottawa Tourism. I was away so I hadn't had a chance to post it. Good example of creative marketing.  

  • Kids ski lessons in Ontario ski area resorts north of Toronto

    Ron Taylor
    9 Dec 2011 | 1:42 pm
    Kids ski lessons in Ontario ski area resorts north of Toronto: Kids with helmets learn to ski in Ontario Should Ski Helmets be mandatory in Canada? If you go Skiing in Nova Scotia, You'll need a helmet!! Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty bought his own ski helmet — but said that he would not legislate helmets. Helmet use on Canadian ski hills has risen ... See Ski Helmet Financial Post Blog Kids learn to ski with helmets, why not wear them all the time as you grow up? See Kids with helmets ski resort lessons near Barrie.
 
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    Awesome Alpharetta

  • Alpharetta CVB to Participate in The Next Cool Event

    26 Jan 2012 | 8:32 am
    Try to imagine almost three football fields of amazing design, fabulous food, music and people all under one roof and you will begin to understand The Next Cool Event coming to the Atlanta Expo Center in southeast Atlanta, February 17 & 18, 2012. This celebration and showcase of resources for the growing entertainment industry in Georgia began after the state of Georgia adopted tax incentives favorable to production. This year the event is welcoming representatives from some of Georgia’s Camera Ready counties in a showcase of these available locales.

  • The Alpharetta CVB Makes Events Special

    20 Jan 2012 | 12:03 pm
    The busy event season is upon us once again as brides prepare for summer weddings and parents and families plan mitzvahs, quinceañeras and reunions. The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau will be busy as well, spreading the word about their complimentary planning services and the amenities that make Alpharetta a perfect location for any type of special event.

  • David Belle Isle Joins Alpharetta CVB Board

    13 Jan 2012 | 1:28 pm
    Mayor David Belle Isle has joined the Board of Directors of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) taking over the seat vacated by former mayor Arthur Letchas upon his retirement at the end of 2011. Alpharetta’s current mayor is an ex-officio voting member of the board as established in the CVB’s bylaws. “I am honored to serve on the Alpharetta CVB board in support of tourism for Alpharetta,” says Belle Isle.

  • D.C. Aiken Appointed to Alpharetta CVB Board

    13 Jan 2012 | 1:26 pm
    D.C. Aiken has been appointed to the board of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) by the Alpharetta City Council. Aiken will serve as one of four ex-officio voting directors whose terms on the board run concurrent with their terms in office as established in the CVB’s bylaws. “We look forward to having D.C. on our board,” says Janet Rodgers, President and CEO.

  • Rock the City with Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Season Tickets!

    4 Jan 2012 | 2:50 pm
    Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park has welcomed some of the top performing acts in pop, rock and country music and the award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for four fantastic seasons. Names like the Eagles, Maroon 5, the Zac Brown Band, Dolly Parton, Kid Cudi, Widespread Panic and Phish have all graced the stage and next season promises more incredible entertainment. So that one lucky fan doesn’t miss another moment of the excitement, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau is going to rock the city by giving away two prime seats for the full 2012 season, including…
 
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    tourism industry news - Google News

  • Tourism is Dangerous in Ethiopia Thanks to Meles Zenawi By Amanuel Biedemariam - Abugidainfo

    28 Jan 2012 | 4:29 am
    Tourism is Dangerous in Ethiopia Thanks to Meles Zenawi By Amanuel BiedemariamAbugidainfoThis incident was also devastating for the tourism industry of Ethiopia and those who depend on it for their livelihood. Regardless of how the genocidal regime of Meles Zenawi tries to characterize the incident or who it claims has perpetrated the and more »

  • Tourism directors worry about bridge collapse's impact - WPSD Local 6

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:31 pm
    Tourism directors worry about bridge collapse's impactWPSD Local 6Just to give you an idea of how big tourism is in the Eggner's Ferry Bridge area, in Trigg County alone, the tourism industry generates $23 million a year. On the other side of the bridge, the Marshall County tourism director tells us tourists bring in and more »

  • Delaware Tourism releases industry study results - Middletown Transcript

    27 Jan 2012 | 4:22 pm
    Delaware Tourism releases industry study resultsMiddletown TranscriptBy Sara Glafcke The Delaware Tourism Office has released study results on the 2010 analysis conducted by DK Shifflet & Associates and Vantage Strategy. The study was conducted to determine the economic impact in the state and shows the tourism industry and more »

  • Tourism industry protests poll circular - Times of India

    27 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pm
    Easy Destination Blog (blog)Tourism industry protests poll circularTimes of IndiaPANAJI: Hit hard by the circular issued by poll authorities restricting their timing, the tourism industry has struck back and pressed the officials concerned to do a re-think on the same. The circular stipulates that all hotels, restaurants and Goa Tourism Industry Protests Poll RestrictionsEasy Destination Blog (blog)all 2 news articles »

  • US aims to ease tourism, business visa norms - Livemint

    27 Jan 2012 | 12:34 pm
    US aims to ease tourism, business visa normsLivemint“Combining B1, B2, the business tourist visas, it allows visiting relatives on one visit and to do business on another visit without applying for another visa.” Obama's executive order, posted on the White House website, said a task force would explore and more »
 
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    Travel and Tourism Industry News

  • Foreign Tourists in Cambodia’s Angkor heritage site up 23% in 2011

    traveleditor
    11 Jan 2012 | 11:38 am
    Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temples, one of the world heritage sites, attracted 1.6 million foreign visitors in 2011, an increase of 23 percent from 1.3 million a year earlier, according to the statistics of Siem Reap provincial tourism department on Tuesday. Among the top ten countries visiting the temples, South Korea was ranked first with 265,000 [...]

  • International health insurance to secure your future

    traveleditor
    10 Dec 2011 | 7:47 pm
    International health insurance can be quite essential and the consideration in it has never ever been greater. As social medical insurance services are stressed to take care of the rising costs of hospital treatment, the requirement to make other preparations is becoming very essential, specifically to the expatriate. For individuals who live and work overseas, [...]

  • Singapore launches tourism marketing campaign for Chinese market

    traveleditor
    8 Dec 2011 | 2:14 am
    The Singapore Tourism Board said it has launched its customized marketing campaigns for the Chinese market on Wednesday. It will roll out a series of differentiated marketing campaigns in the coming months targeting key markets across the region such as Australia, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. The marketing campaign started with the New Discoveries campaign at [...]

  • Jeju Island chosen among ‘New7Wonders of Nature’

    traveleditor
    12 Nov 2011 | 2:46 am
    The southern South Korean resort island of Jeju has been named as one of the new seven natural wonders of the world in a worldwide poll, a Switzerland-based organization announced Saturday. The subtropical volcanic island, located 130 kilometers off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, was selected along with Brazil’s Amazon region, Halong Bay [...]

  • Holiday Extras Reward Travel Industry High Flyers

    traveleditor
    4 Nov 2011 | 12:24 pm
    Keeping the standard high in the travel industry is one of the most important things that you can do in order to make sure that the customers and travellers in the UK get the best customer service and value for money that they can. This is why customer feedback is vital to the success of [...]
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    Different places to travel

  • Travel – Mayaguana – an unspoilt island in the Bahamas

    Traveller
    13 Jan 2012 | 1:41 pm
    Mayaguana is an unspoilt island of Bahamas, located on the easterly side of the Bahamas; it is a district of Bahamas. The place retains its Lucayan name. The population of Mayaguana is approximately about 312 with the area being approximately 110 square miles (280 km2). This island is halfway between South Florida and Puerto Rico [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Travel – Lethem – A town in the border area of Guyana

    Traveller
    29 Dec 2011 | 1:38 pm
    Lethem is a town located in the border area in Guyana, situated in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of the South American Country. It was named after the Governor of British Guiana, Sir Gordon James Lethem. He was governor from 1946 to 12 April 1947. It is on the Takatu River that borders with Brazil [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Travel – New Providence – A Caribbean island

    Traveller
    19 Nov 2011 | 11:54 am
    New Providence Island is dominated by the capital Nassau and is a Caribbean island, being the most populated island in Bahamas. Its best attractions are the small vessel harbors in the Caribbean. The Spanish were the first to deport slaves to this place, and as a result, a small English colony was formed. This island [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Travel – Isla Verde – a tiny island in the district of Carolina of Puerto Rico

    Traveller
    19 Oct 2011 | 9:43 am
    Isla Verde is a tiny island in the district of Carolina of Puerto Rico. It is to the east of Santurce (which is beside Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport above the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge). This city is just outside the capital of Puerto Rico. Rio Piedras and Hato Rey are linked by this island. The [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Travel – Isla Palenque Chiriquí, an island in the Gulf of Chiriquí in Panama

    Traveller
    12 Sep 2011 | 12:53 pm
    Isla Palenque is an island located in the Gulf of Chiriquí. The word Palenque actually means a refuge for escaped slaves and this is island is given this name due to Central America’s colonial periods Indians who were indentured to work in the Spanish mines in those times. The island is situated off the western [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
 
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    Softscribe Inc.

  • Softscribe® Inc. Renews 7 Clients for 2012

    Julie Squires
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:51 pm
    ATLANTA, January 25, 2012 – Softscribe Inc. announced that seven clients renewed contracts for 2012. The agreements include continued deployment of Softscribe’s services to drive global sales through strategic public relations and content marketing campaigns. The companies are Aptech Computer Systems, Flyte Systems, hotel SystemsPro, InvoTech Systems, Kaba Lodging, NORTHWIND-Maestro PMS, and The Rainmaker Group. All are leaders in providing technology to the hospitality, casino gaming, multifamily and related markets. Exclusive BEAM methodology shortens the sales cycle Softscribe also…

  • How to Get Started on Google+

    Julie Squires
    29 Nov 2011 | 10:10 am
    Google+ was introduced last June and yesterday I made my first post. Have you tried it yet?  It’s an ongoing experiment but guess what YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE THERE, or will be soon.  Especially if you are in B2B.  Google+ is now open to business brands.  Since Google+ starts to weave together all your online personas with twitter- and Facebook-like features, I encourage you to jump in and get up to speed now. TIP: Organize your content and architecture around the top 3 messages that support your company’s business goals. Here is some vocabulary and best practices to get you started.

  • Why Mobile is the Horizon Industry for Every Industry

    Julie Squires
    31 Oct 2011 | 12:44 pm
    MOBILE was the most vibrant, well attended track out of four at the annual government-industry Executive Leadership Conference in Williamsburg earlier this month. Almost 900 people from the IT community met to discuss how to execute on their missions with budget cuts looming. The consensus was: INNOVATION and WIRELESS. “Wireless is the horizon industry for every industry. It is where every industry will go.” -Mr. Blair Levin, Aspen Institute Field of Dreams Mr. Levin was involved with the 2009 FCC-led transition from analog to digital for TV stations, which freed up the 4G spectrum. This…

  • What Hotel Tech Vendors Need to Know About G2E in Las Vegas

    Michael Squires
    11 Oct 2011 | 1:53 pm
    The 2011 Global Gaming Expo (G2E) held October 4 – 6 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas was a world apart from any other hotel conference.  The show featured 100+ professional panel sessions, presentations, and seminars and was attended by nearly 26,000 industry professionals from around the world.  Technology on the show floor was SENSUAL, COMPELLING and TOTALLY IN SERVICE TO GAMING-REVENUE GENERATION. G2E delivered a clear message for hotel tech vendors targeting the gaming segment: SYSTEMS AND SERVICES MUST SHOW A POSITIVE BENEFIT TO GAMING FLOOR REVENUE. This means…

  • How to Use LinkedIn to Drive Dollars

    Julie Squires
    7 Sep 2011 | 4:40 pm
    LinkedIn guru and joint venture partner, JD Gershbein,  shared tactically rich and empowering ideas with both our clients and staff during a recent in-house training session. JD is CEO of Owlish Communications, and a national keynote speaker on LinkedIn and social branding. Companies like Deloitte, Kraft, Orbitz Travel and Coldwell Banker tap his wisdom. Check out his 12-part LinkedIn blog series  in Success magazine. JD navigated us through: Best practices for sales on LinkedIn How to create sales call preparedness How to leverage video on LinkedIn, and How to use LinkedIn company pages My…
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    annehornyak.com

  • Dealing with Mono

    Anne Hornyak
    16 Jan 2012 | 6:04 am
    It’s 4:30am and I’ve been up for nearly two hours trying to fall back asleep. Welcome to my new life. I’m 34 and I have mono. Again. And the symptoms are much worse than when I had it in college. Sure, many people make fun of mononucleosis by calling it the “kissing disease” but it’s nothing to laugh at. I’ve had a low-grade fever every day for the past three weeks. Every. Day. Slight nausea started before the fever and was extremely intense while on antibiotics. I’ve been on Amoxicillin, Azithromycin and even Rocephin via IV infusion. None of…

  • Savannah – a #winning CVB

    Anne Hornyak
    5 Jan 2012 | 8:32 am
    How do you know when a CVB is doing a FANTASTIC job on twitter? When they get a review like this from a travel professional: Amy Brock is the epitome of a Tourism Geek. If you’re in the tourism industry, put her on your watch list!

  • Fact: Facebook Owns 95% Of Social Networking Time

    Anne Hornyak
    21 Dec 2011 | 7:48 pm
    A recent post at Business Insider states that Facebook accounts for 95% of social networking time on the web in the U.S. according to an analysis of comScore data provided to us by web publisher Ben Elowitz of Wetpaint. If your business or organization is not already on Facebook, now is the time to create your business page. Seize the day!

  • #tourismchat Highlights: Social Media Contests

    Anne Hornyak
    5 Dec 2011 | 8:54 am
    Our latest #tourismchat (December 1, 2011) focused on social media contests. A lot of the chat participants have managed contests in Facebook but not too many had experience with Twitter or Flickr contests. Below are my highlights from the chat. Check out the entire chat transcript for all the details. Have you managed any social media contests for your DMO? What were the results? @pagetx Yes. We’ve done Flickr photo contests for 2 yrs. Increased social fans, engagement, & # of photos in group. Success! @MontanaTia We did our first giveaway this summer via facebook and increased the…

  • #tourismchat Highlights: QR Codes

    Anne Hornyak
    30 Nov 2011 | 8:13 am
    The October 13 #tourismchat discussed QR Codes and their use in the tourism industry. Take a few minutes to read the entire chat transcript. For a condensed version, here are my highlights: What’s the most creative use you’ve experienced with QR codes in tourism? @maddenmedia  I’ve seen them used on visitor signs to download maps of the area, especially for hikers. @JoeGiessler We’ve incorporated our ‘hi’ logo into some QR code designs & used it on banners at trade shws to link to FB/mobi site @TomMartin on personalized DM: scan>>personalized…
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    Amadeus corporate blog

  • Saving money, optimising customer care and service: HRS and Amadeus

    amadeus
    25 Jan 2012 | 7:05 am
    Posted by Hugo Ehrnreich (Head of Hotel Distribution, Amadeus IT Group) You might have noticed the announcement we made on January 17th: our partnership with HRS. Part of our multisource strategy to reach the elusive “long tail”  in the notoriously fragmented hotel sector, HRS is the latest key brand to join the fast-growing club of new Amadeus partners (which already includes Transhotel and Destinations of the World), adding many thousands of new hotels to the GDS. Many argue we are bringing a major change to the travel industry. We would argue it is a simple matter of…

  • Looking at new airline commercial models, retailing and merchandising

    amadeus
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:09 am
    Posted by David Doctor (Director Distribution Marketing, Amadeus IT Group) Later this week I’ll be in London speaking at the Flightglobal / Airline Business conference, which will bring together industry experts, customers and service providers to discuss, share and debate new airline commercial models, retailing and merchandising. Over two days, the sessions will look at changing retailing and merchandising strategies. Beyond the travel sector, perspectives from Tesco and Groupon will be interesting, as I firmly believe we in the airline industry should look to the retail sector for good…

  • Collaborative travel: the best way to predict the future is to invent it

    amadeus
    18 Jan 2012 | 8:53 am
    Posted by Daniel Batchelor (Global Communications Manager, Amadeus IT Group) “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”. This quote from computer scientist Alan Kay invites companies to shape rather than await the future, and it also forms part of the motivation behind our latest research study: From chaos to collaboration. The study suggests that an era of ‘collaborative travel’ will soon emerge, whereby information sharing – among travellers and with travel providers – will transform how people experience their trips. Indeed, the world of collaboration is about…

  • From chaos to collaboration – insight into the future of travel

    amadeus
    11 Jan 2012 | 2:39 am
    Posted by Malek Nejjai (Head of Corporate Communications, Amadeus IT Group) You can now download our latest industry research report:  From chaos to collaboration. The key thread running through this report is that travel will become more collaborative over the next decade, both in terms of how people travel, and how travel providers work together with travellers. This collaboration will help reduce the stress, uncertainty and chaos that is present today, due partly to the onset of mass tourism. The infographic below highlights stages in the travel experience and technologies essential for…

  • Insights and predictions on trends affecting all players in the travel industry

    amadeus
    5 Jan 2012 | 10:36 am
    Posted by Malek Nejjai (Head of Corporate Communications, Amadeus IT Group) We’re excited about the upcoming launch of our new report, a research study examining how technological innovation will impact and improve travel in the coming decade and beyond. For some years now, we have made our research reports available online, sharing with you our insights and predictions on trends affecting all players in the travel industry. We thought you might like to take a look back at our Amadeus Traveller Series before the next launch: Travel Gold Rush is focused specifically on the challenges and…
 
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    Marketing Times for the Hotel & Travel Industry from Net Affinity | Hotel Marketing News

  • A Mobile Compatible Website – A necessity!

    William
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am
    In 2009 mobile browsing represented 0.7% of worldwide browsing activity and by August 2011 that number jumped to 7.1%. That is an increase of 1000%. In a day when web access is clearly important no matter where you are, the ability for your customers to access your site at their convenience is vital. However, making your site user friendly on a computer is one thing – making sure your site is available from a mobile platform is another. Currently only around 5% of online businesses have a mobile compatible website. Creating a mobile version of your site doesn’t have to be painful or…

  • Top 30 Irish Hotels on Twitter #Top30IEHotels

    William
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:39 am
    Its time for this weeks Top 30 Irish Hotels on Twitter. 1 hotel has moved up the list this week!!! Sheen Falls Lodge celebrate their 2nd 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 5,365 100 2nd Cliff House Hotel Co. Waterford 4,135 100 3rd Travelodge Ireland Nationwide 3,406 97.4 4th Gregans Castle Co. Clare 3,384 97.4 5th Ireland Blue Book Nationwide 3,245 97.4 6th Mount Juliet Co. Kilkenny 2,882 97.4 7th Ballymaloe Co.Cork 2,680 97.4 8th The D Hotel Co. Louth 2,537 97.4 9th Jurys…

  • Popular Facebook Apps for Hotels

    William
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:36 am
    You have heard all about how important social media is to the travel industry and more specifically the importance of social media for the hospitality industry. You have listened and hopefully you have taken action to introduce your hotel to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, FourSquare, TripAdvisor and other relevant social media sites. But now, you are finding your foray into social media has fallen flat. Start the year with a focus on spicing up the hotel’s Facebook page to grow fans, increase interactions and ultimately prove a return on investment on your page. Pepper in some of the best…

  • TripAdvisor Launches New Analytics Service for Hotels

    William
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:17 am
    TripAdvisor’s new Management Dashboard provides hotels with data and information on how they are engaging with customers and guests online, target areas for improvement and make informed, up-to-the-minute decisions. Hotels also get a list of competitors most viewed by the same people who view the business’ page. TripAdvisor announced the launch of the TripAdvisor Management Dashboard, a new analytics service that summarises a business’s performance on TripAdvisor at a glance. Businesses may use the data and information the dashboard provides to track how they are engaging…

  • Top 30 UK Hotels on Twitter #Top30UKHotels

    William
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:19 am
    This week, our Top UK Hotels on Twitter has seen 0 new entries and 3 hotels have moved up the table! The Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair, London celebrates their 87th week at the top of the table. Download this list as a PDF here Rank Hotel Location Followers TwitterGrade 1st Chesterfield Hotel Mayfair, London 49,800 100 2nd Premier Inn UK 10,773 100 3rd Citizen Glasgow 9,614 100 4th May Fair Hotel Mayfair, London 8,181 100 5th Celtic Manor Resort Newport South Wales 8,100 100 6th Travelodge UK Nationwide 6,895 100 7th Best Western GB Nationwide 5,922 100 8th The Gleneagles Hotel Perthshire,…
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    travelmatch.co.uk blog

  • Top 50 Attractions Infographic

    17 Jan 2012 | 4:14 am
    Planning a getaway for 2012? Know which travel destinations to target (or avoid) this year... The infographic below, developed by TravelSupermarket, outlines the top 50 most popular travel destinations based on information compiled about the world's most visited museums, theme parks and heritage sites. It provides a snapshot into global travel destinations, helping to answer the question: 'Where in the world is everyone going?

  • How would you rate the airports in the UK?

    22 Dec 2011 | 10:01 am
    Find out what airports scored highest and lowest by Which? members... Which? Travel recently carried out a survey rating UK airports. The survey asked 8,012 members to rate their satisfaction with how likely they were to recommend a UK airport they had used in the previous 12 months. Surprisingly, the results showed that it was among a group of smaller airports (with fewer than four million passengers a year) who topped the table. Best Small Airports Of all the UK airports, Which? members rated Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield the highest, gaining the highest customer score of 80% in the…

  • Where should I go on holiday?

    15 Dec 2011 | 5:21 am
    A Weathermap Infographic: giving you a better idea of 'where' and 'when' to go on holiday... Let the weather decide for you... Click the image on the right to open the interactive version (via Thomson Holidays). If a much needed injection of winter sun is just the thing you need to see you through the rest of the season, take a look at this fantastic infographic from Thomson to give you a good idea of where in the world you should go to find the best weather at this time of year. It’s all well and good knowing that you want to go away, but when you actually come to book a holiday, it can be…

  • Trending Travel Terms

    17 Nov 2011 | 4:30 am
    Like them or loathe them; travel has yet again added a few more wacky words to our vocabulary. Every year, hundreds of new words are added to the English language, and this year, travel donated quite a few. We thought we’d keep you in the know and have provided you with just some of our favourite terms that have captured the changing trends and concepts in travel. Austerication Austerication is a combination of the words ‘austere’ and ‘vacation’ and was coined to describe the growing trend of downgrading your holiday by swapping hot travel destinations for something more affordable…

  • Grow a Charity tache for cash…it’s Movember!

    1 Nov 2011 | 7:44 am
    We hope you’ve joined us today with a clean shaven face, ready for the month of Movember! What is Movember? Movember is a month-long charity event running throughout November which raises funds and awareness for men's health issues. The great thing about it is that participants don’t have to do anything more than engage in a bit of basic grooming. The campaign has world-wide appeal and is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces. To take part, guys need to register at Movember.com on November 1st and must begin the month with a clean-shaven face. In the…
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    The Travel Word

  • Meet the Best whl.travel Local Travel Experts of 2011

    editor
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    With a steady eye on identifying fun, interactive and ethical travel experiences, the whl.travel global online travel-booking network taps into and magnifies the excellence of local tourism experts who. Alone, these experts are local leaders, but united they have become a forceful global presence for the right kind of tourism, sharing with major markets all the local opportunities that make a positive impact on hosts and visitors. Their practice in experiential and mindful travel and their locals’ knack for identifying, explaining and sustaining the distinctive qualities of a place make…

  • Gunyah.com, Marketplace for Authentic Short-Break Vacations, Is Shortlisted by Caribbean Web Awards 2012

    editor
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am
    Last weekend, in the Bahamas, the TravelMole Caribbean Web Awards 2012 singled out several websites for their excellence in online travel. While it did not take top honors, Gunyah.com, the WHL Group’s marketplace for authentic local-travel experiences and short break holidays and vacations, was shortlisted in the Tour Operator category. Screenshot of the Bahamas page on Gunyah.com, the website shortlisted by the Caribbean Web Awards 2012 An Award for Quality Websites Unlike most travel awards, the Caribbean Web Awards 2012 focused on the websites that represent the travel companies, not…

  • The Inside Word… on Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    cynthia
    23 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    With so many destinations in the WHL Group‘s ever-expanding network, we have an incredible wealth of local travel information at our fingertips. Through the Inside Word, our local partners – all travel experts – share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their necks of the woods. This month, we hear from Cindy Fan, a travel writer working with Teamworkz, the whl.travel and Green Path Transfers local connection in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Phnom Penh demands your attention from the moment you arrive. Vibrant, exciting and utterly unpredictable…

  • Video Spotlight: Vendemmia – A Documentary About Cinque Terre, Italy

    admin
    22 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    This week’s Video Spotlight features the work of filmmakers Krista Lee Weller and Sharon Boeckle. The American duo and their team have spent several years documenting the challenges facing the Cinque Terre region of Italy. This beautiful section of the Italian Riviera is known for its eponymous Cinque Terre or ‘Five Lands’ – five picturesque villages and the surrounding carefully-terraced farmland that have been insulated from outside influences for generations. This spectacular territory was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, but tourism has proven…

  • Orangutan Information Centre (OIC): Visiting Sumatra’s Orangutans Responsibly

    laurel
    20 Jan 2012 | 2:00 am
    This article was published by our friends at The International Ecotourism Society, who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article on their Your Travel Choice blog. If you want to see great apes in the wild, Sumatra’s rainforest is one of the most accessible places to do just that. Seeing orangutans in the wild, along with silver Thomas leaf monkeys, pig-tailed macaques, and a diverse range of birds like hornbills, will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the beauty and ingenuity of other species. However, you need to know how to visit them responsibly or you…
 
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    Local Travel

  • The benefits of Local Travel in the hills of northern Thailand

    Melissa Ah-Sing
    24 Jan 2012 | 1:46 pm
    A traveller chats with a Karen villager in Thailand. Photo courtesy of Thailand Hilltribe Holidays The ‘mountain people’ otherwise known as the hill tribes of northern Thailand, came from neighbouring Laos, Burma and China to settle in the remote highlands of northern Thailand hundreds of years ago. Their primitive way of life, as subsistence farmers living off the land in the remote mountain forests, is a cultural curiosity for the thousands of tourists who visit northern Thailand each year, such that visiting the hill tribes is now a major tourist activity. With the…

  • Free tours by locals in European cities!

    Bart van Poll
    20 Jan 2012 | 12:45 am
    Free Sofia Tour Residents of some of the most popular cities in the world are happy to share their city with you. But they want it represented correctly of course! So Locals really are giving you their all in introducing their city to its visitors. We’re introducing United Europe Free tours, which is a network of the best free walking tours throughout Europe. Their concept: “You get a great tour, and you decide ‘if’ and ‘how much’ you want to tip. No-hassle, no-pressure.” A few of our Spotted by Locals Sofia Spotters initiated the Free Sofia Tour. We…

  • Local Travel Inspiration – Prague travel tips by Locals!

    Bart van Poll
    16 Jan 2012 | 12:45 am
    It’s a new month and new year and therefore time for some new tips from one of our 41 Spotted by Locals blogs. These blogs are filled with representative and frequently updated tips from the locals! Today: Tips by our Locals from Prague Galerie Rudolfinum (by Filip Grimm)   1.) Galerie Rudolfinum “This is a high-class gallery. In my opinion there have been much better exhibitions in Rudolfinum than any other gallery in Prague. I’ll mention Gottfried Helnwein – Angels Sleeping and Gregory Crewdson which were really one of the best exhibitions I have ever seen.” says…

  • Biking in Chile: Pedaling around a fascinating country

    Andrés Garrido
    9 Jan 2012 | 12:45 am
    Santiago by night (courtesy of Paseos en Bicicleta) Biking in Chile is discovering a country at your own pace, full of landscapes, architectural and cultural gems. But it is not easy if you don’t have the company of local guides; people, like us,  who love Chile and who have passion for what we do. This is the story of a bike trip around and along Chile, visiting unique places that our Company has discovered after a long research and that you would hardly find if we you would take a regular tour. We begin our pedaling in Santiago, the modern capital of the old Kingdom of Chile. Santiago is…

  • The Travel Word’s best local travel pictures of the year 2011

    Ethan Gelber
    5 Jan 2012 | 1:00 am
    It’s hard to believe another year has gone by. And with it the grace of another 44 incredible Photos of the Week. We are nevertheless once again proud to present our Photos of the Year – the travel pictures of the year 2011 that most captured the imagination of The Travel Word team and a group of expert external judges. Unlike our Photo of the Year 2010, this year (2011), we had a tie for first place. Click on the image below for more information about them. See further below for the judges’ comments about them and the rest of the shortlist. Krishna Mandir on Krishna…
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