5 Ways Travel Companies are Using Social Media to Add Value

July 2010 - It’s easy to get swept up in the buzz of social media.  Everyday there is another new and exciting social media story to hit the news.  The question remains: how are travel companies really using social media to add value?

Here are 5 ways that EyeforTravel recently found travel companies to be succeeding:-

via www.hotel-online.com

How to Avoid the Social Media Catch-22

One of the most frustrating moments for a marketing manager is being required to answer the question, “so why isn't this social media thing working?” from a company stakeholder. If that's you, you're not alone, as so many companies, large and small, desperately want to see a return on investment in this wondrous channel called “social media.” After trying it out, many people are wondering what all the hype is about.

Despite the fact that many of companies are realizing success using tools like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, other companies are not. There are of course several reasons why this is the case, but success or failure always starts with planning and strategy - or lack thereof.

via www.socialmediatoday.com

6 Social Media Metrics You Should Be Tracking

When thinking about your social media strategy, you should be planning for 6 important metrics. What are the six? There are 3 different levels of social media participation and 2 different types of metrics. Put them in a 3 x 2 metrics, and you get six.

Here’s the rundown on the 3 social media engagement aspects to measure:

• Activity - Any metrics relating to actions your organization is taking on social media: blogging, tweeting, posting, promoting, etc.
• Interaction - This category’s metrics focus on how your audience is engaging with your social media presence: followers, comments, likes, sharing, user created content, etc.
• Returns - This group accounts for where your social media activities directly or indirectly support measures driving successful organizations: revenue creation (and the activities that lead up to it), cost minimization (along with activities to help achieve it), and other critical financial performance metrics.

via www.socialmediatoday.com

More than half of travelers share vacation info on social media sites

Travelocity’s most recent poll shows more than half of all travelers share vacation information through social media. Nearly 30 percent of travelers have either never thought about precautions or do not take any precautions when posting about vacation on social media websites.

With summer vacations in full swing, many travelers are looking forward to sharing the details of their trips with friends and family. In today’s world, the easiest way to share is through social media, but people should be conscious of when and what they share to avoid giving away too much information about when they’ll be away from home.

Nearly 30 percent of travelers have either never thought about precautions or do not take any precautions when posting about vacation on social media web sites. Twenty-seven percent post limited vacation information; the rest do not allow any vacation posts.

via www.hotelmarketing.com

Chatter Guard Social Media Monitor Report - June 2010 - Has been Published

Lodging Interactive, a leading interactive marketing agency servicing the hospitality industry and the publisher of the free Chatter Guard Monthly Benchmark Monitor Report has released its May 2010 report.

To receive the full report, sign up for our newsletter at LodgingInteractive.com.

Without May’s extraordinary performance for Extended Stay hotels, there wasn’t much left to buoy up the overall averages for June. Just as we saw in May, June saw a notable dip in almost every category. Hopefully, customer satisfaction will heat up with the weather. On a scale of 1-5, 5 being “fantastic” and 1 being “poor,” the average lodger indicated a 6.87% drop in Resultant Quality Score (3.64 to 3.39), a 12.57% decrease in Dining (3.74 to 3.27), and a 5.74% drop in Facilities ratings (4.01 to 3.78). The only improvement was in the category of Housekeeping (last month’s loser), which rose 3.52% (3.41 to 3.53).Room satisfaction saw an 8.55% decline (3.51 to 3.21), a 7.67% decrease in Staff reviews (3.78 to 3.49), and a 7.12% dip in Value (3.37 to 3.13).

To receive the full report, sign up for our newsletter at LodgingInteractive.com.

Social Media Touted as an Almost Magical Answer for Arizona's Wounded Tourism Industry - But It's Not Necessarily a Cheap One

SOCIAL MEDIA -- Facebook, Twitter, blogs and the like -- are a free and almost magical answer for a wounded tourism industry, but not necessarily a cheap one.

That was the message at a seminar on social media held Tuesday during the Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism at Loews Ventana Canyon.

Using social media, particularly those geared toward smart phones and other portable Internet devices, can tell a vast audience of potential customers about a hotel or restaurant -- and also tell the proprietors a lot about their customers. But success requires constant attention.

via www.hotel-online.com, By Dan Sorenson, The Arizona Daily Star

5 ways travel is using social media

It’s easy to get swept up in the buzz of social media. Everyday there is another new and exciting social media story to hit the news. The question remains: how are travel companies really using social media to add value?

Here are 5 ways that EyeforTravel recently found travel companies to be succeeding:-

via www.hotelmarketing.com

Google building a Facebook rival?

Google is working on a social service to rival Facebook, if Web rumors are to be believed. And while Google's social-networking efforts have so far fallen flat, even satisfied Facebook users should hope that the search engine's efforts bear fruit.

In the past week, rumors have swirled around the possibility of a new Google-developed Facebook-killer. But given the company’s long (and sometimes rocky) relationship with social networking, the development of such a site is likely to be anything but straightforward.

via www.hotelmarketing.com

Facebook Makes Headway Around the World

"Sergey Brin, a Google founder, takes issue with people who say Google has failed to gain a foothold in social networking. Google has had successes, he often says, especially with Orkut, the dominant service in Brazil and India.

Facebook’s homepage at an Internet cafe in New Delhi. A year ago, Orkut was the dominant social site in India, but Facebook has caught up.
Mr. Brin may soon have to revise his answer.

Facebook, the social network service that started in a Harvard dorm room just six years ago, is growing at a dizzying rate around the globe, surging to nearly 500 million users, from 200 million users just 15 months ago..."

via Miguel Helft, www.nytimes.com

CoMMingle Offers Free Social Media Marketing Audit

CoMMingle by Lodging Interactive, an award winning leading interactive and social media marketing agency servicing the hospitality industry, today announced it is offering a free social media marketing audit service to hotels.

To get your free social media marketing audit, visit www.CoMMingle.me