Social media influence remains weak in travel

A study by Conrad advertising seems to confirme that travellers remain most influenced by travel websites rather than social media sites. Nowadays social media sites are very popular and trustfull,  travellers still faithfull to other source of holiday recommendations.

Accrording to the study the most important sources of information are:
- television
- newspapers
- travel websites

I think travel industry shoud not underestimate the power of social media. We don't have to forget that a few years ago, travellers could not even imagine to book a travel online, whereas most of 54% of the surveyed people prefer to book their travel online thanks to the ability to compare prices.

Travel industry should use social media as the most important way of sharing information, people experience and not just like advertisement. I believe social media will be a powerfull tool in the travel industry if it is well manage.

The power of Social Media

Analysis of Social Media Resolutions for 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More marketing

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Five steps to maximize your hotel’s social media results

Nowadays, hotels can not longer ignored the impact of social media on their business. This article will help you to understand that you already have all the potential to create a strong community around you, now let's start working on it:

1. Put your on-staff experts to work
You have to involve each department of your hotel in social media because each of them have a special skill and knoweldge they can share with your fans and followers.

2. More social media only offers.
Hotels should give special treatment to their community like the possibility to have a special rate code when they make a reservation, or room upgrades during their stay. Special details that makes your fans different from other people.

3. Someone to really take a big foursquare/Facebook Places leap.
But why hotels do not go further than offering drinks or rewards points? Hotels have to try new things to create a buzz around their structures. They could organize contest twice a year to win a free weekend for 2 persons in their hotel or give away free rooms for a larger number of check-ins.

4. Cross promotion.
"Social media doesn’t live on an island". Hotels need social media to be on both online and offline visibility. People need to know that hotels are present on social medias to change things and start created their own pages.

5. Fewer minutias.
Please don't post useless!! Your community is interested in events and activities around your hotel, about novelties of the property. Be interactive by posting photos and videos to share with your fans and followers.

Even if many hotels still have to work on their social media, there’s no reason hospitality shouldn’t be a leader in the social space.

Things are changing!!!!!

Measuring Social Influence : Klout

• How the tool can be used to increase brand awareness?

-       Klout allows the brand to find influencers based on topic or hashtag

-       Help your brand to understand your influencers’ network  value

-       Be focus on people recommendation and not advertisements

• How the hotel can be used to create service differentiation - for influencers?

-       A free week-end for 2 pax for the most important influencer

-       Discounts

-       Loyalties

-       Special amenities

-       A package to use all services of the hotel (spa, room service, fitness center, etc…)

• How the tool can be used to impact revenue?

-       Target important influencers and their community

-       Communicate we them to get more influencers

-       Use service differentiation for influencers

• Why this tool is better than others, mentioned in the article?

-       Focus and specified on Tweeter and Facebook

-       Use 35 variables of those social medias measuring True Reach, Amplification Probability, and Network Score

-       Real analysis of what is said about your brand, not only a grade