Listen to my delightful conversation with Pam Mandel about how Seattle Travel Bloggers and their friends are making a difference in parts of the world where a little money can go a long way in bringing peace and sustainability to marginalized communities.

Learn how you can get involved as a blogger, travel PR, tourism industry representative in this unique project that features benefits for all involved.

Download the podcast here.

Passports with Purpose: http://www.passportswithpurpose.com

Benefits of Passports with Purpose for the Tourism Industry:

• industry blogger familiar with your business will write a post about your business.
• your business gets exposure with a powerful new media force – Travel Bloggers.
• your business gets exposure with travelers who will read the post about your business and make donations in an effort to win a trip or prize associated with your destination.
• you get to help a great cause and feel a sense of pride in helping build a village.

The Passports with Purpose Founders:

• Debbie Dubrow: Delicious Baby: http://www.deliciousbaby.com
• Michelle Duffy: Wandermom: http://www.wandermom.com
• Pam Mandel: Nerd’s Eye View: http://www.nerdseyeview.com
• Beth Whitman: Wanderlust and Lipstick: http://www.wanderlustandlipstick.com
• Meg Paynor: Paynor PR http://paynorpr.com/?page_id=2

LAFTI: Land for Tiller’s Freedom http://lafti.net
Friends of LAFTI: http://www.friendsoflafti.org/ [100 % of donations this year go directly to Friends of LAFTI through PassportswithPurpose.com.]

Calls to Action regarding this post

Please help bring attention to the cause of Passports with Purpose by:

• checking in with the Passports gals and pledge your support by offering a prize.
• tweet and make a facebook post about Passports with Purpose to share the news with your community. #passportswithpurpose
• join the PWP facebook group

Hilton Worldwide yesterday unveiled a new iPhone app. They designed it by listening to what their customers were asking for.

I spoke with Chuck Sullivan, Hilton’s senior vice president, global online services about the new iPhone app on this version of the Tourism Keys Podcast. Sullivan reports that 57% of travelers want to check in, 56% want to check out and over 50% want to change or cancel reservations on their handheld. In recent months an exponential increase in mobile revenue helped spur Hilton’s adventure into the iTunes store. Hilton Hotels have seen more than 400% month to month increase in mobile revenue since May, 2009 on their industry leading mobile Website. Revenue has been $44 for every dollar spent on mobile.

Despite the shocking numbers, Sullivan says the main reason they developed the app was to maintain customer loyalty among their ideal guests.

Download the podcast

The new application features handheld booking, check-in and check out, as well as a “Request Upon Arrival” service that enables a traveler to place an order for room service and have a meal in the guestroom upon arrival at the hotel.

The Hilton iPhone app is specially designed for Hilton Rewards members and features:

• Search for hotels nearby via address, city, airport or even GPS mapping
• Make a new hotel reservation
• View, modify and cancel existing reservations
• Check-in online up to 48 hours in advance for gold and diamond frequent guest members
• Order food and/or services to be available “upon arrival”

At Web 2.o Summit Marissa Mayer, (Google CEO) opened her short presentation with a curious statement:

Listen for yourself…. (it’s only 15 seconds)

After announcing Googles partnership with Twitter, Mayer said,

“We will be featuring their tweets in our search results, as well as building a real time search ummmmm . . . ” Then she changed the subject.

Suffering Succotash. What is Mayer biting her tongue about? Is a Google Real Time Search Engine on its way?

I think so. And I can’t wait.

For Twitter, it’s about Revenue

At the time of the announcement (and for over a year before) the big question had been how Twitter will earn revenue. So opening up tweets to Google search could be big for Twitter financially. Google could run the revenue side by continuing to run adwords alongside tweets and share a slice of revenue with Twitter.

But according to Evan Williams – (@Ev) the deal with Google isn’t about money. What’s it about then? For Twitter, social search will bring tweets into the mainstream. Will Twitter have to figure out their own advertising model? Possibly.

For Google, Twitter completes the Social Circle necessary to provide a more comprehensive Social Search tool.

Everyone is smiling, but no one quite as much as Marissa Mayer (@marissamayer)who tweeted after the announcement –

Google and Twitter!! Yay!! http://bit.ly/183svN

Using Google Profile as the base for defining social connections, Google yesterday released Google Social Search into Labs. Social Search features all kinds of trusted social search results (including Twitter Tweets) that are distinct for each user and strongly influenced by connections between people.

Bringing Twitter into the social circle of available links to draw upon opens the door to a more impressive Real Time Search application in the near future.

Until then, learn more about Google Social Search

• http://www.tourismkeys.ca/blog/2009/10/google-makes-search-social

Democracy Gets a Boost with Bloggers

For the first time ever, global voices were shared live from an International Summit. The Bloggers of G20Voice and their audience shared first hand accounts of Summit news with streaming live video, instantly uploaded photos and audio and timely blog posts.

In most cases, international events such as the G20 garner little attention from people around the world. We open our papers the day after the event, see the photo of global leaders and gloss over headlines of the news. For their part, the mainstream news industry provides limited space and scope for the stories barely scratching the surface on what has happened.

Bloggers from around the world aren’t bound by the same time and space requirements of traditional media.

• The musings of a diverse group of bloggers bring a wide range of reflections and ideas to the fore.
• Bloggers can write about events before, during and long after an event has concluded – in both long and short form stories.
• Significantly richer stories can be produced by each blogger, each in the level of depth and detail that is most relevant for their audience.
• Multimedia streams of content make following a blogger a multimedia extravaganza:
  • twitter streams,
  • live blogs with up to the minute musings
  • streaming live video
  • video reports
  • audio reports
  • blog posts
  • photo libraries

With Bloggers Communication is a Two Way Street

Most bloggers listen to their audience and respond. I was able to send messages back and forth with the outside world in real time. I had audience suggestions coming in via qik video and twitter while attending press conferences and briefings. As well, a bloggers audience can comment on blog posts, video posts and the like and get involved in the debates that are happening.

Inside Access vs Apathy

When global summits normally take place it is little surprise that average citizens feel disengaged with traditional conference and media reporting schemes. Feeling shut out of the debate, people either turn off interest – because they don’t feel their ideas can be included in the debate, or they head to the streets as activists to protest and get their side of the story out.

Giving Global Voices access to “Inside Information” and accrediting bloggers as journalists gives ordinary citizens reason to be engaged and diffuses the urgency to take to the streets. Instead they can channel their voice right into the summit via someone just like them.

As a blogger at the summit, I had extraordinary opportunities to participate in the event as credentialed media, thanks to Oxfam Great Britain, Save the Children, ONE, Blue State Digital, Global Voices, Comic Relief and the UK Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office via G20voice.org. I attended a full day of briefings the day before the summit with other bloggers and participated in briefings from delegates to the conference, interviewed people like Bob Geldof – outspoken activist for third world relief, Ed Miliband (UK Energy and Investment Secretary), Douglas Alexander (UK Secretary of State for International Development) and sat in the front row at press conferences with world leaders including UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and American President Barack Obama and our own Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper

I also had access to the same G20 background information that all media attending the summit had.

I was interviewed for CBC Radio in Canada

and BBC Turkey as well as Voice of America’s Russian Video Broadcast. (Watch for me at 4:38)

A formula for bridging the democratic digital divide

• Recruit respected bloggers from around the world
• Provide credentialed media access for bloggers at global summits
• Train bloggers and provide social networking opportunities to enhance understanding of the issues from both a political perspective, as well, as a socially conscious citizen.
• Provide technical training where necessary to give NGO’s access to emerging social media Web sites, online broadcast and handheld technologies, and information on sound journalistic principles to grow blogging skills within their organizations.
• Provide a one stop distribution point for all stories the bloggers produce. See G20 Voice. The bloggers channel should include video, audio, photos, blog posts and live blogs (including twitter feeds).

I extend my sincere thanks to my readers and followers who nominated me to attend this important global event and look forward to helping bloggers from around the world to be in attendance at similar events.

To catch a complete roundup of my blog posts and multimedia from the London G20 Summit visit http://www.climatecafe.org

photo credit: Todd with Ed Miliband (Dhamaka_for_G20Voice)

I caught up with Grant Lawrence (@grantlcbcr3) at the Canadian Blast opening night at SxSW.

After chatting about CBC Radio 3′s contest to determine the best live performance venue in Canada and the role that social media played in the strategy of the winning venue – Phog Lounge in Windsor, Ontario (owned by my brother Tom!), I interviewed Grant about the value of social media.

Shout out out out out is playing live so it’s a loud podcast, but if you can handle the tunes, you’ll garner a few good insights on the value of social media.

The Importance of Social Media for Canadian Artists

• hooking fans with your personality
• personal connections with the artists – giving the public the inside track.
• reach more and more people who will be curious about your music
• its not about giving up privacy, its about marketing
• three keys to Twitter according to Grant: personal, connection, inside
• focusing a lot of information in just a few characters.

I stopped by the Animoto booth at SXSW and chatted with Brad Jefferson, CEO of Animoto to learn about:

• how Animoto got started
• how the music is licensed for the slide shows
• how tourism businesses can create their own multimedia magic and embed it into their blog or Web site.

Travel Bloggers: How to Connect

Another valuable conversation at SxSW with Roger Wade (@whygo)of the Bootsnall Travel Network and Shannon Hurst Lane (@cajun_mama), one of The Traveling Mamas who write about travel on the Web.

• Providing tips and specific detailed travel advice to around-the-world travelers, Bootsnall could use your help in adding travel advice for visitors to many regions in North America.
• Traveling mamas offer more focused content targeting the needs of traveling families. First hand stories with a little humor and content that traditionally doesn’t find its way into a magazine.

How can tourism industry work with travel bloggers and their sites:

• Travel writers / bloggers know one another much more and are well networked online.
• Bloggers can help you get the message out to your audience if you know what you want to accomplish. Know your audience and a blogger can help you find the right blogger who connects with your audience.
• Canada is under-represented on Bootsnall and tourism businesses or regions could help fill out the Bootsnall guide with expert articles and advice. Submit ideas with Roger wade@bootsnall.com

Links mentioned in this podcast:

• @Karasw – Kara S Williams (Mountain Mama)
• @DesertMama – Beth Blair
• @MudslideMama – Jen Miner
• Bootsnall.com
• Travelingmamas.com

A Chat with @WendyPerrin and @Nerdseyeview about the value of Twitter for the tourism industry.

Twitchhiker

Who is the @Twitchhiker? What is he up to?
His name is Paul Smith, from Newcastle England and the travel industry is sending him around the world with Twitter.

Learn more about Twitchhiker at:

• Perrin Post on Twitchhiker
• GoodMorning America Weekend feature on Twitchhiker’s blog
• Map of Twitchhiker Travels
• IndieTravelPodcast Show featuring Twitchhiker

Twitter and Travel Industry

How important is Twitter for the Travel Industry and just how should a travel business use twitter – two travel writers give their perspectives

Other links:

• 60-70 attendees at the workshop at SxSW and over a 100 viewers on Qik via in-the-conference twitter posts.
• Twitter.com
• Tweetdeck.com
• Twitter Resources for Travel biz

I met a lot of interesting folks at SXSWi last week.  I’ll be posting more podcast goodies through the week.

Twitter

In this delightful conversation with @SEKeener, director of Boots N All Travel Network, @Elliottng VP of Marketing for Uptake.com and @KimMance editor-in-chief of gogalavanting.com and founder of TravelBlogExchange.com discuss the importance of travel blog communities and how tourism businesses can connect with travel bloggers.

If you are a tourism business looking to connect with new media don’t miss this insight-filled conversation about bloggers and their communities.

Download the mp3 (22.2 M)

Background:

• Boots N’ All Travel Network – 6-7 year old blogging community connecting people.
• Uptake – 1.5 year old travel information site / search engine just launched a travel blog network that helps promote the search engine and promote richly tagged search.
• TravelBlogExchange – over 400 bloggers have joined in less than three weeks forming small groups discussing all kinds of issues relevant to travel blogging

The value of networking – connecting bloggers has many benefits:

• bloggers get exposure that may lead to exposure in many different locations including high profile publications
• community participation leads to comments and feedback on content that a blogger can’t get without connecting via networks.
• cause-related issues – Passports with a Purpose and blogging networks can move issues.
• bloggers can help one another by focusing on their strengths and helping one another grow their skills and abilities.
• travel blogging networks provide more visibility for individual bloggers
• coming together like the mom-bloggers gives the community more power and influence
• The social side of blog networks can be difficult to monetize or at least measure, but the power of stories to influence travelers decisions is huge.

How does a tourism business get their story told by a blogger?

• experiment with all kinds of media, don’t try to follow others
• connecting with folks in social media – connect with the people who care the most about your destination
• search the Travel Blog Exchange to find bloggers to tell a story
• It’s all about relationships: Why should a blogger care about your business?
• foster relationships with bloggers to get exposure for your business
• connect with bloggers in their medium, using the social networking tools they use
• be personal and transparent- don’t hide behind your business brand
• be interesting

Kim’s 3 Tips to connect with bloggers:

1. Email the blogger by name and reference something relevant that you have seen on their blog
2. Provide and link to great photos.
3. Develop a database of customized discount codes for the blogger to use to promote their story.

Twits you might want to know more about that were mentioned in this podcast:

• Debbie Dubrow – @DeliciousBaby
• Pam Mandel – @nerdseyeview
• Kevin May @travolution,
• Jens Traenhart
• PhilCaines @philcaines,
• Guido vandenElshout @happyhotelier
• @Soultravelers3

Other Websites of interest noted in this podcast:

• Tips from the T-list
• Passports with a Purpose: Travel Bloggers raise over $7000 for Heifer Int’l.
• Blogher
• CNReviews.com – Elliott Ng’s blog on China
  

Roger Smolski publishes 2D Code – an online magazine (blog) that features QR Code news, views and analysis. We chat about QR Codes and how tourism can be enriched with QR Codes.

Conversation touches on:

• 80% of cell phone users in Japan scan QR codes with their phones at least once a week.
• Examples of QR Codes used in tourism.
• Translation of content into multiple languages.
• QR Codes link to any URL or phone number.
• The need for 3G wireless connectivity to make the most of the technology.
• Embedding of QR codes in new camera phones from top cell phone manufacturers will make it easy for the majority of phone users to access and use this type of information linking the real world to the Web (LG, Motorola and Nokia).
• The importance of location based relevant content to tourists – connect to the Web to deepen the traveler experience.
• Open and Proprietary Codes. Open 2D codes are free to design and use. Proprietary codes can be free too, but go through a portal or server where statistical information can be gathered.
• Tracking QR click throughs to the Web.
• QR Business Cards - ME Cards for quick and easy exchange of contact information.
• QR Code technology connecting to GPS, and map-based experiences.

Link:

• What is a QR Code
• Microsoft Tag