New & Different
Bright Young Things: A Whitepaper Based on the Workshop at International Luxury Travel Market 2011
January 31, 2012
Michaela S. Guzy Editor’s Note: The following white paper on International Luxury Travel Market’s 1st Annual Bright Young Things workshop in December 2011 is excerpted with permission from author & panel moderator Michaela S. Guzy, VP/Global Travel and Strategic Development at American Express Publishing, a longtime research contributor to the ATTA as well as a speaker at several Adventure Travel World Summits. Guzy is the Vice President responsible for overseeing the travel category and development of new initiatives for all American Express Publishing brands, Travel+Leisure, Food&Wine, Executive Travel, Departures and Black Ink. With 21 global editions in 50 countries and nine languages, the fastest growing travel and epicurean websites, four Travel+Leisure branded retail outlets, two of the most successful iPad launches to date and over 850,000+ Facebook fans and Twitter followers, the American Express Publishing brands are some of the most recognized in the world. ... Read More →
New & Different
How to Get the Most Out of Google Analytics
January 18, 2012
Are you making the most of your Google Analytics? A valuable, free metrics tool, Google Analytics can still be challenging for the average user to sort through the myriad of data and glean useful insights on how effective their web properties and marketing tools are through traffic data. A recent post on Mashable Tech explores how users can get deeper, more qualitative info through the service and its three core metric categories – acquisition, engagement and outcome. Acquisition: Tracking the amount of visitors, where they are in the world, what sites they are coming from, if they are new to your site, and how many of them are coming from mobile devices. Engagement: Do people stay on your site, explore further pages, or leave right away? The data behind these questions explores the quality of your incoming traffic – engagement metrics such as Pages per Visit, Average Time on the Site, and your Bounce Rate give you a sense of where your visitors are spending time on there site... Read More →
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University Pioneers Research Center on Global Surf Industry
December 14, 2011
Costa Rica is home to a three week course on sustainable surf tourism management. Photo courtesy Center for Surf Research. San Diego is now home to the world’s first Center for Surf Research, founded by sustainable tourism professor Jess Ponting, according to an Associated Press article by Julie Watson. After Ponting found that little research or analysis existed on the surf industry, he started the new center – the first of its kind – at San Diego State University “with the aim of building a database and spreading awareness about what has evolved from a beach counterculture to a multi-billion dollar global industry, with both positive and negative impacts.” Ponting argues that the industry is much larger than anyone gives it credit for – the U.S. market is worth an estimated $7 billion annually, and surfing is a popular activity in over 100 countries – many of which rely on it as a main source of tourism income. The only other known university... Read More →
New & Different
Google Offers Partners with Travel & Experiential Flash Sale Companies
November 16, 2011
Google Offers has announced that it is partnering with fourteen established national deal sites in the United States as part of its efforts to expand its deal offerings, which it will personalize per individual consumer account. This strategic shift by the search behemoth is particularly relevant to the adventure travel industry in that several of the new partners – such as Gilt City, GolfNow, HomeRun, kgbdeals, ReachDeals, Active.com Schwaggle, TIPPR, and zozi - include sites which include or specialize in travel, sports, experiential or active deals, bringing Google Offers into the space for the first time. Given the brand’s size, reach and resource, the competitive advantage against other such flash sale sites is clear, especially with the introduction of offers personalized by type and location: Our new personalization quiz is a first step towards bringing you more relevant deals. You can tell us what categories you’re interested in and where you hang out so we can send... Read More →
New & Different
Nevermind the BRICS Economies, Here Comes the SLIMMA Nations
November 15, 2011
Senior executives from the global travel industry have identified Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Argentina as tourism’s most important emerging economies, reveals the World Travel Market 2011 Industry Report released today Monday 7 November. The five SLIMMA nations have been identified by the industry as the countries to rival the BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. More than 1,000 buyer members from the WTM Meridian Club and exhibitors at this year’s event were polled about a number of issues affecting the tourism industry, giving the report a unique global perspective. When asked which countries have the potential to rival Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the five SLIMMA nations emerged as the global favourites. Sri Lanka, the survey found, has inbound potential as the nation invests in its infrastructure as it emerges from decades of civil strife. Its natural beauty, in particular its picturesque beaches, is also identified as a... Read More →
New & DifferentUnited States Introduces “Brand USA” to Welcome World Visitors
November 10, 2011
America Unveils First-Ever Unified Consumer Brand and Identity London, UK – The organization responsible for marketing the United States to world visitors today unveiled “Brand USA,” America’s first-ever global consumer brand. Formerly known as the Corporation for Travel Promotion, but now doing business as Brand USA Inc., the group introduced its global brand positioning and strategy before an international audience of travel professionals and destinations in London. The creation of America’s new global brand is the first critical step in the development of the nation’s first unified marketing effort. Brand USA Inc. will launch their first official advertising and marketing campaign in the spring of 2012 to invite world guests to visit America for leisure, business and scholarly purposes. During a brand launch event at London’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) this morning and a subsequent press conference at ExCeL London, Brand USA spokespeople including... Read More →
New & Different
10,000 Free Round-Trip Tickets to Japan
October 11, 2011
Yahoo! News has reported on a remarkable campaign being proposed by the Japan Tourism Agency – the giveaway of 10,000 free roundtrip airfare tickets globally to elicit social media buzz in order to help jump start the ailing local tourism industry after the catastrophic earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima Dai-ichi Powr plant disaster this spring. If the government grants the funding, the plan would be put in action next April, roughly a year after the tragic events which have seen Japan’s inbound tourism slashed in half: The tourism agency says it plans to open a website to solicit applicants interested in the free tickets. Would- be visitors will have to detail in writing their travel plans in Japan, and explain what they hope to get out of the trip. Successful applicants would pay for their own accommodation and meals. They would also be required to write a review their travel experiences, and post it online. “We are hoping to get highly influential blogger-types, and others... Read More →
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First Woman to Summit All 14 Major Peaks Without Supplementary Oxygen
September 19, 2011
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner Sets Climbing Record © Maxut Zhumayev/National Geographic Austrian alpinist Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner cheers on reaching the summit of K2, the world's second-highest mountain. WASHINGTON —Reaching the top of K2 on her fourth attempt, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, a 40-year-old Austrian alpinist who resides in Germany, has become the first woman to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks without using supplementary oxygen. Kaltenbrunner reached the top of K2, Earth’s second-tallest mountain, at 6:18 p.m. (local time) Tuesday, Aug. 23. Kaltenbrunner, supported by grants from the National Geographic Society, was one of four climbers to reach the summit of K2. Other team members to summit were Maxut Zhumayev and Vassiliy Pivtsov of Kazakhstan and Darius Zaluski of Poland. Kaltenbrunner’s husband, Ralf Dujmovits of Germany, and photographer Tomas Heinrich of Argentina had turned back to base camp Aug. 19, judging the threat of an avalanche too great. Heinrich... Read More →
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Initial Industry-Led Voluntourism Conference Facilitates Collaboration and Open Debate
August 16, 2011
By Nicole Petrak, Assistant Editor to AdventureTravelNews & ATTA Special Projects Photo courtesy of VoluntourismGal.com On June 28th, nearly 50 professionals – including non- and for-profit voluntourism operators, media, consultants and representative from the ecotourism community – gathered in Denver, CO to discuss the state of the voluntourism industry, its current challenges and opportunities, and to open dialogue around increased unification and cooperation as a specialized travel niche. Organizer Alexia Nestoria, Founder and Director of Lasso Communications and author of the blog Voluntourismgal.com, said that while there has been little industry organization in the active U.S. and U.K. voluntourism populations, these groups are beginning to seek increased collaboration. Part of this shift is likely due to several challenges voluntourism is facing – namely, increased competition from other travel companies offering “add-ons” to traditional trips, a... Read More →
New & DifferentInstitute at the Golden Gate Launches Web Platform to Share Parks & Health Initiatives and Best Practices Nationwide
August 8, 2011
Assistant Editor’s Note: While the following article is news regarding U.S. National Parks, it is also relevant worldwide as an example how national parks can be involved with and serve local communities. SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the connections between the outdoors and health, the Institute at the Golden Gate has launched a new online platform designed to facilitate collaboration between the growing number of programs across the U.S. utilizing parks and public lands as catalysts to better health. The online Parks & Health Guide highlights four key initiatives of the national Healthy Parks Healthy People movement: Park Prescriptions, Healthy & Sustainable Food, Youth & Nature, and Mental Health & Wellbeing. The direct result of collaborations between healthcare providers and park leaders facilitated by the Institute at the Golden Gate, Healthy Parks Healthy People was propelled to the national stage in April... Read More →
