My Twitter Digest for the Past Week 2009-10-26

October 26, 2009 By 1 Comment
  • RIP Geocities – Was #16 (tied) in first Media Metrix Jan 1996 Top Web Sites http://bit.ly/3cil5x | Still #92 in Sep '09 #
  • Watching Harley Davidson branding vid "Live By It" – http://bit.ly/2iN600 | and wondering what travel brands believe in… #
  • @elliottng Yes 4 @PhoCusWright. 3 startups: Travel Resources (Sold 2 Anasazi), Neat Group (Sold 2 Cendant), now RockCheetah in reply to elliottng #
  • RT @gfulgoni No ad clicks — even on social network sites http://bit.ly/jl68L #
  • @Susantravels Thanks for the RT – Looks like the #webintravel conference provided great crowdsourced ideas. They nailed it in reply to Susantravels #
  • The Case of the 4000 Twitter Followers Who Don't Care http://bit.ly/vGk2E (via @samdaams) | Why Soc Med isn't a numbers game #
  • RT @elliottng @morrissim: 10 ideas we recommend for travel brands venturing into social media http://bit.ly/3SYKg2 | Agree! #
  • RT @hotelmarketprof: Are retailers going too far tracking our Web habits? http://bit.ly/1sfibV | Trade privacy 4 convenience #
  • @xotels Thanks for the tweet about the Web 2.0 marketing presentation – and sipping from the firehose http://bit.ly/CpKa4 #
  • RT @xotels Marketing Your Hotel or Resort in a Web 2.0 World – Presentation at HFTP Annual Convention http://ff.im/-asYyD #
  • RT @elliottng @atul: paulgraham What Startups Are Really Like http://tr.im/D2bz | After 3 start-ups, could not agree more #
  • @Peppersantblai Thanks for the kind words re: Web 2.0 prezi. Here's a link to my blog for Web 3.0 prezi http://bit.ly/tfzgz in reply to Peppersantblai #
  • RT @Peppersantblai Excellent presentation and content (Marketing your hotel or resort in a Web 2.0 world): http://bit.ly/4xJldJ #

  • @travelrants For a different sidebar, as you are using WordPress, I would highly recommend the Thesis Theme – Very flexible in reply to travelrants #
  • @kevinlukemay Yes actually, use TwitBlock to remove unwanted Twitter spammers & lurkers for #unfollowfriday | Works well in reply to kevinlukemay #
  • RT @denschaal: Choice Hotels-Expedia power struggle could be next tipping point (Tnooz) #hotels #OTAs http://ping.fm/CYohF #
  • RT @HEDNA_ORG: HEDNA partners w/ PhoCusWright for PhoCusWright Conference Online Ticket discount http://bit.ly/1hqxqC #
  • @elliottng I confirmed w/@Scobleizer that SmugMug/Animoto vid was shot with Kodak zi8 only – no Acc's @wendyperrin @latimesnystrom @niltiac in reply to elliottng #
  • @Scobleizer Wow. Even 4 Dial tone video, Kodak zi8 (<200) camera, Sennheiser me66/K6 mic (<$400) & frezzi micro-fill kit (<$500) amazing. in reply to Scobleizer #
  • @Scobleizer For the SmugMug/Animoto vid did you use an external mic or fill light with the Kodak zi8, or is it just the camera internal mic? in reply to Scobleizer #
  • My first Twitter list – Tnooz nodes: @RobertKCole/tnooz – here's a link http://bit.ly/3UAlws | Works great – very useful #
  • Excellent! Just became one of the 5% with access to Twitter Lists http://bit.ly/1rgafa | Still waiting 4 Google Wave invite #
  • RT @denschaal: Expedia woos Choice Hotels franchisees with letter (Tnooz) #OTA #hotels http://ping.fm/vRyRU | Here we go! #
  • @robertjthompson Thanks for the link to my "Marketing your Hotel in a Web 2.0 World" presentation http://bit.ly/344a27 #
  • RT @sradick: Teens pay for CDs & music, but only for artists they "want to support" #w2s | All about Trust & Engagement #
  • life = risk http://bit.ly/1mJei2 | like this #
  • Introduction: @hharteveldt meet @augieray. Trust you 2+Forrester can help social media save the travel industry from itself #
  • @acoupleofchicks Twitter ROI: @delloutlet $3M+ sales; Good articles @rww http://bit.ly/l5eTU & @jacobm http://bit.ly/2siLwn in reply to acoupleofchicks #
  • Attn: Travel Industry, new marketing opportunity: "Swine Break" When schools close for swine flu. Great 4 last minute trips #
  • @acoupleofchicks Feel Twitter working best for B2C Cust care & spot promos. Also great for B2B as research & networking tool in reply to acoupleofchicks #
  • Great group of press & bloggers attending PhoCusWright Conference – Nice change to talk face-to-face http://bit.ly/1CIeeF #
  • BREAKING: @augieray replacing @jowyang at @Forrester. Great, smart guy who "gets it". Check out his blog http://bit.ly/q639H #
  • STR Weekly US Hotel Stats all down: Occ -8.1%, ADR -8.5%, RevPAR -16% http://bit.ly/4g2ArH | Not good – should be peaking #
  • Need a little bedtime reading? Hyatt Hotels S-1/A Securities Registration Statement (PDF) for IPO http://bit.ly/bQxOV #
  • Glassdoor.com rates top CEO's – Bill Marriott on list at #16 http://bit.ly/2W9CWh #
  • RT @problogger: 50 most influential bloggers of 09 – not sure I deserve to be quite that high 🙂 http://is.gd/4uKaG #
  • @pappas Feeling kinda heady with the Twitter and Facebook deals? Looks like Google's chasing you now! http://bit.ly/8rQHj #
  • RT @andybeal: We just posted: Google Plays Second Fiddle to Bing; Announces Twitter Deal Too! http://gri.ms/FiR #
  • RT @andybeal: We just posted: Bing Goes Real Time with Twitter http://gri.ms/FfD #
  • Forrester projects Interactive Marketing share of total ad spend to grow from 12% in 2009 (25.6 B) to 21% in 2014 (55.0 B) #
  • Forrester projects Interactive Marketing Spend 2009-2014 CAGR: Social 34%, Mobile 27%, Display 17%, Search 15%, Email 11% #
  • Is the adventure travel industry buzzing about Cross Country Snowboarding? http://bit.ly/11tBRu (hilarious video) #atws09 #
  • Tim Hughes Manifesto on Travel Individuation – EveryYou http://bit.ly/23c7CN Intended as a #webintravel presentation #
  • @Wanderlust13 Great job live tweeting from #atws09 – Thanks! in reply to wanderlust13 #
  • Amazon launches Same Day Delivery – reduces online shopping friction. World gets closer to real-time http://bit.ly/3jDbE9 #
  • RT @Wanderlust13: Tour Op wondered if 50-70 yr-olds were in soc med. Once started, clients said "What took u so long?" #atws09 #
  • RT @HOTELSmagazine Choice Hotels CEO speaks about rift with Expedia http://bit.ly/1UsKaj | My take: http://j.mp/3MpUEP #
  • CityCenter value written down by $1.3 Billion ($955M Resort + $200M for 50% share of Res Real Estate) http://bit.ly/33GwFS #
  • Hurricane Rick weakening. S/B Cat 1 near Baja; NHC forecasts 20% chance of Cabo seeing hurricane winds http://bit.ly/39tTgg #
  • Got a few friends? Go to Hawaii. Rent whole 72 Suite 3.5-star Hotel Wailea Maui for $25,000 per night http://bit.ly/3USp5l #
  • Thanks Smith Travel Research for reporting Good News – Hotel tracts with YOY leisure business growth http://bit.ly/1sGaQt #
  • Wondering if audience murmurs during future conference presentations will be live tweeting with Dial2Do http://bit.ly/tMJzL #
  • RT @LPUSAstaff: "… real people are more fun than avatars" | I could not agree more! #
  • Super Hurricane Rick Storm Track – Heading toward Cabo. Models ranging from Cat 1 to Cat 3 at landfall http://bit.ly/4Fee36 #
  • Super Hurricane Rick 2nd strongest hurricane recorded in Eastern Pacific, but should weaken to Cat 2/3 http://bit.ly/2WkVI5 #
  • HVS 2009 US Hotel Valuation Index pegs 2009 hotel valuation at $55K/room – around 2003 & 1997 levels http://bit.ly/2QuieO #
  • HVS 2009 US Hotel Valuation Index sees further 1% drop in 2010 hotel ADR http://bit.ly/2QuieO | This may be conservative #
  • HVS 2009 US Hotel Valuation Index projects hotel Occ% to return to 2007 level (63%) in 2015 http://bit.ly/2QuieO | Not Good #
  • 2009 Edition of HVS US Hotel Valuation Index (PDF) sees -1% (negative) hotel demand growth for FY 2010 http://bit.ly/2QuieO #
  • @Nat_Mich Thanks for the note – as you said, all is back to normal. Suggest you look at the wording if it is a planned outage 4 maintenance in reply to Nat_Mich #
  • "Sorry, Kutano is unavailable. Our servers are offline. " Not a lot of optimism in that message… #FAIL #
  • RT @rickseaney: Don't look now! Oil per barrel 15-Oct-2008: $74.38; Today: $77.30; 18-Feb-2009: $34.67 | Not Good News #
  • Like to brag about your diverse skill set or ability to multi-task? This might put you in your place… http://bit.ly/Tbg5w #
  • @SmartSuite Thanks 4 Berkonomics link. Saw Socialnomics link in your timeline (not a fan) see blog post http://bit.ly/7zRbc in reply to SmartSuite #
  • Thank you #BWE for supporting Las Vegas' economy. Stop blogging – go eat, see a show, hit the tables & find an ultra lounge #
  • RT @TripIt: Check out Gregg Brockway's blog post about the "Traveler-Centric" future, and mobile technology – http://bit.ly/2Gwjhb #
  • Bad News: STR hotel stats, New Orleans only market with ADR rise; National Occ%, ADR & RevPAR all down http://bit.ly/1pdEaQ #
  • Good News: STR Weekly hotel stats report Luxury & Upper Upscale segments show occupancy increases http://bit.ly/1pdEaQ #
  • Good News from @southwestair analyst call – substantial Oct/Nov bookings, no need for financing http://bit.ly/1LDdUL #
  • Details on proposed FAA fines: US Airways ($5.4 Billion) & United ($3.8 Billion) for safety violations http://bit.ly/3WWUup #
  • Lifehacker lists best use cases for Google Wave – Includes Air Traffic Control (?) & Wedding Planning http://bit.ly/3NK7AY #
  • Harvard Business Review comments on best PR techniques and how they were applied by David Letterman http://bit.ly/18kSTg #
  • RT @xotels STR: Rest of year might tell what 2010 has in store for hotel & travel industry http://ff.im/-9PKps | See on Fri #
  • Travel Weekly @awtravelweekly – Classic advertising pitch: New Columbia Travel Slogan: Columbia, It's Worth the Risk #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Sends his bags by FedEx – saves 2.5 hours of his time, eliminates stress, never lost #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Best international travel values are Argentina, Iceland and overseas cruises in USD #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Best domestic travel values are big city Hotels on Weekends – big discounts #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: For travel agencies, long term opportunity is relationships based on value #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Rental Car pricing to continue rising over next year #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Excess Cruise capacity will continue to provide deals over next year #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Business travelers paying 18% less for hotels this year, plus ancillary services free #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: PREDICTION: Cuba will open to US tourism next year – Cruise lines will be first #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Airport Challenge – Too many regional jets. Take same airport resources as widebody #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: We will lose one major U.S. carrier in the next 12 months #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Global air industry faces $11bilion losses this year, $2 billion more than forecast #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: AmEx reporting that some corporate clients have reduced T&E spending by 70% #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Travel Industry changing from price driven to value driven mentality #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly @PeterSGreenberg: Most of travel industry clinging to business model that didn't work before downturn #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Virtual Leisure Summit – @PeterSGreenberg predicting the future of travel #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Suppliers: Best Demand/Margin Opportunities – High end all-inclusive, suite upgrades, dest. weddings #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Suppliers: Card mills don't really work. Suppliers do not extend benefits & prefer professional agents #TWVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Best approach to sell consumer – find best deal and work hard to upgrade them; based on client needs #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Best channel for selling distressed inventory – mixed, but best is agents with good online strategy #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Consumer Direct business will not surpass travel agents, but will if agencies allow it to happen #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Commission Rebating – mixed response – everyone doing own thing #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Does not see movement from commission model to net rate model – suppliers want to control price #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Agency supplier relationship has not weakened due to economy – working more closely (Apple disagrees) #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Dealership model does not make sense in travel – unanimous #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: To get customers to book earlier – Push travel insurance, stress better selection, compare LY pricing #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: How Agency differentiates- capture group business, target niche, destination weddings, specialize #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Creating demand with aggressive pricing, coop support, cash booking incentives, more efficient tools #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Travel Agents make more $$ add value by selling experience, not just price – cross sell more product #TVLS #
  • Supplier Panel: Perm Change Dynamic selling environment, speed of information traveling, shift to social media #TVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Suppliers See customers trading down, spending less, but looking for value and getting more for money #TVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Suppliers – See that travel buying patterns will return to normal following recession (RCL disagrees) #TVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Suppliers – See travel agent consolidation, but for the survivors, the strong will get stronger #TVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Suppliers Booking windows still trending shorter 80% inside 90 days (Globus longer) #TVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Suppliers see discounting continuing in 2010 – especially in 1st 1/2 of year. #TVLS #
  • Supplier Session – Freed – RCL; Going – Funjey; Nisbet – Globus; Noenning – Apple; Pomerantz – MLT; Richard – Pleasant #TWVLS #
  • Agencies that increased marketing, training & products fared better than those cutting hours, marketing & staff #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Marc Mancini – Open-ended Travel Agent questions improve conversion over straight factual questions #TWVLS #
  • Agency Rev Impacts: Economy 64%; Internet 44%; Air Fares 40%; Tvl Costs 33%; Dollar 27%; Air Hassles 23%; Terror 17% #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Marc Mancini – Challenge: Raising a geographically illiterate generation. Only 2 weeks of school class #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Research Mix of Travel Agency business in 2003 60%/40% Domestic/International; 2008 shifted to 51%/49% #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Research Marc Mancini: If not for Marriott's Excellence program, there would be no hotel commissions #TWVLS #
  • Day 2 of Travel Weekly Virtual Leisure Summit presentations underway – Dr. Marc Mancini discussing research #TWVLS #
  • In a mood to write a controversial blog post that will stir things up & piss people off – Any Suggestions? #
  • @problogger Favorite Vegas Rests: $ Carnegie Deli, Mirage; $$ Terrace Point, Wynn; $$$ Olives, Bellagio; $$$$ Joel Robuchon, MGM Grand in reply to problogger #
  • RIP West Hollywood "Riot House" – Welcome Andaz WeHo. Where do Rock n' rollers go now for debauchery? http://bit.ly/16HgT9 #
  • RT @aimeecheek: 13% is average open rate for eblasts in the lodging industry per marketing Sherpa. #etsnyc #
  • STR reports the number of #hotel rooms in the US Development pipeline has dropped 31.1% since Sep 2008 http://j.mp/1PjCOV #
  • RT @HudsonCrossing: Kayak Opens Up Search Data to Everyone. Report from hotelmarketing.com http://bit.ly/BDyqv #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Bob Joselyn Indications are GDS cost burden maybe shifting to agents in future #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey – Bob Joselyn TAMS Members asking questions about social media. Seeking best time/profit result #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Bob Joselyn – thinks agencies should have cancellation fees – fees for anything that drives time #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Bob Joselyn – Challenge for large corporate agencies: Hard to stimulate corporate demand #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Bob Joselyn – small agencies reacted more quickly than large agencies to economic downturn #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Bob Joselyn sees larger corp agencies taking larger profit hit than smaller agencies in 2009 #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey 80% of Travel Agencies saw revenue decline in 2008; 89% with Rev <$1M; 74% with Rev >$10M #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Cruise example: Due to non-commisisonable fees, $14K cruise yielded $284 commission 3.8% of Rev #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Revenue generated per agent hour is a key statistic. Agent benchmark $60 Rev/hr with10% margin #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Agency Rev Sources: Cruise 35%, Air 24%, Incl. Resort 14%, Tours 11%, Hotel 10%, Car 4%, Rail 2% #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Bob Joselyn feels that future of travel agency is in professional consulting – bar to be raised #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Bob Joselyn sees opportunity for experienced sales "Hunters" from other industries to excel #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Survey Travel agency community not drawing in new talent 59% > 20 yrs; 29% 11-20 yrs experience #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly Travel Industry Survey being previewed – 1,500 agents; in sample; 34% home based #TWVLS #
  • Like the Dove Evolution Video – great commentary on reality & strong message for women of all ages. http://bit.ly/HQv4T #
  • My view: Agents like @EliteTravelGal are model 4 future travel agent expert & engaged @JEBworks @PhoCusWright @PaulOMeara #
  • My take on #TWVLS panel – Looking at traditional agents using traditional methods – I disagree, need new tools 2 compete #
  • Travel Weekly panel feels that meetings & tradeshows are essential; virtual meetings increasing niche due to economy #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly panel sees suppliers are reducing margins to wholesalers, but may not result in lower agent commissions #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly panel feels deep hotel discounting can drive volume, but need to be careful at damaging long term value #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly panel feels best travel agent sales strategy is to match best product with needs and provide value #TWVLS #
  • One Travel Weekly panelist (missed who) says that customer needs to dictate the best method of communication #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly panel feels that phone, in person & direct mail are best methods to build relationship with customers #TWVLS #
  • None of the Travel Weekly panel Tweet (does not mean they are not on Twitter) #TWLVS #
  • Travel Weekly panel thinks travel agent should focus on customer needs & offer authentic travel experiences #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly panel feels leisure travel agents can do better job to effectively sell typical, non-resort hotels #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly panel sees that value of quality travel agent is rising, but not widely recognized by consumers #TWVLS #
  • Travel Weekly panel sees stronger preferred partner Travel Agent – Supplier relationships due to market conditions #TWVLS #
  • Twavel Weekly expert panel sees expertise is the key to agent success – All Feel now is time to buy an agency #TWVLS #
  • All Travel Weekly panelists believe there will be fewer traditional travel agents in 2 years due to consolidation #TWVLS #
  • Twavel Weekly Expert Panel: Mannix – Ensemble; Russo – ASTA; Tracas – Vacation.com; Koepf – NACTA #TWVLS #
  • Listening to @awtravelweekly question expert panel on Travel Weekly Virtual Leisure Summit – using hashtag #TWVLS #
  • Light Group giving Blog World Expo attendees free expedited admission to The Bank, JET + other deals http://bit.ly/10b5YO #
  • Looking for great #airline industry stats? Pilot Bob Herbst has Airline Financials with SEC & BTS data http://bit.ly/jXxXC #
  • RT @hmarketinghelp: Watch out for these 21 expensive (and all-too-common) PPC campaign mistakes: http://tinyurl.com/yhb4lku #
  • RT @beerwars: How 'Paranormal Activity' Hit It Big: The Low-Budget Horror Film May Become One of Year's Most Profitable http://bit.ly/2ZJ8Y8 #
  • RT @BudTravel: Flight Innovations You'll Love (and That Are Proven to Work) http://tinyurl.com/flyhappy #
  • Weird – Google Latitude shows my location near Middlesex outside London – I'll double-check , but don't think I'm there… #
  • @barbdelollis: Thanks for the mention in hotel peephole tampering post. Interested to see the response http://bit.ly/1opAhl #
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About Robert Cole

Robert Cole is the founder of RockCheetah, a hotel marketing strategy and travel technology consulting practice. He also authors the Views from a Corner Suite Blog and publishes the Travel Quote of the Day. Robert speaks regularly at major travel industry conferences, authors articles for leading travel industry publications, advises travel-related startups and the equity investment community. He is an evangelist for the global travel industry.