My Twitter Digest for the Past Week 2009-11-09

Robert Cole

15 years ago

Views from a Corner Suite – My blog about Travel Marketing & Technology, Great Service & Profitability http://j.mp/x3eob #
@stephenjoyce Hotel tax chaos with lawyers working on contingency, hotels/cities fear offending OTAs, plus local politics! in reply to stephenjoyce #
RT @HotelRevPAR: RT @HotelWorldNet: Marriott launches new hotel collection for independent properties at Cornell – http://bit.ly/2jT39p #
Thanks to @elliottng for passing along the Google Wave invitation – Received this morning – I will put it to good use! #
RT @jowyang: Social Marketing Comparison: Toyota Yaris vs Ford Fiesta, two approaches, shotgun vs laser http://bit.ly/3VO7Ns #
@tunnsey Thanks for the kind words. Hoping to see lots of Tweeps at #PhoCusWright "Battle for Smart Trip Planning" panel in reply to tunnsey #

@tcpeter Thanks Tim, @elliottng submitted a request for me as well – the more the merrier? The GVoice invite would be great! in reply to tcpeter #
@tcpeter Still patiently waiting for my GWave invite – requested on Day 1. Concerned I may have offended the Google Gods in reply to tcpeter #
RT @wunderground: Dr. Masters says, "Ida takes aim at the U.S. Gulf Coast" http://bit.ly/4qaRKu | THE expert blog on #ida #
RT @TravelDesigned: RT @CAroundTheWorld: Sunset over Young Island, SVG. http://yfrog.com/1xkx6j | One of mt favorite places #
@yoplr Thank you for the compliment on the article. Simplifying travel planning is tricky, so I wish you the best of luck. in reply to yoplr #
@xotels My opinion is that selling on Twitter is fine, IF followers know account is sales focused & offers relevant #HSMAI in reply to xotels #
@stephenjoyce Prepayment not an issue. OTA's have tax benefit relative to hotels (tax rate x margin %) on same retail rate in reply to stephenjoyce #
@stephenjoyce Or, if OTA is MOR, collects full amt from traveler, pays hotel in full & hotel pays commission to OTA – ugly in reply to stephenjoyce #
@stephenjoyce If customers always pay on site, OTA is not merchant of record and it is a commission (Agency) transaction in reply to stephenjoyce #
@stephenjoyce OTA's can't leave tax remittance to hotels – hotels realize revenue on Net Rate, OTA's realize rev on Margin in reply to stephenjoyce #
@stephenjoyce As OTA profit negatively impacted by tech enhancements to support payment of hotel room tax, progress tough in reply to stephenjoyce #
@stephenjoyce There's a tech solution for harmonized hotel room tax remittance, but OTA's (+ GDS owners) oppose margin cut in reply to stephenjoyce #
@stephenjoyce Issues with harmonized tax policy1) Local/State politics 2) PMS/CRS/Switch/GDS/OTA tech3) Remittance process in reply to stephenjoyce #
@stephenjoyce Issue is assessing hotel tax on the net rate v. the retail rate – based on how local tax laws written | Ugly in reply to stephenjoyce #
RT @AirlineCIO: British Airways latest results had 41% gain in Ancillary Revenue due 2 Dynamic Packaging #
Southwest says no-luggage-fee policy is paying off in new customers http://j.mp/2OPdv3 | Even my mother in law (81) knows! #
Travel web sites, partner or customer? Las Vegas again considering suing OTA's over hotel room tax http://bit.ly/1LO7CP #
USTA predicts U.S. Travel Industry to Add 90,000 American Jobs in 2010 http://j.mp/g8CBn | Some good news to end the week #
US Travel Association Trends Research & USTA Marketing Outlook Forum Highlights http://j.mp/4eeeP1 | Declines bottoming out #
@TravlandLeisure yes #
Choice Hotels earnings report – not good: Earnings -9%; Sales -13%; RevPAR -16%; Franchise Agmts -51% http://bit.ly/ggoEA #
Interesting video on how Israel has become a leader in business innovation. Author of Start-Up Nation. http://j.mp/4lt8tM #
@dsifry Best shopping engine? Google – Shopping Results from standard search – many merchants / lowest prices also via SMS in reply to dsifry #
Social Media Actions: Align stakeholders, Listen & engage, Use outside resources, Enable brand advocates, Test! #HSMAI #
Social Media Q's: Who are customers? What are metrics? Why are you in social media? Where are strategy & objectives? #HSMAI #
@CarolineApts 2 Benefits of Live Tweeting a) keeps me awake in meeting b) allows tweet archiving (pulled into blog weekly) in reply to CarolineApts #
RT @PhoCusWright: Expedia eliminates phone booking fee, undercuts airlines – USATODAY http://bit.ly/2IbjRi (by @laurably) #
New Starwood SPG Tripshare Facebook opt-in enables access to friend's photos & information – @atkinsdavid concerned #HSMAI #
Hotelicopter segregating hotel property ratings between "All People" and "Friends" – Where Social Media is headed #HSMAI #
Key rules of Social Media engagement – Own your social media communities, know rules, listen, be genuine, Don't Sell #HSMAI #
Build Social Media presence by being unique as possible. Small, independent hotel may have advantage over branded #HSMAI #
34% of 18-34 age group does not make travel decisions without first consulting Social Media (stat from @PhoCusWright) #HSMAI #
Social Media #2 priority for individuals after going out with friends (from Beresford) – Individual priorities #HSMAI #
Social Media Hierarchy: People -> Objectives -> Strategy -> Technology (originally from @forrester ) #HSMAI #
Social Media requires shift from operational business silos to all departments becoming "Curators of Content" #HSMAI #
@atkinsdavid Check my blog post on Social Media Revolution: http://j.mp/7zRbc | Sadly, represents Social Media at its worst #
Live tweeting from @atkinsdavid #HSMAI presentation on Social Media #
@UpTake Thanks for putting me on your list of Fave Travel Tweets http://bit.ly/1at0Sl | humbled to be in such company #
Any questions 4 @atkinsdavid & the HSMAI / Strategies 4 Travel Social Media Webinar today? Let me know & I'll ask him live #
Some of my thoughts that might get debated on the "Battle for Smart Trip Planning" #PhoCusWright panel http://bit.ly/2HsDKb #
RT @google: What info does Google store about me? Now you can see & control your data in your Google Account http://www.google.com/dashboard #
RT @Travelscream: Expedia axes fees for phone bookings, running out of charges to cut http://bit.ly/3rYHJN via @AddToAny #
Craig Ferguson on Oasis of the Seas "All the waste created… gets reused…. Don't order the lemonade or the chocolate pie" #
Craig Ferguson on Oasis of the Seas "Has all the things you could do on land, with the added excitement of possibly sinking" #
Craig Ferguson on RCL's Oasis of the Seas "It's five times larger than the Titanic. What could possibly go wrong?" #oasis #
RT @TodayInTheSky: AirTran adds SkyWest regional service as battle for MKE intensifies http://bit.ly/BgEuW | Very LOW fares 🙂 #
@ElDoradoResorts Social Media is always much easier for groups that understand service + their guest's needs & personalities in reply to ElDoradoResorts #
Las Vegas fears rate pressures as City Center adds 4% to rooms with air seats down 23% from 2007 peak http://j.mp/fxhqx #
RT @SaraMeaney: Wisk understands social media. Brilliant example, from NYT: http://su.pr/8V1P2Y | A relevant Facebook app #
Tnooz debut 4 @OpenTravel Exec Director @ValynP: Long Tail of Travel Wagging Head of the Dog http://j.mp/1PyIVz | Good Read #
@elliottng 2 more #hotel groups (didn't make 1st 140 chars) with relevant Twitter content: @ElDoradoResorts & @FourSeasons in reply to elliottng #
Google enhances Friend Connect – New "interests" linked with AdSense for ad targeting & recommendations http://j.mp/2VuMMv #
Are "Tweet to Win" promos Twitter Spam? @rww replies: yes: http://j.mp/1qVkx7 | Travel industry, what do you think? Discuss #
RT @LaughlinRigby: Travel Industry Tweet-rate rising. Article: http://short.ie/m9wbsa | I hope relevancy is rising faster #
@ValynP As long as you're not recommending a return to clay tablets & carrier pigeons, your Tnooz article should be fine 🙂 in reply to ValynP #
Latest Forrester #hotel research by @hharteveldt titled: "Hotels Will Rely On The Web To Survive 2010" http://j.mp/26mnmM #
@elliottng Hotels doing best on Twitter? My votes go to @wynnlasvegas @mgmgrand @jdvhotels @morganshotels #Travel in reply to elliottng #
RT @GuyKawasaki: How the Ritz-Carlton does leadership right http://om.ly/ZwEt #
Good to see/meet @alkrueger @sarameaney @Yellowledbedder @AquinasWI @italianmama2 @metropawlis @DavidCRay at @augieray Twappy Hour yesterday #
Probably too late to coordinate for 2009 #PhoCusWright Conference: Cage fight between DMO's & OTA's on hotel room taxes… #
Florida suing Expedia / Orbitz 4 unpaid room taxes http://ow.ly/yUJD (via @HHotelConsult) | Waited for San Antonio Verdict? #
American Airlines shakes up GDS distribution – http://j.mp/wMzIy | Interesting – Dealer model predated GDS for airlines #
Breaking: Carlson Marketing being acquired by Groupe Aeroplan, Canadian int'l loyalty management co. (via RT @barbdelollis) #
@hharteveldt RT'd @chrisbrogan Amtrak comment as ironic low blow to Air Carriers (although MKE/CHI Amtrak service is great) in reply to hharteveldt #
@SmartSuite Some stats (actually 2008) for you: 2009 Lodging Industry Profile released: http://bit.ly/4fh0wB (via @AHLA in reply to SmartSuite #
RT @travelmarketing: 7 Essential multimedia tools and their free alternatives http://tinyurl.com/ybj535o #freesourcing #
RT @claudepeloquin: 10 social-media lies consultants tell http://bit.ly/xJGSs | Good list of what social media can't do. #
RT @chrisbrogan: Amtrak does EVERYTHING so easy, with less fuss, and no weird fees. Airlines: why can't you be like Amtrak? #