It's that time of year again for SES San Jose 2009 early registration. Things are changing in the SEO world. In the beginning, the success of an SEO website was measured by rankings of target keywords; then we moved to traffic; but today that's no longer the case. To be found organically, traffic should be measured by its impact on revenue. This of course was based on a presentation delivered at eMetrics San Jose 2009. They presented ways to integrate and improve SEO and website usability (using web analytics) and create an interaction that will improve the conversion rate of websites.
Measuring SEO success using rankings has gone out the window: Everyone is the SEO field who follows their daily traffic knows that organic rankings fluctuate and do not show any improvement on the website success. Traffic on the other hand, doesn't fluctuate much, but you still do not know how much money you're making. The way to measure SEO is by measuring its ROI (Return on Investment).
I can tell you first hand that there are those that believe organic traffic is their free ticket to rankings. In some cases this is true, but in order to step up the ladder and attract the masses to any website, it is imperative to gather resources, either in-house or outsourced. First you must consider all the expenditures with SEO, whether it's through consultations, or in-house. How much profit you are getting from your organic traffic?
Remember most of all, content is King and usability is Queen.
SES San Jose is entering its 11th year, and will be packed with 70+ sessions, multiple key notes and Orion Strategy Sessions, as well as over 150 exhibitors. The new age of digital migration will be the focus this year along with many new ways to make your website work for you.
Early registration is the key to peace of mind for a front row seat to the August 11-14 San Jose SES convention. While you are reserving your spot, don't forget to reserve your room as well. You can do that at Venues and Accommodations.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Traveling Trend
During the Travel Weekly's Summer Deals & Family Travel Virtual Conference and Tradeshow, industry leaders displayed their positive outlook on travel for 2009.
Although the need for people to get away is very strong, the way people are traveling is changing. According to Ypartnership CEO Peter Yesawich, 63% of travelers who responded to a February survey, stated they were planning to take an overnight trip in the next six months. Of those who said they would change the way they travel, 87% said they were going to book a packaged vacation to save money, and 84% said they were going to spend less.
Although the responders stated they would book package vacations, they also stated their stay would be a short one to save money. With that in mind, the great marketing plan the travel websites will have to come up with is creative ideas to entice the traveler to stay longer; discounts, rewards, spa nights, dinner for two, etc.
Finding that sweet spot is the key to making a client happy. Their reluctance to book quickly is frustrating at times, but the online travel sites that offer late-booking, which is becoming industry wide, gives reason to hope for more robust booking activity.
Exotic travel is on the rise. The places that people consider the trip of a lifetime is what's selling. Egypt is No. 1 on that list. South America is being discovered, too. Coming into the new year, Geographic Expeditions saw improved sales for the Galapagos and Patagonia, said the company's president, Jim Sano.
Whatever the reason may be, exotic, adventure or intimate getaway, give your client a reason to travel with a hug for a safe and happy vacation which they will remember for a lifetime. They will follow that rainbow to their pot of of gold just to say they've been there, done that and have the pictures of a once-in-a-lifetime getaway to share.
Although the need for people to get away is very strong, the way people are traveling is changing. According to Ypartnership CEO Peter Yesawich, 63% of travelers who responded to a February survey, stated they were planning to take an overnight trip in the next six months. Of those who said they would change the way they travel, 87% said they were going to book a packaged vacation to save money, and 84% said they were going to spend less.
Although the responders stated they would book package vacations, they also stated their stay would be a short one to save money. With that in mind, the great marketing plan the travel websites will have to come up with is creative ideas to entice the traveler to stay longer; discounts, rewards, spa nights, dinner for two, etc.
Finding that sweet spot is the key to making a client happy. Their reluctance to book quickly is frustrating at times, but the online travel sites that offer late-booking, which is becoming industry wide, gives reason to hope for more robust booking activity.
Exotic travel is on the rise. The places that people consider the trip of a lifetime is what's selling. Egypt is No. 1 on that list. South America is being discovered, too. Coming into the new year, Geographic Expeditions saw improved sales for the Galapagos and Patagonia, said the company's president, Jim Sano.
Whatever the reason may be, exotic, adventure or intimate getaway, give your client a reason to travel with a hug for a safe and happy vacation which they will remember for a lifetime. They will follow that rainbow to their pot of of gold just to say they've been there, done that and have the pictures of a once-in-a-lifetime getaway to share.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Carnival Cruise Line Pulling Out of Vancouver
When I read the news this morning that Carnival Cruise Line was changing its home port city for the Alaskan cruises to Seattle in 2010 and abandoning Vancouver, I thought it was a misprint. This can't be true, I thought. Vancouver is one of Canada's most beautiful cities which is one of the reasons why the Alaskan cruise is so popular. The reason for the decision was that the majority of Alaskan cruise passengers are U.S. citizens. So what? Americans love to travel. Why do you think they go on cruises? To travel to another country to cruise around their own is all the fun of it.
The spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line, Vance Gulliksen told CTV via e-mail "This new itinerary will provide our guests requiring air transportation with more convenient air options and significantly lower air costs." Let's see, "convenient air options"? None of them are convenient.... "Significantly lower air costs"? HAH!!! All the airlines are finding ways to nickel and dime us to death. Don't even get me started on that subject. Ryanair (an Irish airline) is planning on making passengers pay for the right to relieve themselves on flights. Even going to Ireland, travelers have a choice on which airline to fly on. Or how about this video Southwest Airlines Coins Commercial.
I could understand if it was due to the fact that TSA puts the hairs up on our back while passing through customs and making it an unpleasant trip, but when making cruise plans, the travel expense is part of it. I am sure just as travelers search which cruise line gives them the best trip for their dollar, they also search the best air options and the cost that goes along with it. It wouldn't surprise me if Carnival is planning on raising the fee for the Alaskan cruise so they're changing ports to justify it and blaming the cost of air travel.
As I stated, Vancouver is a beautiful city and when I received the cruise as a Christmas gift I was very happy, but when I found out I was departing from Vancouver, I was ecstatic. I took my boyfriend along on the trip and it was like taking two vacations at once. We arrived in Vancouver the day before and we immediately fell in love with the city. As we were standing on on the our balcony watching this beautiful city fade from our view, we agreed that once we arrived back in Vancouver, we would extend our stay a couple of days and get to know this city a little better. We ended up staying five days and had a wonderful time.
I am truly disappointed in this decision that Carnival has made and when I take another cruise to Alaska, it will be on different cruise line just so I could have an excuse to visit Vancouver. The sad part is, the ship we were on was the Carnival Spirit, and it was absolutely breathtaking on every level and every room.
The spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line, Vance Gulliksen told CTV via e-mail "This new itinerary will provide our guests requiring air transportation with more convenient air options and significantly lower air costs." Let's see, "convenient air options"? None of them are convenient.... "Significantly lower air costs"? HAH!!! All the airlines are finding ways to nickel and dime us to death. Don't even get me started on that subject. Ryanair (an Irish airline) is planning on making passengers pay for the right to relieve themselves on flights. Even going to Ireland, travelers have a choice on which airline to fly on. Or how about this video Southwest Airlines Coins Commercial.
I could understand if it was due to the fact that TSA puts the hairs up on our back while passing through customs and making it an unpleasant trip, but when making cruise plans, the travel expense is part of it. I am sure just as travelers search which cruise line gives them the best trip for their dollar, they also search the best air options and the cost that goes along with it. It wouldn't surprise me if Carnival is planning on raising the fee for the Alaskan cruise so they're changing ports to justify it and blaming the cost of air travel.
As I stated, Vancouver is a beautiful city and when I received the cruise as a Christmas gift I was very happy, but when I found out I was departing from Vancouver, I was ecstatic. I took my boyfriend along on the trip and it was like taking two vacations at once. We arrived in Vancouver the day before and we immediately fell in love with the city. As we were standing on on the our balcony watching this beautiful city fade from our view, we agreed that once we arrived back in Vancouver, we would extend our stay a couple of days and get to know this city a little better. We ended up staying five days and had a wonderful time.
I am truly disappointed in this decision that Carnival has made and when I take another cruise to Alaska, it will be on different cruise line just so I could have an excuse to visit Vancouver. The sad part is, the ship we were on was the Carnival Spirit, and it was absolutely breathtaking on every level and every room.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
International Women's Day
March stands out for being known for March Winds and having five weeks in a month, but few know March as the month that Internatial Women's Day is celebrated around the world.
It all started on February 28, 1909 as a political event known as International Working Women's Day. Since that time the day of celebration may have changed and the title reworded, but the appreciation for the work women perform hasn't.
IWD is an official holiday in many countries such as China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Traditionally men honor their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
Various Themes Around the World. On March 8th, join the world and celebrate International Women's Day.
It all started on February 28, 1909 as a political event known as International Working Women's Day. Since that time the day of celebration may have changed and the title reworded, but the appreciation for the work women perform hasn't.
IWD is an official holiday in many countries such as China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Traditionally men honor their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
Various Themes Around the World. On March 8th, join the world and celebrate International Women's Day.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Boscolo Gourmet Room
Whether you travel to Paris, Nice, Venice or even New York, The Boscolo Hotels is offering the Boscolo Gourmet Room.
Pamper yourself by starting your day with a visit to the Boscolo Gourmet room and enjoy a rich breakfast and for dinner, continue the taste with best culinary delights.
Book your stay in any of the Bosco hotels and feel the warmth and serene ambiance while dining in the Boscolo Gourmet Room
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Green Hotel Key Cards For DNC
The Democratic Party will be gathering in Denver, Colorado next week (Aug 25-28) for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, to nominate their candidate for President and Vice President. The city is rolling out the 'green carpet' and over 90 hotels in the Cherry Creek, Stapleton and the Denver International Airport area will be handing out biodegradable wooden key cards at check-in instead of the tradtional plastic cards. The Sustainable cards are made from 100% natural rotary peeled Birch from Finland emblazoned with the DNC logo. Boulder-based Sustainable Cards partnered with a Littleton, CO manufacturer CPI Card Group, to donate the key cards.
Denver is buzzing and the hotels are putting up their monogrammed towels, laying out their finest linens, making Obama cocktails and dressing up the hotel mascots in stars & stripes. That's not all, the Brown Palace hotel's spa is boasting about their 'green' healing powers for the weary delegate.
Since these keys are a novelty, most likely they will be not be recycled, but kept as a souvenir. In any event, kudos to cities, hotels and businesses in general who are putting their best foot-print forward for a greener environment.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Online Travel
When someone wins an auction on eBay and for some reason or another think they didn't get what they paid for, they don't complain to eBay management, or demand a refund from eBay, or ask eBay for a replacement; they contact the seller instead. Booking through an Online Travel Agency (OTA) works about the same way; much like eBay, the essential role of an OTA is to put buyers (guests) in touch with sellers (of hotel rooms).
I recently read an article by UK Travel Writer Sophie Butler on booking through an OTA. She referenced a couple who booked a suite in the Vendée region of France through a website specializing in château hotels across France. The couple wasn't happy with their accommodation and called the OTA to request a refund or another room. The agent explained that it's the hotel's responsibility to make the guest comfortable; the OTA who helped them book the room, but ultimately, only the hotel has the ability to satisfy the guest. Even though this is not what the guest wanted to hear, it is the truth.
Resideo deals with a number of inquiries daily from confused billings to complaints about their stay. Some visitors arrive at our website via a paid ad or organic search and assuming (in spite of the various disclaimers, the company logo, and plenty of other evidence to the contrary) that they're at the hotel's own website. Some folks are rather nice -- and some are not. Some send us abrupt emails demanding this and that, and while we could just delete the message or ignore it, it's our company's position that we should try to help any visitor to our site as much as possible, even if they aren't actually utilizing our agency services.
For example, we recently received an email from a guest who didn't book through Resideo, but found us through a search engine, clicked on our link, and fired off an angry email ending with: "how dare you do this to me while I am traveling. Fix it now!" Charming. I replied at length and explained that the guest had contacted the wrong agency, and explained how they could discover and make contact with the proper agency. I also asked that they take more care in the future to be sure of the facts before making accusations. I didn't receive a reply; it seems such people are quick to hurl accusations, yet rather more reticent when it comes to apologies. In any case, I think they got my message: we're here to help them, but rudeness will not get them any better or faster service.
Hotels are in business to make money by offering rooms to travelers, but some have trouble booking their own rooms or just want to spread their wings and enlist the help of online travel companies or travel agents. (But at the same time, many refuse to allow these agencies to use the hotel's name to advertise it, claiming a "trademark violation". Another story for another time; it's a very sore subject with me.) So, the hotel gives the agency a block of rooms and provides the description and images. In this case it's not always WYSIWYG. The travel professional is offering the potential guest a way to book their room and guarantee their stay by taking payment in advance and avoiding a surprise increase in the room rate. When the guest checks out, the only thing the guest should pay extra is their "incidentals" like in-room dining and telephone use.
If the guest arrives and the room isn't what they expected, or there is construction or there's been a flood and the room has musty smell, it isn't the online agent's fault, but the fault of the hotel for not informing their agencies. It is the hotelier's responsibility to ensure that guests are satisfied, or face the consequences of an unfavorable review. This is why it is important to research where you want to stay before you book the room. Visit travel-related websites that specialize in reviews of travel accommodations like Trip Advisor, Virtual Tourist, etc.
At Resideo we do our very best to make sure our guests receive what they pay for and are satisfied with their accommodations. We keep up as best we can with hotel renovations, changes in management and user reviews for the 40,000-plus hotels/resorts/inn and condos that we represent. Even so, we can only present the information we've been provided, either through disclosures from the hotels, or through guest feedback.
This is why guest feedback is so important. Upload your pictures -- good or bad -- so other guests can form an idea of what to expect. Describe your experience in terms future guests can use to form an opinion about the hotel; were the staff courteous and accommodating? Or did they treat you like dirt? Let other people know, and be completely honest. Be truthful, and don't exaggerate; an over-critical review is likely to be discounted as the ranting of a disgruntled guest who just didn't get everything they wanted.
Think about your stay, and what was going on at the time. Was there a convention at the hotel and the staff was overworked? Or was it a quiet Sunday and the staff just didn't care because the senior managers were off for the day? Honesty is the key to an informative and helpful review, and pictures are, as they say, worth a thousand words. Tell the world about your stay, was it good or were you disappointed?
I recently read an article by UK Travel Writer Sophie Butler on booking through an OTA. She referenced a couple who booked a suite in the Vendée region of France through a website specializing in château hotels across France. The couple wasn't happy with their accommodation and called the OTA to request a refund or another room. The agent explained that it's the hotel's responsibility to make the guest comfortable; the OTA who helped them book the room, but ultimately, only the hotel has the ability to satisfy the guest. Even though this is not what the guest wanted to hear, it is the truth.
Resideo deals with a number of inquiries daily from confused billings to complaints about their stay. Some visitors arrive at our website via a paid ad or organic search and assuming (in spite of the various disclaimers, the company logo, and plenty of other evidence to the contrary) that they're at the hotel's own website. Some folks are rather nice -- and some are not. Some send us abrupt emails demanding this and that, and while we could just delete the message or ignore it, it's our company's position that we should try to help any visitor to our site as much as possible, even if they aren't actually utilizing our agency services.
For example, we recently received an email from a guest who didn't book through Resideo, but found us through a search engine, clicked on our link, and fired off an angry email ending with: "how dare you do this to me while I am traveling. Fix it now!" Charming. I replied at length and explained that the guest had contacted the wrong agency, and explained how they could discover and make contact with the proper agency. I also asked that they take more care in the future to be sure of the facts before making accusations. I didn't receive a reply; it seems such people are quick to hurl accusations, yet rather more reticent when it comes to apologies. In any case, I think they got my message: we're here to help them, but rudeness will not get them any better or faster service.
Hotels are in business to make money by offering rooms to travelers, but some have trouble booking their own rooms or just want to spread their wings and enlist the help of online travel companies or travel agents. (But at the same time, many refuse to allow these agencies to use the hotel's name to advertise it, claiming a "trademark violation". Another story for another time; it's a very sore subject with me.) So, the hotel gives the agency a block of rooms and provides the description and images. In this case it's not always WYSIWYG. The travel professional is offering the potential guest a way to book their room and guarantee their stay by taking payment in advance and avoiding a surprise increase in the room rate. When the guest checks out, the only thing the guest should pay extra is their "incidentals" like in-room dining and telephone use.
If the guest arrives and the room isn't what they expected, or there is construction or there's been a flood and the room has musty smell, it isn't the online agent's fault, but the fault of the hotel for not informing their agencies. It is the hotelier's responsibility to ensure that guests are satisfied, or face the consequences of an unfavorable review. This is why it is important to research where you want to stay before you book the room. Visit travel-related websites that specialize in reviews of travel accommodations like Trip Advisor, Virtual Tourist, etc.
At Resideo we do our very best to make sure our guests receive what they pay for and are satisfied with their accommodations. We keep up as best we can with hotel renovations, changes in management and user reviews for the 40,000-plus hotels/resorts/inn and condos that we represent. Even so, we can only present the information we've been provided, either through disclosures from the hotels, or through guest feedback.
This is why guest feedback is so important. Upload your pictures -- good or bad -- so other guests can form an idea of what to expect. Describe your experience in terms future guests can use to form an opinion about the hotel; were the staff courteous and accommodating? Or did they treat you like dirt? Let other people know, and be completely honest. Be truthful, and don't exaggerate; an over-critical review is likely to be discounted as the ranting of a disgruntled guest who just didn't get everything they wanted.
Think about your stay, and what was going on at the time. Was there a convention at the hotel and the staff was overworked? Or was it a quiet Sunday and the staff just didn't care because the senior managers were off for the day? Honesty is the key to an informative and helpful review, and pictures are, as they say, worth a thousand words. Tell the world about your stay, was it good or were you disappointed?
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