Travel and Hospitality Industry Rush to Embrace Social Media

Feb. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- In less than 2 weeks in January 2010, over 17 travel, tourism and hospitality businesses have announced they are using social media in their marketing campaigns.  From Mexico to Limerick, from SMEs to NTOs, travel companies are waking up to the promotional power of social media.

A short global study by Travelshake Social Media (http://www.TravelshakeSocialMedia.ie) identified 17 progressive organisations in the travel and hospitality industry using social media in their marketing campaigns, some of them making it the central platform for their 2010 marketing campaigns.  (The research ran from the 7Th Jan to the 19th January 2010.)

The information on the organisations, what they are doing and how to find out more is all listed below:

Australian celebrities and A-list visitors will be asked to tweet for the nation under new Australia Tourism Board plans: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/tourist-chiefs-want-australian-film-stars-for-online-campaign/story-e6frf7jo-1225820622092

Tourism Authority of Thailand Launches New Facebook and Twitter Presence - http://shar.es/aBkJu

25,000 Facebook Fans Flock to Pure Michigan: Campaign by “Travel Michigan” (a tourist board’s success on facebook) http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/25000-facebook-fans-flock-to-pure-michigan-81708432.html

HKHotels Leverage Social Media to Reap Big Rewards: (all 4 hotels in top 5 NYC on tripadvisor) http://bit.ly/4CkD65

Vacation Rental Company Attracts Tourists With Social Media Wave - http://shar.es/aBc5f

Travel add-on company Holiday Extra’s is to launch its first new year booking TV campaign, including social media: http://bit.ly/7nrIFR

Brilliant use of social media by La Cucina, a restaurant in Ireland, showing how it should be done.  http://tinyurl.com/ybbdngb

South Dakota Office of Tourism, combines press release with social media using photos, videos and social bookmarking. http://bit.ly/78SGgL

Tourism Ireland launches 2010 web film campaign, following last years award winning run, search starts for local stars: http://bit.ly/7FVp5S

Colorado Uses Online Contest, SocNets to Promote State: a global search for 3 bloggers who have never experienced snow http://bit.ly/6YhLAq

Travelocity takes ‘Roaming Gnome’ on the road again in social media push – good innovative idea, one to watch -http://bit.ly/4o8WB0

Hilton Hotels Partners with social media platform thisMoment.com to showcase staff stories and promote “Up in the Air”http://bit.ly/1×5IWC

Maison St. Charles Hotel New Orleans, announces travel industry promotional giveaway, targeting travel bloggers etc.http://bit.ly/8MKnjA

Madison County Tourism NY unveils wedding micro-site (using facebook for targeted advertising): http://shar.es/aF72h

Intercontinental Hotels Group using Google earth to display their hotels: http://earth.ihg.com/

The Mexico Tourism Board Announces First Social Media Trip Giveaway: http://bit.ly/8o5PKS

North Dakota Tourism launches 2010 marketing campaign including social media, see site at RUlegendary.com : http://shar.es/aQGiq

Travelshake Social Media Consultants                          www.TravelshakeSocialMedia.ie

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Travelshake Social Media Consultants. Helping the travel industry through Social Media. eMarketing and Video production for hotel and tourism sector.

Based in Dublin, Ireland, Travelshake Social Media was established to help the travel and tourism industry with social media and travel video production, in Ireland and beyond. Some of our services include creating and setting up accounts on the leading social media websites, managing updates and fans, producing digital travel and accommodation videos and developing social media strategies and campaigns.

For any enquires please contact our team on +353 (0) 1 4433365.