But maybe my attitude is all wrong; perhaps I should be viewing it as work and as an essential marketing tool, rather than seeing it as excuse to just having a nice time trawling around the web.

This article ( found via Twitter) certainly puts a strong case laying out 11 reasons your company needs Facebook.  http://www.convinceandconvert.com/facebook/11-reasons-your-company-needs-facebook/

But when does all the other work get done?

You can see the full article  here

How can it not be good in the long run?  It will offer great opportunities for new and existing  tourism businesses and rejuvenate some smaller centres that tourism, to date, has by-passed.

The idea seems to be getting some negative press because the rides are not all linked; but does that really matter? In the bigger picture it will be a wonderful way for tourists to explore New Zealand, meet the locals and to get right into the interactive experience we hear they want.

And if you want all the detail about where, how and why there is a very comprehensive question and answer document on the Ministry of Tourism’s website. You can see it here.

“We’re seeing a real trend to domestic travel being booked online across a range of travel purchases,” said Bruce Bassett, Ministry of Tourism Research Manager. “Phone bookings are definitely becoming less popular compared to the internet.”  Online accommodation bookings by RVM respondents have increased from 42% to 58% since 2007, while phone bookings have fallen from 44% to 30%.  Online activity and attraction bookings by RVM respondents have increased from 55% to 62% since 2007, while phone bookings have fallen from 24% to 19%.

View the full media release from the ministry here.

 So while the travellers are embracing the increasing ease of researching and booking their travel online, I’m not so sure that tourism operators are as eager to really focus on their online booking management strategies.  

I often hear about the issues of double bookings and reluctance to be on sites that instantly book out your inventory, however there are now several internet based systems out there that help tourism operators to manage their inventory effectively for real time bookings across a range of booking websites.  

Perhaps it will just take time for the bulk of operators to fully understand the options and tools available for them out there and the fundamental problem is just education?

Interested to hear what others think.

Michelle Ackers
ADEPT Marketing
http://www.adeptmarketing.co.nz

Are the deals around in the industry actually stimulating the consumer traffic to overcome the projected shortfall in visitor numbers?

We’re regularly inundated with fantastic deals. Look in any trade newsletter, talk to a colleague in sales or check out travel web sites and ‘stop-them-in-their-tracks’ deals abound.

It is a great time to be a consumer and a great time to travel.

A colleague at Kiwilink in the US recently sent me an email advising of an airfare offer; from Los Angeles to Auckland for $US350 return! Singapore Airlines is offering free upgrades for travel to Europe through until June 30 2009. Air New Zealand has launched in Australia “The NZ Big Shout” offering free domestic flights with trans-Tasman purchases for travel in May and June.

In the accommodation sector the deals are positively sizzling.

Certainly some brave decisions are being taken and some innovative offers devised.

But are these offers really making the consumer open up their wallets or are they still consumed by financial doom and gloom? 

Are consumers who had already decided to visit just taking advantage of the offers and upgrading to a better class of travel and accommodation? 

The jury for the most part is still out. There is some scepticism that the amazing offers will have the desired effect plus there is the challenge of raising the rates again when the economy improves.

On the other hand cash flow imperatives dictate. Simply keeping the doors open is the focus and in doing so provide continuity in employment and service delivery. 

What do you think?

Springwise is one of my favourite websites. The whole premise of spotting the newest and most innovative business ideas out there was fascinating when it first launched some years ago. And with time, it has only improved on the quality of the information and ideas it shares.

A brilliant one this week for motelliers, hoteliers and anyone in the accommodation sector is beekeeping on the hotel roof as one hotel in Toronto is doing. Springwise says they also have a rooftop herb garden.

Here’s the link.

And it really has been a real eye-opener for me. I hadn’t been to one of the big international trade shows before and I think, sitting here in NZ, sometimes it is easy to forget just exactly how huge the competition for tourists really is.

Think Dubai and all that monied grandeur; think the safaris in many African countries, the exotic-ness of India and many parts of Asia; the history in Ireland, Scotland and Wales and many parts of the Middle East; the deep-seated musical and art culture of so many European cities; the affordability of the emerging east European nations; the shopping, the food and the beauty of the rest of the world.

Because the trip came about quite suddenly I hadn’t done much reading about Berlin where the trade show is held. And I was blown away. It is beautiful and the whole city is multi-layered with history. And it is a real Mecca for young Europeans with gorgeous shopping, good food and wine from every part of Europe and really nice people.

I do think it is very easy to forget that while what we have in New Zealand is unique and splendid and truly wonderful, so are lots of other countries. I guess it comes down to really, really knowing our point of difference and hammering that home. 

And once we do get the tourists here – making sure they have an absolutely fantastic time. Somehow that message has to get out to every New Zealander.