Tourism INTERNET Marketing Blog 1.0 - Industry Events

I haven't written - but I am still alive...

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 01:30:57 -0800

I know I haven't written anything for over two weeks, but the last few months (especially the past few weks have been quite insane...but all good insane!). The Canadian eTourism Strategy Conference, Canada-e-Connect, and the first Canadian eTourism Awards in Vancouver were a success, according to all the calls and emails we have been receiving. We created a Facebook Group for delegates to share pictures and videos, as well as thoughts. Before Canada-e-Connect, we hosted the first ever Canadian eTourism Council Summit, which was simply amazing. Before was TIAC (Canada's Tourism Leadership Summit) in Victoria, where we hosted a half-day eTourism Summit for CACVB members (Canadian Association of Convention Visitor Bureaus). And then right after Canada-e-Connect was the PhoCusWright Conference in Florida. So it has been busy, but I will post again soon...I have had a chance to chat with Stephen Kaufer (Founder of TripAdvisor), and Greg Brockway (Founder of Tripit), as well as the founding team of start-up LeisureLogix, which I will share here shortly. Also, I will write about my impressions of Canada-e-Connect and PhoCusWright. Next week, I will be leaving for Asia, starting with Wired-in-Travel in Singapore.

In the meantime, please join the Canada-e-Connect Facebook Group, view the Flickr Slideshow of photos, and visit some of the great reviews of Canada-e-Connect (I probably forgot a few...):

- Jaime Horwitz
- Daniel Vasquez
- Philip Caines
- William Bakker
- Joe Buhler
- Ian McAnerin
- Marc Tyrell
- Sean Moffit
- Timothy O'Neil-Dunne
- Heather Kirk
- Chris Clarke
- Stephen Joyce

Just a quick word to thank the many volunteers, speakers, partners, sponsors, and the Canadian eTourism Council who made Canada-e-Connect a reality. But especially to my Canada-e-Connect small but dynamite team (Mimi Chan and Trevor Roald).

Last but not least, I wanted to share the presentation from one of our highly rated keynote speakers (with permission from my friend Jeremy Gutsche, CEO of TrendHunter.com)

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First ever "E-Tourism Climate Change Awards" finalists announced

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:40:35 -0700

The first ever "E-Tourism Climate Change Awards", sponsored by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Microsoft, and hosted by the Canadian e-Tourism Council, has received numerous very strong nominations. The Awards that is planned to become global competiton is being pilot-tested at the first Canadian e-Tourism Awards on November 8th, 2007 in Vancouver, BC.

The expert panel of the UNWTO has determined the finalists, which have been voted by the Canadian e-Tourism Council to determine the first Canadian e-Tourism Climate Change Award winner.

The criteria is as follows:

Addressing Climate Change and having sustainable tourism environmentally friendly programs and initiatives
Promoting these initiatives on the websites, preferably on the homepage, in order for users to become more conscious and aware
Marketing Canada as a unique tourism destination

Congratulations to the companies below that have made it into the finals. The winner will be announced at the Canadian e-Tourism Awards Ceremony in the OmniMax Theater at Telus World of Science during the Canada-e-Connect e-Tourism Strategy Conference.

The finalists of the UNWTO e-Tourism Climate Change Award are:

Finalists in the Traveler Category of Canadian e-Tourism Awards announced

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:28:56 -0700

The Canadian e-Tourism Council went through the numerous entries for the first Canadian e-Tourism Awards, and after closing the consumer voting for the finalists of the Tourism Industry categories (powered by Yahoo! Canada), we have just announced the finalists of the Traveler categories (Best Photo / Best Video / Best Story).

While the Best of Show Award of the Tourism Industry categories is sponsored by Yahoo! Canada - and will receive the "Yahoo Big Ideas Chair Award" - the Best of Show of the Traveler categories will receive the new "Canada Keep Exploring Award".

Our unique Canada Experience filter is what differentiates the Canadian e-Tourism Awards from others in the industry. The filter will rank entries based on their ability to position products, attractions, destinations and/or locations as experiences that distinguish Canada as a premiere, four-season tourism destination. We’ll evaluate both how entries position Canada and how they leverage the internet or web technologies to market their destination or product. Winning entries will engage users in a dynamic and interactive way that motivates them to commit to travel to Canada NOW! Have a look at one of the finalists of the Traveler categories (Video):

The winners of both the Tourism Industry categories and the Traveler categories, as well as the first UN World Tourism Organization e-Tourism Climate Change Award will be announced at the Awards Celebration in the OmniMax Theater at Telus World of Science and presented by the current Miss Canada 2008. The celebrations continue at the Yahoo After-Awards Party at Coast Restaurant in trendy Yaletown, Vancouver. The Awards Celebration also features the exclusive pre-screening of the first Canadian Destination IMAX film, Rocky Mountain Express (please see press release), which will be relased in 2009 just before the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Tickets to the Awards Celebration and the Yahoo After-Awards are included in the Canada-e-Connect Delegate Conference Package, or can be purchased separately based on availability.

UNWTO E-Tourism Climate Change Award - Deadline extended in honor of Blog Action Day

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:01:00 -0700

In honor of "Blog Action Day", where bloggers are asked to write something about the environment, Alex Rayner (E-Tourism Advisor for the UN World Tourism Organization) and I decided to extend the deadline for the UNWTO E-Tourism Climate Change Award (launched at the Canadian E-Tourism Awards on November 8th in Vancouver) from October 14th to October 21st.

Good luck to all the great nominations!

Holland Tourist Board extends special invitation to world's first virtual press trip

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:58:00 -0700

So I received this invitation to be part of a select group of international media to join the Dutch Tourism Board for the world’s first virtual press trip on Thursday, October 18th at 2pm EST to the island of “New Holland” in Second Life … www.hollandsecondlife.com. I think we all have our thoughts on the value of Second Life, but I will give Holland the credit for trying to push the envelope with embracing new media opportunities with their new Holland.com site. What will you be able to experience: Well, what about a whirlwind tour of New Holland, including a canal cruise, riding on a Dutch bike, visiting the museum showcasing Dutch Masters, enjoying a beer at the brown pub, going clubbing at Club Gogh Gogh and picking tulips prior to signing off.

UNWTO launches e-Tourism Award for Climate Change at Canadian e-Tourism Awards

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:05:00 -0700

UNWTO e-Tourism Awards for Climate Change

The UNWTO has announced their e-Tourism Awards for Climate Change for the international e-Travel sector. This prestigious award will be launched at the coinciding Canadian e-Tourism Awards on November 8th, 2007.

No matter what camp you subscribe to, there is little doubt that Climate Change is an urgent topic of discussion on a global scale.

The 2nd International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism in Davos, Switzerland programmed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) affords us a stark reminder that when it comes to sustainable tourism, Canadian industry professionals need to show the world that we are progressive in the field.

Objective: To identify and recognize innovative responses to climate change by the travel sector reflected on web sites

Award: UNWTO Plaque and publicity through UNWTO system

Criteria: How does the web site “raise awareness at destinations and in generating markets, in order to change consumption behaviour to generate more climate friendly tourism choices” (for example: encouraging carbon neutral travel)

Who Can Enter: Website Entries from around the world will be accepted so long as they feature, market, or sell a Canadian destination, product, attraction, or experience.

Cost: Free - there is no cost to enter these awards to companies in the travel and tourism industry

Judging: Each entry will be reviewed by a panel of experts selected by UNWTO

Closing Date: Sunday 14 October 2007 (Midnight PDT)

Read the UNWTO Press Release here. Enter the Climate Change Awards here.

Finalists in the Industry Category of Canadian e-Tourism Awards announced

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:00:53 -0700

The first ever Canadian e-Tourism Awards are in full progress. The Travellers Category will close nominations this coming Sunday on October 14th. So make sure that you enter your favorite Canadian travel stories, photos, and videos.

The Industry Category was closed, and the judging by the Canadian e-Toursim Council is completed. We are now ready to share with you the 27 finalists of the Industry Category in the three areas of Website, Campaign, and Innovation - competing for the Best of Show Award, the Yahoo! Big Ideas Chair. What's unique is that now until October 21, voting is open for anybody to give their vote to their favorite Website or Campaign of these finalists (Innovation is not available for voting due to the uniqueness of the cateogy).

Yahoo!’s “Big Ideas Chair Award” is the Industry category’s best-in-show accolade. And it’s YOUR votes that will help decide which Travel organization will be bestowed this honour.

The finalists of the Industry Category are:

WEBSITE:

Large Private Sector
Silver Star Mountain Resort
Big White Ski Resort
Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort

Public Sector
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Tourism Prince Edward Island
Tourism Vancouver

Small Private Sector
Nahanni River Adventures
White Point Beach Resort
Opus Hotel Vancouver

CAMPAIGN

Large Private Sector

Spafax Canada
Mastercard Canada
Best Western Hotels

Public Sector
Travel Alberta
Canadian Tourism Commission
Quebec City Tourism

Small Private Sector

Bellstar Hotels & Resorts
Antigonish Eastern Shore Tourist Association
Harbour Tide Inn

INNOVATION:

Large Private Sector
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Air Canada
Iceberg Finder

Public Sector
Tourism British Columbia
Kootenay Rockies Tourism
Nova Scotia Department of Tourism

Small Private Sector

GPS Tour Guide
metroCode
RezGo.com
Adventure Engine

Become a Torchbearer for the 2008 Olympic Games

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 10:44:00 -0700

Lenovo, one of the key Olympic sponsors, is conducting a global search for 'new thinkers' to participate in the China portion of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. During the month of September, visitors can register to enter the torchbearer search by submitting a 50-word essay in English, explaining "What makes you a New Thinker for a New World?" At the end of September, 20 entrants from around the world will be selected to create and submit videos showcasing how they exhibit the Olympic ideals as well as new thinking. Visitors will get to vote, and the top three vote-getters will be selected to be torchbearers during the torch relay in China. The Worldwide Partners for Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay are: Lenovo, Coca-Cola and Samsung. They are the highest tier sponsors of sponsorship program for Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay and are granted a series of marketing rights and benefits related to the torch relay. Please apply here to become a torchbearer.

Continue reading "Become a Torchbearer for the 2008 Olympic Games"

"Tips from the T-List" Book - Wiki for Submissions is Live!

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:28:47 -0700

The Wiki for the "Tips from the T-List" book is now live and ready for submissions. To submit your content to the book, please visit the Wiki. Once your registration is approved, you will be able to post and edit your submissions at your discretion. Deadline is September 30, 2007.

We are happy to report that we are already receiving submissions. So far we have received submissions from France, the U.K., Netherlands, Canada, and the U.S. Many of the submissions are excellent, but we would remind contributors that the purpose of the book is to provide "Insider" experience and expertise in how online marketing can benefit travel and tourism.

The book will be published for the first time at the Canada-e-Connect e-Tourism Strategy Conference in Vancouver on November 7-9 and will be an exclusive benefits for attendees. The book will also be available at our Asian Confierence partner, Wired in Travel on November 29-30 in Singapore.

Other benefits of attending Canada-e-Connect:

Welcome Reception Ticket, Welcome Party Ticket,
Canadian e-Tourism Awards Show,
Yahoo! Award Celebration After-Party,
Copy of the bestselling book: Wikinomics,
Copy of the Executive Summary of PhoCusWright's Canadian Online Travel Overview (Value of $295 USD),
$US800 Savings when ordering the Phocuswright Canadian Online Travel Overview,
Copy of the Ground-breaking Book "Tips from the T-List".
Great networking, thought-provoking speakers, engaging content

Opus Hotel GM writes Murder Mystery Novel

nospam@example.com (Jens Thraenhart) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:28:20 -0700

Chris Clarke (editor of the Canada-e-Connect Blog), Anna Pollock, and I went to Daniel Craig's first book signing of "Murder at the Universe". Dan is the GM of the Opus Hotel in Vancouver and has his own blog (one of the few hotel GMs that operate their own blog). Here is a picture of Dan signing my book, and below a quick video clip me talking to Dan about his new book at the opening of the new hip restaurant "Italian Kitchen".