WhatsApp: More Than Just A Conversation Tool

We, the infamous Y generation, love to use messaging applications on our mobile phones to communicate with our friends and family. Even if we saw our friend only 30 minutes earlier, we feel the need to share our information (feelings, thoughts, questions, videos, photos and many more) in real time. As one of the most popular messaging applications in the world (with a user base of up to 1 billion as of February 2016), Whatsapp is starting to be used by the tourism industry to be in contact with customers. 

Skift’s regular information and reasoning on new startups in the travel industry include a particularly recent Spanish based search engine in the name of CorreyVuela. This service offers potential travellers the opportunity to book flights using WhatsApp. How, you ask?

© CorreyVuela

1. The WhatsApp user must add CorreyVuela’s number

2. Tell them where and when you want to go. Example: “Nice – London. 15 March to 18 March for 1 person return.”

3. CorreyVuela searches for the ideal flight from over 30 search engines and offers the best option with flight details and price as well as a link where the customer can pay safely.

If you don’t want to spend hours researching flights and having to make decision after decision for your travels, this new service will enable you to save time only with a few messages, save money due to economic prices and it’s all stress-free! However…if you say that such a service is too early to be trusted, then let’s see how else WhatsApp can help in enriching customer service in travel. 

Another new service has been initiated by the airline KLM offering passengers to rebook their cancelled flight through WhatsApp at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.  If your flight has been cancelled, you must walk down to the Transfer Centre 6 in the airport where you can find a WhatsApp number. Now, all you have to do to be rebooked on the next available flight is to send your name and booking code. Then a self-service check in machine will give you your boarding pass! Less time queuing & barely any arguments with the staff!

Skift mentions this type of real time opportunity interaction between businesses and customers through messaging channels as “The Post-App Economy”. It is identified with easy engagement, multi-channels where customers utilize more than 1 type of messaging application and high signals where a new message on these apps grasps immediate attention. Even though this new trend deserves to be recognized with more than 2 examples, particularly with the ever increasing usage of WhatsApp, there needs to be a discussion on the level of trust customers may have for initiating transactions through these applications. 

WhatsApp may be great for customer service, content and media sharing but are we really ready to buy flight tickets or book hotel rooms with only a message sent through WhatsApp? In our opinion, it is not ready to pass to a level of mass use for such transactions. Data protection risks provide an unreliable image of the application in being used for commercial purposes.

If you happen to go to the ITB in Berlin this year and you are interested to learn more about the ways WhatsApp can be used in the tourism industry, do not miss a talk by the Consultant and Managing Director of Tourismuszukunft, Michael Faber on March 9 between 14:30 - 15:00 in Hall 6.1!

By Gizem Tudes and Tomasz Wawrzeniec

References:

• https://skift.com/2016/02/22/5-new-travel-startups-building-new-platforms-to-solve-old-problems/#1
• http://www.klm.com/travel/it_en/about/news_press/travel_news/Use_Whatsapp_to_rebook_your_cancelled_flight.htm
• http://skift.com/2016/01/11/how-the-post-app-economy-is-changing-the-way-travel-brands-engage-with-customers/
• https://mdk.io/whatsapp-and-business-a-new-love-story/

GenieConnect: Not only powerful function, but also right position

We can see that event mobile apps are still a fast growing technology in event industry. As there is an increasing competition in this area, event mobile apps are gradually becoming comprehensive platforms. GenieConnect is a great example of this trend.

Genie is a comprehensive platform, which covers almost all aspects of services for an event.

Full cover of basic functions

GenieConncet provides basic functions, which are already widely used in many event mobile apps, like:

－     providing general information of the event

－     all-covered live interaction (social Q&A providing place for attendees to submit and vote questions they want answered polling, moderation, results screens on device and big screen,)

－     ordinary attendee-to-attendee interaction (like private 1:1 appointment etc.)

－     social media integration (curate an almost unlimited variety of content – event activity, industry news, user-generated discussion on event content and social media contributions)

Additional interesting functions

One of its interesting tools is the live event wall. It offers multi screen experience by taking all the information, which users put in the app, to make a highly configurable site. On this site, all information like up and coming sessions, sponsored messages and all generated postings and comments will be presented follow the user’s event content. In a word, the event wall is a reference for all attendees displaying relevant content and information about the event.

Moreover, GenieConnect works well in mapping. Apart from basic venues information like exhibition floors, exhibitors locations, map of sessions and facilities, GenieConnect offers more comprehensive functions. Users can self locate and find routines to their destinations. With color coding function, users can easily draw their map of sponsorship opportunities.

GenieConncet also provides custom branding while designing your events. There are various choices of layouts. Therefore, the look is unique and can be consistent with users’ corporate branding and messaging.

I think the biggest advantages for GenieConnect is that it is a powerful tools not only for event organizers, but also for attendees, exhibitors and sponsors. Additionally, it provides various platforms including desktop, native mobile apps (iOS, Android, BB10 and WindowsPhone), mobile web, tablets and onsite big screen. Combine these two advantages and its comprehensive functions, there seems no need for users to download more apps.

Acquisition by Lanyon

In addition, the acquisition by Lanyon makes GenieConnect equipped with many more tools such as registration, microsites and strategic meeting management.

In conclusion, since that event mobile apps are developing rapidly, an appropriate position is important. GenieConncet positions itself as targeting at experienced event professionals with large event portfolios and structured audience. The comprehensive functions of GenieConncet well matched its target customers. This is one big step forwards to success.

Resources:

http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/genieconnect-review 

Smarter Life and Work with NFC

 -- Take a look at MWC 2014

From 24^th to 27^th February, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014 had been taking place in Barcelona at the venues of Fira Gran Via and Fira Montjuïc. Like previous congresses, this year, with almost two thousands of exhibitors showcasing their new products and technologies on site, experts and analysts in the mobile industry reported the present of the industry and discussed the future trend of mobile application technology. One of the event highlights this year was the NFC experience on the congress.

Near field communication (NFC) technology is no longer stranger to people nowadays with their smart phones in daily life. This technology is embedded in millions of mobile phones and helps realize the instant and wireless connection and file sharing easily. To this year’s MWC, NFC technology is used during the event for attendees to experience the high-efficient transferring process. It is SIM-based NFC service, offering attendees the event information by them using their handsets to place near the ‘Tap-n-Go’ points set on the venues. What’s more, attendees could use this NFC service to pay for their meal at the venues and even share contact details with each other.

Few months before the congress, there was a NFC challenge set by the GSMA to discover the best ideas of NFC future applying. People can submit their ideas to the committee on how they would use NFC on mobile to interact with people and improve the business. All the submissions are posted online on the website of MWC 2014 and people who won the grand prize got a gold pass of the congress.

For people who has a view even further, NFC is not only a mobile thing. Mikko Nikkanen, the segment development director of SMARTRAC technology group said that it’s a promising future for NFC, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi team together to “form a technology trio of power forwards”. Based on the fact that NFC technology has already embedded in millions of smart phones and there are a huge amount of consumers using different electronic devices, combined with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, NFC will achieve a more efficient and connected system which for example, will include many of devices possessed by everyone in a family. More detailed, people will use this advanced NFC technology to enable rapid, seamless paring, access Wi-Fi networks in public and private locations, switch on devices, transfer content, authenticate products, provide instructions, etc. On another word, it will make your life and work smarter.

In this year’s WMC, we have taken a look at how the NFC technology apply into a big event. With further exploitation of NFC technology and more application integrated with it, event organizers will have plenty of high-tech tools available for smoothing an event. The key to benefit from this is to keep up with constantly updated peak information and apply those that fit the customers’ desire and real needs.

Sources: 

http://mday.mobileworldlive.com/MobileWorldDaily/2014/Preview/index.html

http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/2014-event-highlights/

http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/2014-exhibitors/

Picture1:  http://mobileworldcapital.com/en/article/152

Picture2:  http://mday.mobileworldlive.com/MobileWorldDaily/2014/Preview/index.html

Posted bySang ZHAOandSiqi ZHANG

Why Tourism Boards should use Instagram?

Instagram is an online photo-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures, apply digital filters to them, and share them on a variety of social networking services such as Facebook or Twitter.  Instagram was launched in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Facebook has bought this application for $1 Billion in 2012. On January 2013, there are about 100 million of users and nearly 100 000 users in France. Each day on Instagram, about 40 M of photos are shared, 85000 users like the application and about 1000 commentaries are expressed each second.  Instagram can be very useful for the tourism sector for different reasons. Indeed, it is an important communication network that can be used by companies in order to promote a destination by sharing and showing photos. Photos occupy an important place in the mind of the travellers who are going to choose a destination; therefore they can be easily influenced by them. Thereby, Instagram can be a precious tool before, during and after a trip. Firstly, this media social can have an impact on the visitor behaviour when this one is going to plan a travel. Indeed, by watching different photos and commentaries on a specific destination, the traveller can be strongly influenced in his decision-making. And it can be different tourism suppliers that publish photos on their own destinations by creating an album or even creating an online game to promote the destination. For example, some tourism offices (Brive La Gaillarde or Catalogne) have launched a game in the eyes of photographers. After, they gather the best photos taken by the “instagramers” and put them both on their websites or other communication tools. Then, during the trip, these different tourism stakeholders’ must more focus on the animation of their territory as well as the development of the visibility and the fame.

Thanks to Instagram, users have the possibility to create hashtags (word or a phrase prefixed with the symbol #) which is a good mean to do promotion towards tourists. That means to express context around a given message, with no intent to actually categorize the message for later searching, sharing, or other reasons. It will be also interesting to sell customized products in accordance with the instagramers (tourist products in different sales point). Finally, after the trip, it is important not to forget preventing the instagramers to publish their photos not only on facebook but also on the website of instagram. All these steps are critical in the tourism experience. Indeed, with the multiplicity of tourism innovations for promoting a destination, it is critical to use the most efficient one. Photos, images often catch the attention of the travelers easier than other means of promotion.

Why tourism boards should use Instagram?

* Instagram is simple and quick to use. Contrary to a blog or a Facebook page, there is no need to write long texts

* Instagram benefits from the best of both Facebook and Twitter: the possibility to interact with the “like” and “comments” options, with the addition of a picture and a few words

* Users help to promote travel destinations. Here below, the screenshot of Murados’ account, a photographer, who publishes pictures of his girlfriend when travelling. With more than 240.000 followers, his travel pictures have an impact on a large audience.  

* With more than 100 million of users and the current influence of the picture marketing, Instagram is the best tool to convince new travellers.

 Once you have decided to create your Instragam account, follow these tips to make it right:

* Take part in the Instagramer community to get more followers

* Invite the travel Instagramers with the highest audience to your destination in order to reach new audience

* Invite VIP who will obviously brought high number of fans

* Use the tools linked to Instagram: Snapwidget, Statigr.am and Webstagr.am that provide you statistics and instagram gallery for your website

* Reward your best followers with presents

* Share your Instagram pictures with other social medias (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, …)

___

5 Instagram accounts to follow for their amazing pictures:

instagram.com/travelettes

instragram.com/tubeinblackandwhite

instagram.com/timbrado

instragram.com/mustafaseven

instagram.com/nathparis

instagram.com/izkiz

instagram.com/muradosmann

__

Sources: 

http://fr.locita.com/cultures/tourisme/etourisme-les-bonnes-idees-pour-promouvoir-votre-destination-sur-instagram-109275/

http://www.my-destination.fr/de-pinterest-a-instagram-la-force-de-la-photo-sur-les-medias-sociaux/

http://thetravelvan.com/blog/2012/09/19/reality-check-tourism-marketings-love-affair-with-instagram/

http://www.wtmlondon.com/page.cfm/Action=library/libID=1/libEntryID=133 

EventMobi opens a new era in the event industry

With the rapid growth of smartphone users in the world*, mobile applications have been flourishing over the past few years. The event industry is not to be a laggard in this trend. Today, event planners are increasingly seduced by the idea of integrating mobile technology into the event experience.

EventMobi arrived just at the right time in May 2009 to answer the needs of innovation seekers in the MICE industry. The company launched mobile applications to optimize the accessibility to information related to the event and engage attendees. EventMobi succeeded rapidly to provide solutions to more than 1000 organizations ranging from professional associations to Fortune 500 companies (PRWeb, 2012).

The innovation lies in two products: EventMobi Fusion and GamifyApp platform. EventMobi Fusion is the first mobile application using HTML5 technology on mobile devices. In between the native app and the web app, HTML5 technology enables users to access to the event site in offline mode, after having downloaded the app. It helps event planners to resolve the dilemma of choosing between native app and web app. The former requires to create a different software for each type of device (Android, Blackberry, Apple)while the latter is compatible with any Operating System, but requires continuous internet connection. HTML5 technology guarantees compatibility with any device and solve the issues of Internet connection such as insufficient broadband width or spotty Internet in venues.(Source: EventMobi Blog) The EIBTM rewarded EventMobi with the Technology Watch Award 2012 for the usefulness and inventiveness of its EventMobi Fusion app (PRWEB, 2012).

Besides offering technological solutions, EventMobi innovates and follows the new trend known as ‘gamification’ in the event industry. Have you ever heard of attendees being bored? It is the peeve of event planners, who would love to see delegates engaged in the overall experience. GamifyApp brings a little bit of fun during the event by making games available on delegates’ mobile phone. For instance, they can complete quizzes, solve challenges and collect points at the exhibition stand via QR code, to win a prize. Further functionalities integrate networking, team building and education tools. Delegates can share lectures’ materials, connect on social media via GamifyApp. (ExhibitorOnline, 2012).

Among the plethora of mobile app developers, EventMobi is a pioneer in its field by using HTML5 technology. Its products may appeal to event planners who are facing more and more pressure over controlling costs. Besides the claim of affordability, using EventMobi Fusion application enables to cut costs related to Wi-Fi connection and printed materials. Going mobile can be integrated to a sustainability approach of events with less paper waste. Contrary to printed format, the information can be updated in real-time with very few constraints. Last but not least, the mobile apps can be an additional source of revenue that planners can get from sponsors. Though, it would be interesting to know how mobile applications are appealing to event attendees, and how they are actually used by them.

One can wonder if EventMobi apps will be widely adopted by professionals in the industry? ITB might let us know next year…

*Statistics published in CBS News indicates that the number of smartphone devices , reached 1.038 billion units worldwide in the third quarter 2012 and it is estimated that this figure will double by 2015. (CBS News, 2012)

CBS News (2012) Study: Number of Smartphoe Users Tops 1 Billion. By Sara Dover Published on 17 October 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57534583/study-number-of-smartphone-users-tops-1-billion/

PRWEB (2012) Mobile Event App Platform - EventMobi - Crosses Mass Adoption by Event Planners, Wins Recognition at Technology Watch Awards. 14 November 2012. Retrieved from http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/11/prweb10125304.htm

EventMobi (2012) EventMobi Fusion: The Future of Mobile Event Apps Has Arrived! By Bob Vaez on 24 July 2012 Retrieved from http://www.eventmobi.com/blog/eventmobi-fusion/

ExhibitorOnline (2012) EventMobi Launches GamifyApp for Event Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.exhibitoronline.com/news/enn-display.asp?counter=10589

Social Media and Mobile Devices

Earlier this month, Tourmag gave a rapid overview of the topics which dominated this year’s ITB: Social Media, Mobile technology and the combination of both trends.

The statistics speak for themselves and confirm that suppliers need to be featured on social media and, just as importantly, need to monitor what is being said about them. Users are not waiting for companies to get with the times; they’ve taken things into their own hands and are moving ahead. With 63% of interviewees saying they leave feedback on social media to share their experiences, companies who don’t listen may be left out of a major conversation and a great opportunity to interact with potential clients.

Social Media used to get travel information before booking:

Surprisingly, we notice that only 15% of the 22% social-media users go to the Facebook page or group of a company before booking.

The increasing use of mobile devices expands the access to information as anyone can instantly search internet from their mobile phone or other hand-held device. This therefore expands the importance of social media as people can make and review comments anytime, anywhere much more easily. Furthermore, it facilitates late bookings as people no longer need to be in a room with a computer and an internet access to book their hotel, tour, transport, etc. This means that not only can last minute bookings be made much more easily, they can be just as informed and no longer just the “luck” of the client who walked-in.

As we see in this article, social media are there and it seems increasingly difficult to go against the phenomenon which is evolving from a trend to a way of life. The community is becoming more and more dependent of this easy access to information, where the reputation of a company can be made of gold or sand! All the professional tourism stakeholders should be aware and include social network in their strategies.

Images from:

http://www.lifewithsocialmedia.com/are-smartphones-transforming-our-social-media-interactions/

http://www.tourmag.com/avant-de-reserver-la-moitie-des-voyageurs-passent-par-les-reseaux-sociaux_a44094.html

An application that simplifies

A high profile, numerous and complicated event is always a hassle for both attendees and the event planner. The amount of work going into the planning is overwhelming, things need to be double, triple checked, while at the same time answering to the millions of questions and requests coming from both the attendees and the suppliers. This is a glimpse into a planner's chaotic life,where everything is timed and coordinated, never with a minute to spare.

Now, this month, a company has finally decided to come up with a product that seems to be useful to both parties. A new application will be able, in the future, to satisfy the attendees need for information while giving support to the planner and the ability to multi task even more. OneClick, the mobile division of the Destination Media Group, along with Passkey, the industry's leading provider of online group reservation technology, have teamed up to create the first turnkey mobile application for event, destinations and planners. This invention should enable the planner to create a customised mobile site with valuable content that can be accessed by attendees, exhibitors and clients.

Imagine a conference where you would be able, just with a click of a button to see the agenda of the conference, or even better, find the a specific restaurant. Would save you a lot of time and paper.

The new platform is compatible with Apple's, Android's and BlackBerry's operating systems and EventSphere, a company specialised in housing and meetings fulfilment, will be the first to launch this "gadget" to the event industry.

The event industry is developing at a fast pace, always being in need technology to support it ,innovation being a vital component. So far, most of the innovations brought to the sector have been primarily focused on the attendee and less so on the planner itself. This little application will be, for starters environmentally friendly. Nowadays everyone from the 10 year old child to the 80 year old retired guy across the street, have in their possession a smartphone. This application would allow attendees to access information on their phones, and in doing so minimise the paper trail that such an event generates. This new application might represent the birth of the new green way to run a conference.

Another positive outcome of this application would be the planner's state of mind. It has been once said that the attendee, once present at a conference or meeting, regresses to the state of a child, seeing the planner as its "parent". Having all the information ready to access at any time, would mean that the planner would not be bother with such questions as "Do you know where I could get a hamburger?", minimising the stress level.

It seems that this application does not carry any negative aspects to it and will be more then beneficiary to the planner and the event industry. In case we have omitted something or disagree, feel free to comment.