We’re very excited to present the first edition of TOP Radio, our new podcast series.  Every month we’ll feature guests and discussions on relevant industry topics and technology news.  We thought it would be fitting to start off the first radio podcast of the year talking about The State of Tourism: an hour of frank discussion about the big picture on travel and technology.

Why is it called TOP Radio?

Well, the reason we call it a radio show is to illustrate the fact that while the delivery means and mechanisms have changed entirely, the principles are the same, just like in many forms of social networking.  Sure, it isn’t available to listen in live – yet! – but at the end of the day, it kind of is just like a radio programme.  So, listen in and enjoy!

Today’s TOP Radio Guests

Joining your host Andy Hayes from Travel Online Partners we have two guest who are well versed in the latest and greatest of tourism technology:

• Ian Cleary from RazorCoast
• Rene Looper from Tuminds

Be sure to follow these guys on Twitter, just click their name and you’ll get their Twitter profiles.

Listen Now

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Or, Download the MP3 here (right click and choose ‘Save As’ – it’s a large file!).

Discussion Topics

Below is a summary of the conversation.  This is not a transcript as it has been heavily edited for brevity, so be sure to listen in for all the details!

Themes for 2010

Andy:

• The themes from World Travel Market (November 2009) continue to ring true: mobile, Google dominance, Twitter, and economic recovery.
• Andy also mentioned the trendwatching report which he summarises as: Opportunities aplenty in 2010 for those obsessed with satisfying consumer needs in new ways.
• It’s an investment, not an expense.
• Small business actually has an advantage on social media against brands.  People who have passion and amazing products win in this ‘perfect storm’ of inexpensive social networks and finely tuned search capability.

Ian:

• Social media will become of increasing importance to small businesses in tourism 2010 to realise cost efficiencies and benefits.
• Mobile is of huge importance, such as Google’s android phone.  Far more uptake of location-based services.
• Twitter getting more on target, more used to recommend services, and expects the spam problem to be reduced.  Ian’s advice:  you need to get on Twitter and be interesting, be a personality.
• Suggests that Foursquare, a location-based application, will continue to see huge growth.
• Tips:  Make sure to test your website in a mobile browser, make sure your site is listed in Google Local Search.
• Social media has reached the point where small businesses cannot ignore this technology.  If you need the help, get it – but you need to start building something now as it takes time to build a community.
• It used to be about who had the bigger advertising budgets won the game.  Now it is about who has the best personality as well as great products and services.
• Social media is not only marketing.  Why not doing hiring people?  Market research and customer feedback? Networking.

Rene:

• Huge growth area in mobile.  Everyone is becoming more reliant on mobile for recommendations, suggestions and information.  A great example of this is augmented reality.
• Foursquare also a major force.  Rene shared an example of localised marketing.
• Social media is such a powerful platform for small business to connect with customers in ways that just weren’t possible before.  Businesses are recognising this and are starting to take advantage.
• This technology levels the playing field, giving small players the chance to complete for presence alongside bigger brands.  There are proven success stories – it works!

Economic Recovery

Boring but important!

• Andy: UK has just barely squeezed out of recession.  US has conflicting news reports.
• Rene:  recession was a good thing for the tourism industry.  The downward cycle has forced businesses, particularly in Scotland, to refocus on their customer’s needs and improve their products and services.
• Ian:  Lots of growth in Ireland, almost too much, so it is the people that are innovating and keeping competitive will be successful.  Recommendations are very important.

Good hospitality in tourism is not about fancy linens or a fancy website.  Hospitality is about people.  And social media

Choose your networks and nail them – it isn’t about being everywhere, it’s about being somewhere.  Be the one that everybody is talking about.  You don’t need to always be promotion – be funny or interesting or whatever, but be yourself.

Tourism & Social Media News

• Interesting that Ryanair  has finally decided to be listed in a flights website (Kayak, specifically)
• Google still rolling out new features – Caffeine, the new algorithm which will be faster, is coming out soon.
• The Apple iPad:  unclear yet how beneficial and useful will be, but everyone wants one!  Ian’s idea is to have the iPads as part of a table in your cafe or restaurant so tourists can check out recommendations, bus schedules, etc.
• Google has launched real-time search for both Twitter and Facebook.  A recommendation (or complaint) for your establishment could appear at the top of a Google search.

Remarkable is the New Tourism

• It isn’t about being on Twitter or Facebook.  It’s not about being a selling machine.  It’s about having great products and services – it’s about people!
• Social media enables people to see more dimensions about a business – something vitally important for people who expect quality in tourism.  It helps ensure a consumer that a product is good. Who wants to have a bad  holiday?!
• You can’t ignore social media. Do you always ignore the external changes to your business?
• You don’t have to use all these tools.  Use what you find works best.
• How can you promote yourself as different – what would you tell people that is interesting and exciting about you?

We’d like to give a special thank you to our guests Ian and Rene for today’s TOP Radio!

To Learn More

Be sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter so you can catch the next episode of TOP Radio.  Meanwhile, don’t miss out our resource library where you’ll find more guides and tools to help you succeed with many of the topics featured in today’s radio show.