Adventures in Alsace, discover East of France

Alsace Tourism on YouTube

Location-Based Social Media Is Ready to Go Places

Brand Networks brings location check-ins and Patches to ski resort Sunday River with GO, their new promotions platform leveraging Facebook® Places

The intersection of mobile, location and social marketing is a busy place for marketers. The launch of Facebook Places and recent announcement of Deals has delivered the concept of "checking-in" to over 500 million people. Yet the question remains: how will brands harness the power of social check-ins, engage consumers and ultimately drive business objectives?

Introducing GO, the newest offering from Brand Networks, a leading Social Solutions company and Facebook Preferred Developer Consultant. GO enables brand marketers to deliver customized location-based promotions leveraging Facebook Places.

The GO framework enables the creation of custom applications on Facebook Platform and for iPhone and Android devices. A tab on a brand's Facebook Page invites fans to begin checking in, playing the game, and unlocking rewards of all types. Once users grant permission for the application, brands can begin rewarding their check-in behavior. Removing the "friction" of additional mobile app installation means users are now ready to go places.

One of New England's largest ski resorts Sunday River is trailblazing with the first GO-powered promotion and application on Facebook called Sunday River Patches. This new campaign plays off the nostalgia of embroidered patches representing adventurous travel and aligned perfectly with the resort's new marketing campaign titled "Find Your Happy Place."

Nick Lambert, VP of Sales and Marketing at Sunday River, explains that "Social media is a key component of Sunday River's marketing mix and we're very excited to be working with Brand Networks to integrate Facebook Places into our social marketing strategy."

This season, Sunday River guests can check-in on all eight peaks, at select slopeside venues like the Foggy Goggle, or on the signature lift the Chondola to earn virtual embroidered Patches. Adding to the game play, users can use select keywords to their comments when it's snowing to unlock the "Powder Day" patch for example. Tag a friend, and each guest will reveal the "Buddy" Patch. And for the true Sunday River loyalists, check- in more than 10 times and you earn the esteemed "Local" Patch. Lastly, check-ins at select locations throughout the season will have the added bonus of enabling users to claim real promotions through Deals.

Brand Networks' new leader of Location-Based Social Media, Matt Handy, is no stranger to the social space. He joins the Boston company after several successful launches for PUMA Golf, including the PUMA Open, which leveraged a host of social media tie-ins and consumer engagement both on and off-site. As he states, "With GO, we're helping brands lay the foundation for promotions which reward frequency, loyalty and brand evangelism. Broadcasting your check ins and earning virtual rewards has intrinsic value for loyalists. We're also working with our clients to link this behavior with real rewards and offers, delivering on the promise of the new "Social CRM."

One thing is clear: Facebook has changed the game again with Facebook Places. Progressive companies and cutting edge brands are just starting to get in the geo-location game and offerings like Brand Network's "GO" are helping them get off the sidelines.

Source: PRNewswire

SinoTech Group signs deal: To provide PATA members with social media analytics data

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has joined forces with the SinoTech Group, a performance-based digital marketing company headquartered in Beijing. The SinoTech Group is known regionally as technology innovators in social media analytics, search marketing and affiliate marketing. These are all areas of marketing having increased impacts within the tourism and hospitality sectors.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed last week in Beijing by Greg Duffell, chief executive officer, PATA, and Dr Mathew McDougall, founder and chief executive officer of the SinoTech Group.

Duffell considers the partnership to be extremely significant, as there are over 500-million Facebook users across the globe who keep the online world updated about their travels. Blogs, followed by travel forums, are the second and third most popular online tools travellers use to share their experiences. Said Duffell: “With the increased popularity of social media and its powerful impact on sharing a traveller’s experience, it is imperative nowadays for travel-and-tourism marketers to learn how to engage with potential consumers by leveraging this particular online tool.”

Dr McDougall is very pleased with the signing of this partnership, as the group represents a wide range of international and domestic hotel groups, airlines and tourism groups. Said McDougall: “I am excited about entering into this two-year agreement with PATA to provide their members with social media analytics data. It is now widely recognised that social media is having a significant impact on the travel-and-tourism sector, and this is the start of addressing this need for a greater social media understanding."

Source: PATA

Award-Winning Yucatan Holidays Launches Exclusive Facebook Travel Deal

Yucatan Holidays, the award-winning travel agency in Mexico, is using innovating social media tools in an effort to increase travel to Mexico, Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula.

With tourism being Mexico’s third largest source of revenue, government and independent travel agencies have increased their efforts to promote travel to the country in wake of growing insecurities.

Known for its innovative creation of unique travel packages and use of social media, Yucatan Holidays has recently launched an exclusive Facebook travel deal for Cancun hotel accommodations for $22 USD per person, per night for two adults and up to two children.

The exclusive promotion gives travelers the opportunity to secure the offer at the $22 USD rate while giving until 2011 to travel. With more than 5,300 friends on Facebook, the Cancun vacation package is only available to people who "Like" the Yucatan Holidays Facebook Fan Page.

Yucatan Holidays designed a quirky-looking package on their website that resembles the Facebook layout. The design of the deal page includes Facebook comments and likes from Captain Jack Sparrow, Marty McFly, Homer Simpson, and Chuck Norris.

The travel agency is on the cutting-edge of using innovative social media campaigns and techniques. Such as their weekly YH Quick Getaway which invites their fans to win a vacation to Cancun every week.

Yucatan Holidays is also a strong proponent of sustainable tourism, providing unique vacation packages that feature remarkable cultural and environmental education experiences for travelers. These authentic cultural vacations in the Yucatan Peninsula support local communities, indigenous populations, and the natural environment. The Mexican-owned agency received the International Star Award for Quality (ISAQ) from Business Initiatives Directions (BID) for its commitment to quality and excellence.

The Cancun-based travel group provides vacationers with a range of hotels, excursions and travel benefits. Mexico is the second most popular international luxury destination and fourth in the world for eco-tourism. Cancun and the Riviera Maya have become a preferred travel destination in Mexico for their attractive vacation tours, including Mexico's best beaches facing the Caribbean Sea.

Source: PRNewswire

Interactive Twitter-Based Murals in the U.S. Promote Canada

Courtesy of Canadian Tourism & YouTube

Shop, Dine and Stay - Freeport, Maine

Courtesy of YouTube

For an interactive map of Maine, visit Maine Tourism