Social Media Travel & Tourism Worldwide: July 2011

Friday, July 29, 2011

Trover Launches Mobile Discovery Network to Connect People with Remarkable Places and Things

Trover LLC, a start-up company created for explorers worldwide, today formally launched Trover, a mobile discovery network where people share location-specific discoveries of remarkable places and things in a fun, visual way.

Founded by experienced social, mobile and travel industry entrepreneurs, Trover's founding team includes: Jason Karas, CEO, who founded Carbonrally.com; Andrew Coldham, vice president of technology who directed software development at Expedia.com's corporate travel division and Rich Barton, chairman, who founded Expedia.com and co-founded Zillow.

During a limited spring trial, open to Facebook members only, the Trover community attracted more than 70,000 users in 150 countries. To set the stage for significant expansion, the company has now opened its network to Twitter and email users as well. Trover is available today as a free iPhone app in the Apple iTunes Store, with an Android version planned for fall. Non-mobile users can view Trover content at trover.com.

Sharing Discoveries
"Trovers are passionate about sharing the unique things they uncover while exploring their cities or far away places," said CEO Jason Karas. "People find fulfillment in introducing something remarkable to another person. That, in turn, creates a social resource that's fun, entertaining and ultimately very useful. Whether it's a favorite boutique, a great bartender, a hidden piece of graffiti or a secret path to a deserted beach, with Trover in your pocket it's easy to find and share amazing discoveries."

Trover's defining feature is its location-based discovery mosaic, which allows explorers to visually browse through an eye-catching collection of thumbnail images featuring places to see and things to do nearby. As the user scrolls, a mileage indicator guides them to hidden gems located in nearby neighborhoods, towns, states and beyond, allowing users to explore new places or plan activities. To view a specific location, simply push the Jump To button for a virtual adventure. Trover's search features also make it easy to find and follow people with common interests.

Adding new discoveries is simple and encouraged. Just snap a picture, create a quick description and Trover automatically tags it with location data and positions it where others can easily find it later. The Feed button provides an entertaining way to track the discoveries and adventures of friends and fellow explorers, and a Featured button showcases one great discovery from the community each day.

"I've always dreamed of having a personal guide to the world with me at all times, full of recommendations from my friends on where to go and what to see," said Rich Barton, chairman of Trover. "Likewise, I have a strong urge to capture my own discoveries, so when my friends and followers come by in the future I can steer them to the good stuff. This is why we built Trover."

The full version of this press release can be viewed at http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trover-launches-mobile-discovery-network-to-connect-people-with-remarkable-places-and-things-126317178.html

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Social Media Club Mexico Gets Ready to Position the Riviera Maya in Social Networks

The tourism industry in the Riviera Maya is looking to form its Social Media Club chapter to propel projects and initiatives to position the destination in social networks.

Hacienda Tres Rios Resort was the host for the informative reunion with more than 50 professionals in the tourism industry who brought with them their experience and showed interest in helping with the initiative to benefit their business as well as the Riviera Maya.

Genoveva Garcia, public relations manager for Sunset World, gave the guest a warm welcome and spoke about the benefits of social networks as an important tool in communicating the public relations´ actions as a presence in the Mexican Caribbean.

There are 940 million people around the world registered on social networks in the internet, according to a study by InSites Consulting. Some of the most popular networks are YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedn, MySpace, Meneame, Metroflog, Badoo, and now Google+.

In this sense, Karla Nuñez, Social Media Club Mexico (SMCMX) leader, highlighted the successful work that has been done by the Riviera Maya green resort Hacienda Tres Rios in sharing its triumphs and campaigns through its social networks. The resort´s efforts in social media have earned the team international awards.

Nuñez explained that Social Media Club Riviera Maya will be a community of professionals interested in the benefits of social networks in the tourism industry, sharing experiences, knowledge and developing better practices.

Among the objectives of being in this club are:
To create and develop a network of professional contacts in tourism and social media (networking). To offer relevant and appealing content about social media to the tourism industry through colloquiums, studies, cases, and links (knowledge). To observe, monitor, and analyze tendencies about the presence of tourism in social media (trending). To establish and diffuse good practices and case studies of companies and institutions in the tourism sector on social media (benchmarking). To use social media trends and tools to promote Mexico tourism (practice).

Finally, she highlighted that some of the benefits of being a part of Social Media Club Riviera Maya are continuous learning opportunities, training, networking, and a branding team for professional development.

The event concluded with a networking cocktail where attendees had the opportunity to share experiences and contacts.

Via Press Release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/7/prweb8661080.htm

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