Truth is Online Gold Dust -President & CEO, Stephen Kaufer

Stephen Kaufer, CEO of Tripadvisor provided an engaging presentation about truth online and the effect that Tripadvisor has had of the travel industry. He discussed how products like TripAdvisor are promoting long tail products by allowing users to rate and comment on all types of accommodations and activities, not just those that are popular or well established. He noted that a tree top adventure in Colorado is now the most popular product on TripAdvisor. Mr. Kaufer went on to discuss that… Honest Brokers = Truth Social Networks = Trust …and that by combining honest brokers with... Read more »

First Ever Major Travel Industry Blogger Workshop @ PhoCusWright

From Left to Right: Ram Badrinathan (not in photo), William Bakker, Jens Thraenhart, Stephen Joyce, Kevin May, and Phil Caines. Photo Credit: Vicky Brock The Blogger Workshop at the PhoCusWright Conference in Orlando was a huge success. Phil and I, miraculously, arrived at the conference a mere forty-five minutes before the workshop was to begin. Phil hurried to make sure the room was prepared while I connected with some of the expert panelists. The workshop began with an introduction of each of the panelists: Jens Thraenhart (Canadian Tourism Commission) William Bakker (Tourism BC) Kevin... Read more »

Canada-E-Connect video interview with William Bakker

This is a great little vignette with William Bakker, the head of E-Commerce for Tourism BC. William is also one of the contributors to the “Tips from the T-List” book and an all round great guy. He is also one of the expert panelists at the the first ever blogger workshop and summit at the PhoCusWright Conference 2007 in Orlando, Florida. Look for more content about that later in the day. You can view his blog at http://www.wilhelmus.ca. Sphere: Related Content Read More →

Mr. Al Lenza - VP Distribution & E-Commerce North West Airlines

Paypal and billmelater technologies are being accepted by airlines now. Internet has been focused on low fares. Mandate is to focus on revenue and provide access to low fare information as it pertains to specific traveler requirements, for example the lowest direct fare, or the lowest first class fare, etc. Meta search and vertical search - What is NWA view of these intermediary channels (for example Kayak.com). Meta search is different because they have a different customer value proposition. They render lowest fares and that doesn’t help NWA revenues. Kiosk - 85% of passengers check... Read more »