Eco-Friendly Travel: Putting the Green in Hotels

I decided to search the blogosphere again for posts that add to my travel knowledge and will augment the content of my blog. I noted that a current issue people are facing is finding affordable ways to maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle during a declining economy. Living an eco-friendly life has become a trend in today's society. Followers are conscious of the affect they have on the environment and the ways in which they can help maintain it. They eat organic food, use modes of transportation that emit less toxins, and vacation at eco-friendly hotels. With this in mind, I figured it would be beneficial to my readers to be introduced to posts relating to this topic, especially the thought of staying at eco-friendly hotels. I found two intriguing posts that offer information on my topic of interest this week. The first post, entitled "Eco-Necessity for the Hospitality Industry," delves into the importance of companies building their "green market share." This post is written by Chelsea Orth who writes for the KWE Group, Inc. Luxury Travel and Lifestyle Trends blog. The KWE Group strives to connect readers with luxury travel and lifestyle trends. The second post comes from a blog entitled "Best Luxury Travel Blog," where the writter, Mike-the-travel freak, contributed information about "Eco Friendly Luxury Hotels." Both posts are offer insightful information about the truths to traveling Green. I have commented on both blogs and invite my readers to follow the links below; the comments can also be read below the respective links for convenience.

Eco-Necessity for the Hospitality Industry

Comment

Thank you again for writing such an interesting post. I appreciate your opinions about the hospitality industry and the importance for them to cater to eco-friendly customers. I agree that initiatives have been visible for awhile with certain hotel chains, "car rental companies, and airlines introducing programs to attract attention." In order to keep up with the competition, it is crucial for existing hotels to convert to an eco-friendly mindset. A very difficult question that I have come across is how to remain ecologically conscious in the current state of the economy. For example, organic foods and green travel choices are usually more expensive than regular. I like how you write that catering to this lifestyle is a necessity and I personally feel that the more brands start offering eco-friendly options will cause prices to decrease. This seems logical because the supply of such products will increase which should result in more competition and thus, lower costs. I agree that the younger generations are more environmentally aware because we have been exposed that mentality for most of our lives. The public elementary school I attended prided itself on being an environmentally friendly school; we would sing songs about recycling and watch videos about the importance in keeping our planet clean. Schools, like this one, contribute a great deal to instilling an environmentally conscious mindset and lifestyle. My parents have taken the initiative to use and support only eco-friendly products and companies. Since living on my own during college, I have found it increasingly more difficult to choose green products because of the price difference. Cost is a major deciding factor on the brands college students purchase. This being said, I know I will not continue to use discounted brands once I have a full-time job. Also, the place where I currently intern takes a step further and uses only eco-friendly products along with ordering lunch from eco-friendly restaurants. From a business standpoint, brand loyalty is a crucial element to revenues of differentiated businesses. Brands are increasingly being expected to be eco-friendly which is why I agree that it is necessary for hotels to provide green services. It is really interesting that, as you put it, "'green hotels' is one of the most popularly searched terms in the industry, showing that" the hotel industry is expected to take initiatives to carrying out a green lifestyle. What are the ways, do you think, that hotels can become more eco-friendly? I have seen a lot of hotels decrease the amount they wash towels and sheets, but I am curious as to how else green hotels differentiate. Thank you again for your compelling post, and I look forward to reading your blog in the future.

Eco Friendly Luxury Hotels

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I am extremely delighted that you wrote a post that is an exact fit to what I was looking for this week, answering the question how can a luxury hotel be both eco-friendly and affordable? Thank you so much the the information that you provide. I agree that in the past luxury hotels seem to have taken every initiative to make the guest more comfortable but at the price of compromising the environment. I find the Telkonet SmartEnergy management system interesting because from my experience, I have noticed how people my age rarely consider energy conservation which staying at a luxury hotels. This system that helps to decrease energy usage without guests even realizing a difference is a great way for luxury hotels to conserve energy without compromising the level of comfort that they offer. I love the fact that the "Hyatt Regency is another luxury hotel chain that is striving to be more environmentally friendly." Hyatt Regency hotels offer a vast amount of amenities and are a very enjoyable way to vacation. You wrote that this chain is taking initiatives by using energy efficient light bulbs, strategically placing recycling bins and using water conserving shower heads and toilets. What other ways do you feel hotels can become more eco-friendly? I just spent a weekend in Las Vegas and noticed how they are not reducing lighting the outside of the hotels, do you think that Vegas will ever comply with initiative to decrease impact on the environment? I personally feel that it will take that city the longest to become eco-friendly. I believe that it has to happen eventially because consumers are increasingly creating brand loyalty based on environmentally friendly options. I also was able to find a website that allows you to search for a specific hotel or region and shows you the environmentally conscious effort the hotels are making, the site is called Environmentally Friendly Hotels. Thank you again for providing information on this subject, and I look forward to reading you posts in the future. If you would like to view my blog about the business of travel you may do so at http://jennifer-phillips.blogspot.com/

A Diamond in the Rough: The Dalmatian Coast

Picture yourself strolling along through an elegant village frozen in time during the Middle Ages. The Dalmatian Coast borders a 200-mile crystal-blue coastline encompassing lush scenes and varying towns representing different periods of time. A place such as this exists in one of the most surprising locations, the Middle East. Although traveling to Croatia has proved dangerous in the past, the current risks are worth taking as long as the traveler is aware and careful.

The Dalmatian Coast offers an astounding array of aesthetic beauty. Established in 10 AD, this area of Croatia acts as a display of history to those who visit. Dalmatia began as a Roman region with a romance culture where the Dalmatian Language, now extinct, was developed. Landmarks dating back from the Roman Empire to the Middle Ages, and Modern Period exist along the Dalmatian Coast. Split is the largest Dalmatia city, also the place where a treasured town dating back to the Roman times is located. The still-standing palace was built in 300 AD and serves as a major tourist attraction. Adjacent to the palace resides a 12^th century Cathedral. The town of Split has an astonishing display of historic sites in and of itself. South of Split is a 13^th century town known as Hvar. Hvar is a quaint village with cobbled stone streets and a centrally located four-story bell tower. The town square is rimmed with cafes and people enjoying their town. Hvar gives off the impression of being in the Middle Ages with the view of sculptured porticos, ancient wooden doors, and bridges. MIjet Island offers a beautiful National Park where travelers can take a bike tour around a salt-water lake while enjoying the aesthetically pleasing historic sites. Another place that warrants visiting is Korcula, a pedestrian village dating back to the 15^th century located within a lush and hilly peninsula enabling an amazing Adriatic view. From Split on the North end to Dubrovnik on the Southern tip, the varying attractions include historic villages, beautiful coves, lush forests, olive groves and vineyards.

Dubrovnik is known as the Adriatic’s “Crown Jewel.” Visitors enter through a gate and find themselves strolling along a wide, marbled pedestrian “boulevard.” At the eastern end of the town a place called Luza square is bordered by “entrancing Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque structures such as the clock tower, Sponza Palace, St. Blaise’s Church, the Rector’s Palace, and Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin.” Exploring the entire town of Dubrovnik cannot be missed, for the sites available offer an unparalleled array of anywhere else. Culturally, Dubrovnik consists of artistic interests, referring to itself as “the city of poets, writers, and scientists.” Today the town’s summer Festival has become popular, including music, theater, and dance.

Located along the Adriatic Sea, these coastal villages have an amazing view of the unparalleled cerulean water. Sailing along the coast offers the opportunity to experience otherwise inaccessible island coves and villages. The Adriatic Sea, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “is deficient in life; nutrient content, as indicated by the amount of phosphates and nitrates, is extremely low.” The water is supposed to be extremely clean and clear, a site that Americans would surely enjoy seeing. However, until recently, Croatia was not a place tourists were encouraged to visit.

The violent Croatian War of Independence spanned from 1991 to 1995. Croatians sought to establish a sovereign Republic of Croatia apart from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Serbia opposed this motion and wanted to remain part of Yugoslavia. The tension arose after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which resulted in the weakening of the Communist states in Eastern Europe where the communist party in Yugoslavia lost its ideological potency. After the first six months of war 10,000 people had died and hundreds of thousands had fled. The final number of casualties is estimated to be around 200- 400,000. Because of this, Croatia is still thought of as a war-ridden country, but in reality, it is just as safe as any other Eastern European country. According to Great Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth office, “there is an underlying threat of terrorism and organized crime in Croatia… Unexploded land mines are still a danger. Highly populated areas and major routes are not clear of mines and are safe to visit.” Travelers should, therefore, be cautious when visiting and be mindful not to stray into isolated areas in the mountains and countryside.

It might come down to whether the risk is worth the reward; the reward being the unmatched experience that the Dalmatian Coast has to offer. I propose that as long as the traveler is well informed and aware of the customs and recent tensions, then the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia is an experience that should not be missed. The best time to visit is from May to September when the sun shines and the sea is pleasantly warm.

Sin City on the Decline: Vegas' Response to Tough Economic Times

Over the weekend I scoured the blogospher for up-to-date information regarding my topic. I came across two fascinating posts that delve into current themes regarding Las Vegas. In a time of economic downturn, I was curious as to the measures Vegas is taking to stay afloat. The post that directly relates Vegas and marketing tactics came from my new favorite blog, where I have found many informative posts, written by Chelsea Orth of the KWE Group, Inc. This is a strategic public relations and marketing firm aiming to connect readers with luxury travel and lifestyle trends. Chelsea’s most current post, “Now it is ok to tout affordability,” explores the changes Las Vegas has made to its marketing campaign in response to the current economic crisis. For as long as I can recall, Vegas' slogan has been "What Happens Here Stays Here," which portrays Vegas as the ideal place to indulge extravagance. This has lost its resonance and has become less relevant in regards to the recession which seemingly "brought thrift back into fashion."

The second post that caught my attention dealing with Las Vegas’ current strategies is entitled “Vegas hotel deals starting at $6.25/night.” This post is part of the LA Times Daily Travel & Deal Blog. The author is Jen Leo who is a writer for the LA Times blog. Her post from March 5th uncovers the too good to be true deals that hotels in Vegas are currently offering. By doing so, she is illustrating the marketing extremes struggling hotels are taking in order to make their rooms more attractive. Together these posts offer insights into the effects our country’s economic status is having on travel trends to Las Vegas. The comments I left on the two posts can be found by following the links below, but for convenience purposes, I have posted my comments directly below.

Now It's OK to Tout Affordability

Comment

Let me begin by saying that I love reading your posts. You provide incredible insight on your blog and bring an interesting aspect to the company you represent. I am so glad you were able to comment on Las Vegas' slogan losing resonance with consumers. I have been wondering what the marketers for Vegas were going to do in response to the decline of consumer indulgences due to the recession. I completely agree that the previous campaign positioned Las Vegas' attractions as lavish promoting extreme behavior. This positioning is newly out-dated as the majority of Americans are pinching pennies and choosing against gambling and other extracurricular activities. Do you believe that the decline in disposable income has led people to become less inclined to partake in exciting pastimes? I greatly appreciate your analysis on the new slogan "Vegas Bound" as being geared towards hard-working Americans who feel they deserve a re-energizing break. It is interesting to see how places like Las Vegas are adjusting consumers' reluctance to make big financial commitments. In your opinion, is the decline of interest in going to Vegas only due to spending hesitancies or do people want to spend more time with their families and to focus on different types of gratifying activities?

I have to admit that I am surprised at the information you supplied about how luxury cruise lines are promoting discounted travel. This seems to go against the purpose they once stood for. Do you think they are taking a risk with the affluent consumers who chose the lines because they were exclusive? I think that these cruise lines will lose their attractiveness to this type of customer. Las Vegas is more of a place where there is something for every socioeconomic class of person than is a luxury cruise line or Travel + Leisure magazine. The ladder is designed to cater the sophisticated, well-traveled person who wouldn't seem to be looking for affordable all-inclusive vacations. What are these luxury lines and magazines doing to their image? After awhile they risk becoming included with the discounted lines.

Vegas Hotels Starting at $6.25/night

Comment

Your post is very helpful when looking for an incredible deal on hotel rooms in Las Vegas. I would have, however, enjoyed reading an introduction about the current economic times and how these low prices are due to decreased interest in traveling to Vegas and the off-season time of year. Your posting of prices just feels a little too abrupt without a preceding informative paragraph. The rest of your post is insightful and delves into both the attractive and unattractive attributes of each hotel. I am astonished that The Signature at MGM Grand is offering such low rates, as I have only heard amazing things about the hotel. Do you think this is because they are seeing a decline in bookings or because of a different reason? I am also surprised that Buffalo Bill is able to offer rooms for as low as $6.25 a night, it seems like they are taking a loss on that deal. Thank you for your honestly with the attributes of Buffalo Bill, I think it is important for readers to know how far off the strip this hotel is. Do you know if these promotions have proved effective yet? It would be interesting for you to write a post about the economic status of the newer, more extravagant hotels on the strip. For example, I wonder how the Wynn could possibly be doing especially after their addition of the Encore, seems like they might be supplying significantly more than their demand. Also, what is your opinion on the new marketing campaign for Las Vegas with the slogan reading "Vegas Bound" instead of the previous "What Happens Here Stays Here"? Do you feel that the nicer hotels like Mandalay Bay and The Signature are harming their image of exclusivity by offering discounted rates? Thank you for your insightful post and I look forward to reading your blog in the future.

Brands the Resonate: The Newest Member to the Virgin Empire

Virgin is one of the world's most recognizable and respected brands. Created in 1970, Virgin is a leading branded venture capital organization. They have brands extending in a wide range of industries, from cellular devices, to travel, to financial services, to music, and so on. Employing an astonishing amount of 50,000 people, Virgin is dispersed throughout 29 countries. In 2006, revenues exceeded $20 billion. Having learned about branding techniques in a course I am currently taking at USC entitled New Product Development and Branding, I have concluded which tactics Virgin uses in order to create resonance with their cus

tomers. Virgin strives to have their customers desire a relationship with their brand through the company's values. The company also assesses and influences customer loyalty levels by explaining how they "facilitate and monitor customer feedback to continually improve the customer's experience through innovation." Virgin prides itself on being able to implement a new venture at the opportune time, basically being at the right place at the right time. They explain that all new expansions are done with considerable research and involvement. There are several factors that contribute to companies', developed under Virgin, success: the brand equity (an intangible benefit) of the Virgin name, the brand reputation, and the structure of their organization. Virgin targets markets of people who have been under-served which enables the brand to create a competitive advantage. Most recently, Virgin has released a new addition to the travel industry. Although the economy is on a decline, Virgin's brand equity should be enough to ensure success of the launch of their newest airline, V Australia.  

In an article summing up 2008's financial data in regards to airlines, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics stated, "the six largest network airlines, as a group, reported an operating loss margin of 5.8 percent."  Virgin is not a publicly traded company and because of this fact, I was unable to find any information on the financial performance of Virgin's airlines.  I am only able to infer that their airlines are prospering since they have decided to extend their fleet.  On February 27, 2009, V Australia launched its inaugural flight from Sydney to Los Angeles. Virgin sought to open up a trans-Pacific getaway that offers an innovative, affordable, and high quality flying option. V Australia is starting with three departures a week between Sydney and LA, but by March 20th, they plan to provide daily flight services between the two locations. The airline will also eventually offer flights from Los Angeles to Brisbane and Melbourne, and one from Australia to South Africa. On Friday, the Chief Executive Brett Godfrey described the event by saying, "We are launching a new contemporary international airline for Australia. 

Today's flight to Los Angeles marks the start of a new era for Australian's who travel long distances overseas... V Australia will raise the standards of trans-Pacific travel, by offering a level of style, comfort and of course affordability, not seen before." An attractive measure to the airline is the three classes they have available. Business Class has 33 seats that lie-flat into beds, there are 40 Premium Economy Club seats and 288 economy seats. All seats in this Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art touch screen seat-back entertainment which provides games, movies, and television. Onboard there are two bars for in-flight passengers to enjoy. V Australia has a competitive advantage over the only other airlines who fly this trans-Pacific route, Qantas and United, by being the only airline to fly a Boeing 777 aircraft on this route. Previously, on this route Qantas had the advantage in the entertainment category, whereas United had the advantage by offering the cheapest flights. V Australia hopes to cash in on both better amenities and cheaper fares.

So how did a company who was best known for Virgin Records in the 1980s end up being huge in the airline industry? Owner of Virgin, Richard Branson, decided that he wanted to create an airline that was economical and of high quality. In 1984 his dream came true with the launch of Virgin Atlantic. By 1990, the airline had flown over 1 million passengers and rose the amenities bar by being the first to offer individual TVs to those seated in Business Class. By the end of the century, Branson received knighthood for his services to entrepreneurship. Based in Brisbane and Queensland, Virgin Blue was launched in August 2000 as a domestic flight for Australia. At an aim to create the best airline in Africa, Virgin Nigeria was born in September 2004. Launched in August of 2007, California based Virgin America vowed to make "flying good again". I have flown this airline and thoroughly enjoyed my flight. Virgin America offers domestic flights with mood-lit cabins, friendly service, leather seats, power-outlets and a superior entertainment system. These individual TV screens offer 25 movies, live television, video games, seat-to-seat chatting, and on-demand food ordering. Even with all of those great amenities, the friendly in-flight crew is what will lead my loyalty to Virgin branded airlines. The staff greets everyone with a genuine smile and is eager to assist passengers at all times. This aspect is so refreshing to me since flight attendants on other airlines are becoming increasingly more bitter towards passengers. Upon landing at a destination I am usually eager to get off the plane; however, I was sad when my plane from Los Angeles to San Francisco landed and wanted to stay aboard relaxing and enjoying the live TV. From that one trip on Virgin America, I have developed brand loyalty which is what Virgin seeks to achieve from consumers (as illustrated above).

Despite these admirable features, the difficult economic times the world is going through cannot be ignored.  Nevertheless, I encourage all of my readers to experience a Virgin branded flight. Virgin had created an airline brand that resonates with consumers by offering an extended list of amenities and unforgettable customer service. Virgin is justified with priding itself on implementing a new venture at the opportune time as exemplified above with the strategic launching of their specialized airlines. V Australia looks promising as an extension to the Virgin empire as it possesses complete competitive advantage in the trans-Pacific flight region. Also Virgin has already established its brand identity within both American and Australian consumers through Virgin America and Virgin Blue (both domestic flights of the U.S. and Australia). There is a bright future ahead for the Virgin brand, especially in regards to travel.

Destinations Through Elections and Expansions: Linking the Middle East and Africa to the U.S.

Over the weekend I decided to explore the blogosphere in search of updated information that is intriguing and related to travel. I have found two specific blogs, by use of the IMSA criteria, that caught my attention; both of which sparked my interest in the topics they delve into. KWE Group, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing firm, keeps and up-to-date blog that follows their mission to connect readers with "luxury travel and lifestyle trends." The KWE Group, Inc. seeks "to identify emerging trends so you benefit from changes in the marketplace." This is essentially what I am striving to bring my readers through my blog posts. Chelsea Orth is the writer of the KWE Group, Inc. Luxury Travel and Lifestyle Trends blog. She refers to historic and current events which lead me to believe she is reading the news, however, she does not appear to cite any materials. The blog seems to be reputable as it provides relevant information and is of a respected marketing agency. The writing is very concise and consists of some depth while the tone remains authoritative. This blog is not part of an established community as it is part of the company's website. The next blog that caught my attention is ISM Travel and Lifestyle Marketing. This blog was created to provide readers with observations regarding travel, leisure, and life. They specialize in marketing and advertising for the travel, hospitality, and lifestyle industries. Brands around the world turn to ISM for their expertise, strategic abilities, and creativity. The particular post that interests me is about the new Emirates Airline ad campaign that ISM is working on for the flight from San Francisco to Dubai. The author of the post is Kevin Nicholas who cites USA Today. The blog is reputable because the company is a legitimate marketing and advertising agency for industries including travel. The tone is authoritative and knowledgeable. This blog is part of the established Blogger community. I decided to comment on both of these posts because they caught my interest and provide intriguing information. My comments can be read by following the links below, and for your convenience they are also posted directly below.

KWE Group, Inc. African chic
Comment

I have been searching the blogosphere for a posting as insightful on travel destinations as yours for some time now. I have to say that the way you linked the current election to increased travel interest in Africa was a genius way of thinking. When I came across your post I was instantly intrigued. Thank you for being so honest with the factors that contributes to travelers' destination choices. I find it really interesting that President Obama's election "is already starting to attract tourists particularly Americans, eager to explore the heritage of their new president" to parts of Africa. Also I find it compelling when you relate this fact to marketing by saying, "this is a niche being explored by some tour operators in America who are offering tours that cover the village of Kogelo in Western Kenya where Barack Obama's father was buried." Since American tour operators are adjusting to the new interest in traveling to certain parts of Africa, does it seem that those places in Africa are making an effort to accommodate more tourists? In addition to that, do you know if the increased attraction is welcomed by the smaller villages? How do the local Africans feel about American's sudden interest in certain villages? It's nice to know how South Africa is welcoming the increase in tourism as it is just in time for their "hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup." It seems as though, from your post, that South Africa is accustomed to tourists because of their wine and culinary attractions, but I wonder how shocking the tourists will be to other places in Africa such as Kogelo in Western Kenya. I'll keep an eye out for marketing tactics gearing American travel to Africa and how much the attraction to Africa increases. I find it very interesting and unexpected when you incorporate the new travel trend into fashion. I never would have seen the link between the Africa-inspired fashions to President Obama's election. Do you have any other ideas as to where else the country's interest in the president will lead? I just want to thank you again for your insightful post and I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future.

ISM: Emirates Sets the New Standard for Airlines
Comment

I would like to start by saying your premise to supply reader with current observations is very compelling. As a marketing student I can relate to the way you link marketing and advertising with the travel industry. Thank you for posting information on the marketing campaigns you are currently working on, I am always interested in looking for the latest ad campaigns and seeing how strategies are being implemented. I am curious to see how your company will advertise for Emirates Airlines' newest destination services. The segment you are targeting is small being "the corporate travel managers and travel agents serving high-tech, bio-tech and financial services corporation located in San Francisco... [people who will] pony up $11,000 or more to fly their corporate travelers in Emirates business class." What do you feel the ramifications of choosing this course of action are to your company? It seems that by having such a minute segment it will be easier to gear your ads to them; however, the long-term effect could be negative since you ads only relate to such a small demographic. I am wondering what you see as the long-term effects of your positioning? In addition, how is your company planning on making destinations such as the Middle East more attractive to American travelers? The post also mentions that the main competitors of Emirates Airlines are Air France, British Airways, and Lufthansa. From experience, I know that these airlines provide superior service and create an in-flight experience unmatched by any of the American airlines I have flown abroad. Which leads me to my next question: How will your company emphasize the awards for excellence that Emirates Airlines has achieved, in order to broaden awareness of their services? Your blog intrigues me and I look forward to reading your posts in the future. Thank you again for providing such ample information about the expansion of Emirates Airlines and ISM's role in the launch for the advertising campaign.

A Winter Getaway: Exploring the Caribbean Through the Marketing of Travel Sites

Since the groundhog proclaimed that there will be six more weeks of winter this year, and residents of Southern California are even feeling the chill, it might not be such a bad idea to explore a warmer destination for the month of March. I’m thinking that somewhere tropical, probably in the Caribbean, would make an excellent travel spot for this time of year. The Caribbean is made up of the Caribbean Sea and its islands include Aruba, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Saint Vincent, Guadeloupe, and many more. These islands have terrain that ranges from flat lands to towering mountain ranges. The Caribbean Sea is home to a range of exotic marine life making it a great place to engage in water activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving. Being filled with various tourist attractions, many sites exist that provide travel tips and packages for the Caribbean. But which website is the most apt to attract people to purchase a vacation package through them? This is the question that needs to be explored in order to make an educated decision when booking a trip.

An article written by Charis Atlas Heelan on Frommer’s Travel Guides outlines a few websites that offer bargain prices on trip packages.  For example, Charis explains that his "inbox gets bombarded with discounted Caribbean trips" so he has supplied a list of a few bargains that "are hard to pass on no matter how tight your budget is this year."  I have researched these websites along with others in search of which one has the best marketing plan. The first to be discussed is Caribbean.com, which prides itself on possessing destination guides for the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Mexico. They offer a little more than forty marketing promotions where some packages are all inclusive and some include everything except meals. The site is fairly easy to use and offers a tab specifically for Caribbean yellow pages. From a marketing standpoint, I noticed a vast amount of information available on Caribbean.com which makes the layout appear muddled and causes the site to be difficult to navigate. In addition, there are too many different colors present on this site which makes it distracting and less appealing to consumers. The home page is too wordy where it needs to be concise and more have a more open feeling. In terms of marketing techniques, Caribbean.com is not an appealing website to consumers and probably loses customers due to this fact. The deals and packages are not worth the trouble a viewer goes through when using the site. There are many trip planning websites that offer similar promotions and a broader scope of destinations than Caribbean.com, all while remaining aestically appealing.

Bookit.com provides deals for vacation spots varying from ski resorts to Las Vegas casinos to tropical getaways. The thing that I find most helpful about this site is the availability of user reviews posted below the hotel and location descriptions. This will definitely come in handy when narrowing down the package customers intend to purchase. The layout of the site is user-friendly and the searching aspect is helpful. For example, the visitor starts off by choosing a destination and from there he or she can search for information regarding trip packages, hotels and travel guides for that specific location, instead of digging through different tabs like Caribbean.com forces users to do. However, Caribbean.com offers more options for trips in the Caribbean. With this being said, I would still choose Bookit.com over the previous site because of how easy it is to navigate through the website. Furthermore, on Bookit.com the customer can book flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises. From a marketing standpoint, the site's layout is professional and easy to use. The color scheme is also consistent which allows for a more appealing website. The prices displayed on this site for package deals are very reasonable; however, there are a few sites that claim to provide discounted rates.

Cheapcaribbean.com offers package deals for a lot of the same destinations as the previous discussed websites; however, the prices on this site are higher than on bookit.com. This is something that I would not have expected from an organization with “cheap” in their title. One aspect of Cheapcaribbean.com that is definitely annoying is how a popup asking the user to register with their site, but during my entire time exploring the site, I was only asked once. The site does, like bookit.com, offer customer reviews on locations. The drawback with Cheapcaribbean.com’s method is that they only use “Caribbean Jim’s” opinion on the locations which makes it less real and is probably written by someone who 

works for the website, even the negative comments are twisted into a positive. For example, a negative comment posted by Caribbean Jim reads, “the beach here is a little rocky but the pool offers a great alternative”. 

The site does not appear to be having any specific marketing promotions but they do seem to be targeting families and young couples. This can be seen in the pictures posted on the main page. One aspect that I really like about this website is the maps (see to the left) on the destinations tab. Depicted are colorful maps of the different regions/countries they offer as destinations. The maps show tourist attractions at the locations which is an easy way to figure out where to go when all you know is that you want a vacation. For example, if I wanted a vacation to see a beautiful lighthouse, from the maps, I would narrow my choices down to Aruba and Barbados. This site also offers interactive maps. From a marketing viewpoint, it becomes apparent that Cheapcaribbean.com strives to be user friendly and targets to a family oriented audience.

Although the economy is in a poor state, nevertheless, exceptional deals are available and as long as the reader knows how to navigate the site, a vacation is eagerly awaiting us.  There are many positive and negative aspects to the differing travel booking websites. The user must decide what is most important to them; a user friendly model or the cheapest prices. Fortunately, with Bookit.com, pretty much everything is satisfied. On that one site you can rent a car, book a hotel, schedule a flight, and find entertaining things to do during your vacation. Cheapcaribbean.com is also a good website, however, I have a difficult time trusting their resort locations since they do not appear to allow users to comment on their stay. The concept of Caribbean Jim is helpful, but it does not provide as much honest insight as the comments available on Bookit.com. From my research, I have concluded that the travel sites offering a broad scope of destinations generally provide the best services, even if you are searching for a specific region such as the Caribbean. If you are planning to escape the cold and take a vacation to the Caribbean, I definitely recommend using Bookit.com.

Around the World: Inside the Business of Travel

I am a new participant to the blogosphere and aspire to provide relevant information in my area of proficiency and interest. I am a college student with a passion for travel and a skill for marketing. I will analyze consumer trends in traveling by using marketing research techniques. An assortment of destinations will be explored with reference to current local issues of each destination. In order to provide relevant, credible and influential information, I began scouring the internet for blogs and sites that focus on travel and current issues. These have been posted under the linkroll for further reference and serve as the best possible assets in my area of inquiry. To create this list I used a variety of blog-search engines including, Google Blog Search, BlogCatalog, BlogScholar, and Best of the Web: Blogs. As a technique, I used various search terms related to travel and business. For the current event aspect to my linkroll, I chose to include sites such as, The New York Times: Science: Environment and The New York Times: Travel Index. The majority of the items in my linkroll consist of blogs related to traveling. BidonTravel Travel Updates, Tips, & Commentary is a blog that provides updated information regarding travel. For current events one of the sites I chose was The New York Times: Science: Environment. The reason I chose this is because new environmental and scientific discoveries are written about which can lead to new ways of traveling and new destinations. For example, there is an article published on that site explaining the new features of Google Earth which can help in planning a oceanic vacation. When assessing the adequacy of sites for my linkroll, I applied the Webby Awards criteria. The criteria includes: content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality, interactivity, overall experience, and authority of the author. Since all of my sites meet these criteria, they may be seen as quality according to Webby Awards. In addition, when considering blogs for my linkroll, I used the IMSA criteria to test for quality. The criteria includes: who the blogger is, the types of materials the blogger is reading and citing, if the blog has influence and whether it is an established part of a community, and depth and authority of content. I look forward to providing my readers with interesting and insightful information regarding the business of travel.