Travel digital iq 2011
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This document discusses emerging digital media platforms and how they provide opportunities for brands to reach new consumers, run creative experiments, and explore new forms of digital expression and consumer online behavior. It mentions platforms ranging from those created by large companies like Facebook and Google to smaller players gaining traction like Foursquare and Tumblr to newer niche platforms. The clinic described will help identify relevant platforms and prioritize investment in the long tail of social media.
Travel digital iq 2011
- 1. ® SCOTT GALLOWAY Travel NYU Stern A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 11 A ThInk TAnk for DIGITAL InnOVATIOn © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com
- 2. 05.20.11 CLInIC nYU Stern Emerging Digital Media Platforms The Long Tail of Social Media While Facebook dominates the social media landscape, a multitude of other digital platforms have emerged that provide fertile ground for brands to: • Reach new consumers • Run creative experiments • Explore new forms of digital expression and consumer online behavior These platforms range from the bold experiments of incumbent behemoths (Facebook Places and Google’s Boutiques.com) to smaller players who are gaining traction (Foursquare and Tumblr) to new entrants with small, passionate user bases (Pinterest, GetGlue, and Layar). This half-day intensive Clinic will help managers and senior marketers identify the relevant platforms for their brands and prioritize incremental investment in the long-tail of social media. http://L2EmergingMedia.eventbrite.com/
- 3. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US InTRODUCTIOn Killer App: The internet Massive choice coupled with a product that can be distilled to zeroes and ones makes the Internet a killer app for the travel industry. While e-com’s share of U.S. retail stands at 5.9 percent, travel garners 38 percent of revenue from the ether.1 The browser is the booking agent of choice for 87 million Americans, however the industry dedicates a meager seven percent of its marketing budgets to digital channels.2 Many iconic travel brands struggle to leverage the online environment. The Social Web The Empire Strikes Back The rise of social media presents a fresh set of opportunities Brands are starting to fight back. From Delta’s fully integrated and challenges to hotels, airlines, and cruise lines. Although Facebook booking to Four Seasons’ active customer service two thirds of customers are influenced by online user reviews, via Twitter, brands are beginning to recapture lost ground and only nine percent of the brands in the Index offer reviews, or move to the center of the customer conversation. any form of user-generated content, on their sites. Social-shar- In December 2010, American Airlines announced it would by- ing tools, live chat, and customer service via social media are pass the central reservation system that supplies flight informa- more common, but are still employed by less than half of the 89 tion to popular OTAs, opting to develop its own technology that brands analyzed. As brands debate the merits of transparency, provides additional customization for passengers and travel online travel agents (OTAs) and comparison engines, includ- agents. Expedia responded by indicating that it would not be ing Expedia, Orbitz, TripAdvisor, and Kayak, fill the void with renewing its contract with the airline and refused to integrate authentic reviews and pricing clarity. Brands have paid a steep the new system. Although the two parties came to an agree- price for staring at their navels while intermediaries give the ment in early April, the dispute is a signal that brands will not consumer what they want. Of the 10 most-trafficked travel sites, just roll over online. only one, Southwest, belongs to a supplier. 1. U.S. Department of Commerce, February 2011 2. eMarketer, April 2011 © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 3
- 4. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US InTRODUCTIOn Digital iQ = Shareholder Value TRAVEL BOOkInG Our thesis is that digital competence is inextricably linked to Online Marketing Share by Channel 1 shareholder value in the travel industry. Key to managing and developing a competence is an actionable metric. This study attempts to quantify the digital competence of 89 global airline, 100% = BRAND 69% 67% 66% 59% 56% 54% 41% 44% 44% WEBSITE hotel, and cruise brands. Our aim is to provide a robust tool to = ONLINE TRAVEL diagnose digital strengths and weaknesses and help managers AGENT (OTA) at travel brands achieve greater return on incremental investment. 80% Like the medium we are assessing, our methodology is dynamic, and we hope you will reach out to us with comments that improve our approach, investigation, and findings. You can contact me at [email protected]. 60% 59% 56% 56% Sincerely, 46% 40% 44% 41% SCOTT GALLOwAY 33% 34% Founder, L2 31% Clinical Professor of Marketing, NYU Stern 20% 0% 2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 AIRLINES HOTELS CRUISE LINES 1. “Nothing But Net,” J.P Morgan, January 2011 . © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 4
- 5. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US ABOUT ThE RAnkInGS C AT E G O R I E S M E T h O D O LO G Y 140+ Genius Site - 30%: Digital competence is a point of competitive Effectiveness of brand site. differentiation for these brands. Sites are more • Functionality & Content (75%) than just transactional. These brands have • Site Technology creatively engineered their messaging to reach • Site Search & Navigation travelers on a variety of devices and online • Reservations environments. • Flight/Hotel/Cruise Information • Checkout & Special Offers • Customer Service 110-139 Gifted • Rewards/Loyalty Programs Sites are highly functional. These brands typically • Brand Translation (25%) are active in mobile and social media, are visible • Aesthetics on top search engines, and offer email marketing. • Messaging & Interactivity 90-109 Average Digital Marketing - 30%: Digital presence is functional yet predictable, Marketing efforts, off-site brand presence, and visibility on search engines. and innovation efforts are uninspired and lack • Search: Traffic, SEM, SEO, Web Authority ambition. Boilerplate marketing. • Email: Frequency, Content, Social Media Integration, Promotion • Digital Marketing Innovation: Presence, Innovation 70-89 Challenged • Blog Presence: Mentions, Sentiment These brands bare-bones sites provide only basic functionality. Digital campaigns are an after- Social Media - 20%: thought. Demonstrate an inability to activate their Brand presence, following, content, & influence on major social media platforms. social communities and many are missing from • Facebook: Likes, Growth, Post Frequency, Ability to Transact, Responsiveness mobile. • Twitter: Followers, Growth, Tweet Frequency, Online Voice • YouTube: Views, Number of Uploads, Subscriber Growth, Content <70 Feeble These brands are digitally off the map. They are Mobile - 20%: marked by poorly designed sites and a failure to Compatibility and marketing on smartphones and other mobile devices. leverage digital to market to consumers. Mobile • Mobile Sites: Compatibility, Functionality, Ability to Transact and social media are not meaningful elements • Smartphone Applications: Availability, Popularity, Functionality of their strategies. • iPad Integration: Marketing, Applications © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 5
- 6. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US D I G I TA L I Q R A n k I n G AIRLINE HOTEL CRUISE Rank Brand Category Digital iQ Class Description From mile high check-ins on Foursquare to Facebook booking, Delta’s digital efforts are first 1 DELTA Airline 168 Genius in class 2 SOuThWEST Airline 165 Genius SWA’s superior marketing translates across digital touch points; strongest site in the Index Content-rich site, strong Twitter and Facebook following, and efficient mobile app help 3 AMERiCAn AiRLinES Airline 158 Genius AA soar 4 W hOTELS hotel 149 Genius “Welcome to Wonderland” delivers W experience straight from your browser Managing more than 530 properties on one site is no small feat; 22 percent ROI through 5 hiLTOn hotel 143 Genius mobile channels 6 WESTin hotel 141 Genius Amazon storefront allows enthusiasts to purchase the Heavenly bed online 7 COnTinEnTAL Airline 140 Genius Facebook frequent flier enrollment and international mobile check-in give Continental lift 8 LuFThAnSA Airline 139 Gifted MySkyStatus posts your flight coordinates to Twitter or Facebook from the air 9 FOuR SEASOnS hotel 138 Gifted Luxury leader buttresses customer service excellence via Twitter 10 inTERCOnTinEnTAL hotel 137 Gifted Insider iPad app boasts local concierge recommendations for more than 120 destinations 10 JETBLuE Airline 137 Gifted 1.6 million Twitter followers may come for deals, but stay for responsive customer service 12 hYATT hotel 136 Gifted Site leads in function and findability 13 BRiTiSh AiRWAYS Airline 135 Gifted Carbon offset add-on when booking signals innovation around sustainability Community reviews, YouTube videos, and mobile app offer consumers a buffet 13 ROYAL CARiBBEAn Cruise 135 Gifted of digital options © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 6
- 7. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US D I G I TA L I Q R A n k I n G AIRLINE HOTEL CRUISE Rank Brand Category Digital iQ Class Description Everyonesanoriginal.com social community allows guests and employees to share their 15 FAiRMOnT hOTELS hotel 134 Gifted stories, pictures, and videos Social darling of the industry is not afraid to take risks; surprise campaign rewarded Twitterers 15 KLM Airline 134 Gifted with personalized gifts while they waited to board 17 ShERATOn hotel 132 Gifted Sheratonbetterwhenshared.com features guest stories from across the globe 18 MARRiOTT hotel 131 Gifted A giant in search, but doesn’t score as well on social media platforms 19 CAThAY PACiFiC Airline 130 Gifted Prolific presence on YouTube boosts Asia’s airline leader; iPad app profiles airline employees Facebook fan base increased almost 400 percent from February to mid-March on the wings 20 AiR FRAnCE Airline 129 Gifted of F-Commerce 21 hOLLAnD AMERiCA Cruise 127 Gifted One of the few luxury cruise lines aggressively purchasing search terms on Bing Extends a warm Aussie welcome to site visitors with top-notch customer service and 21 QAnTAS Airline 127 Gifted informative airport guides Brand is in transition and it shows; site’s strong transaction-functionality is handicapped 21 uniTED Airline 127 Gifted by dated aesthetics “LM 100” serve as brand ambassadors online, but Facebook presence doesn’t extend 24 LE MÉRiDiEn hotel 126 Gifted to properties 24 ViRGin ATLAnTiC Airline 126 Gifted The Innovation Zone showcases the best in travel mobile apps Scores points for mobile apps and Facebook responsiveness, but luxe feel fails 26 OMni hotel 124 Gifted to translate online 27 MAnDARin ORiEnTAL hotel 122 Gifted Site customer service lags luxury peers, but makes up ground on social media Rico campaign on YouTube is one of the most playful in the industry, but poor site 28 AiR nEW ZEALAnD Airline 119 Gifted functionality keeps brand from taking off © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 7
- 8. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US D I G I TA L I Q R A n k I n G AIRLINE HOTEL CRUISE Rank Brand Category Digital iQ Class Description Limited social media presence hurts, but brand gets marks for destination guides and ability 28 LuxuRY COLLECTiOn hotel 119 Gifted to search hotels by “pursuit” 28 ST. REGiS hotel 119 Gifted Individual properties are on Twitter, but the brand hasn’t checked in 28 uS AiRWAYS Airline 119 Gifted Highly functional but otherwise forgettable site 32 EMiRATES Airline 118 Gifted Brand YouTube channel includes link to booking Social media sweetheart’s fanatical following on YouTube buttresses entire Disney 33 DiSnEY CRuiSE LinE Cruise 117 Gifted travel empire 34 AiR CAnADA Airline 115 Gifted Connects Canada to the world, but is not connecting with passengers via social media 35 RiTZ-CARLTOn hotel 110 Gifted Interactive Facebook page garners five stars but bland site fails to deliver Cabin Experience videos on site highlight each class of service, including menu 35 SinGAPORE AiRLinES Airline 110 Gifted and entertainment options 37 nORWEGiAn CRuiSE LinE Cruise 109 Average Engages cruise community through user reviews and Facebook countdown clock Facebook page has grown fast on heels of strong app that allows guests to interact with 37 SOFiTEL hotel 109 Average individual properties 39 KiMPTOn hotel 106 Average Boutique chain scores innovation points offline, but is still figuring out social media 40 KOREAn AiR Airline 105 Average Features one of industry’s only video newsletters 41 WALT DiSnEY WORLD RESORT hotel 104 Average Social media presence brings Disney magic to life, but no photographs of rooms on site Strong synergy between site, print, and social media but will need more than its 42 FROnTiER Airline 103 Average “spokesanimal” mascots to woo fans online © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 8
- 9. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US D I G I TA L I Q R A n k I n G AIRLINE HOTEL CRUISE Rank Brand Category Digital iQ Class Description 43 ViRGin AMERiCA Airline 102 Average Hip brand is not part of the cool crowd online 44 CunARD LinE Cruise 99 Average Facebook presence and YouTube videos suggest brand is willing to extend its regal heritage Experience Etihad provides virtual tours of the luxury cabin, lounge, and transportation 45 ETihAD AiRWAYS Airline 98 Average services 46 WALDORF ASTORiA hotel 96 Average Inconsistent site varies by property, but scores points for translating on a mobile device 47 ShAnGRi-LA hotel 95 Average Strong mobile and social media efforts keep brand out of the challenged ranks 48 SWiSSôTEL hotel 94 Average Facebook ski jump app attempts to tap into gamification phenomenon 49 LOEWS hotel 93 Average Seamless booking and strong customer service, but brand lacks digital differentiation 50 ThAi AiRWAYS Airline 92 Average Limited site functionality and social presence make Thai just average 51 JOiE DE ViVRE hotel 90 Average Attributes more than 1,000 bookings to tweets and Facebook posts 52 ThE LEADinG hOTELS hotel 89 Challenged Broken links show lack of digital leadership 53 SOuTh AFRiCAn AiRWAYS Airline 88 Challenged Poor technology and outdated information leaves site at the gate 54 JW MARRiOTT hotel 87 Challenged Limited social media outreach suggests brand forgot the turndown service My Jumeirah virtual space allows guests to customize their travel and site 55 JuMEiRAh hotel 86 Challenged browsing experience 55 LinDBLAD ExPEDiTiOnS Cruise 86 Challenged Clunky reservation system renders visitors queezy © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 9
- 10. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US D I G I TA L I Q R A n k I n G AIRLINE HOTEL CRUISE Rank Brand Category Digital iQ Class Description 55 PEninSuLA hOTELS hotel 86 Challenged Visually appealing site falls flat on functionality 58 BAnYAn TREE hotel 84 Challenged Brand gets needed boost from high engagement and growth on Facebook 58 RELAiS & ChÂTEAux hotel 84 Challenged Site lacks functionality, but iPhone app delights 60 KEMPinSKi hotel 82 Challenged Europe’s oldest luxury hotel chain seems stuck in the digital Dark Ages 60 QATAR AiRWAYS Airline 82 Challenged Public company with a private Twitter account? 62 P&O CRuiSES Cruise 81 Challenged Cruise webcams score points for “Britain’s favorite cruise line” 62 RAFFLES hotel 81 Challenged Strong aesthetics provide only partial reprieve from dated and glitchy website 64 CRYSTAL CRuiSES Cruise 78 Challenged Brand site remains docked without e-commerce capability 64 SEABOuRn Cruise 78 Challenged Luxury feel but limited social media presence 66 MORGAnS hOTEL GROuP hotel 77 Challenged Lifestyle content differentiates brand; UrbanDaddy partnership amplifies message 66 OCEAniA CRuiSES Cruise 77 Challenged Average website functionality and limited social media usage places Oceania in steerage 66 REGEnT SEVEn SEAS CRuiSES Cruise 77 Challenged Subtle reservation box on site is easy on the eyes but loses points on conversion 66 WARWiCK inTERnATiOnAL hotel 77 Challenged Limited community suggests social media late arrival 70 COnRAD hotel 75 Challenged Fails to step out of shadow of larger Hilton brand online © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 10
- 11. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US D I G I TA L I Q R A n k I n G AIRLINE HOTEL CRUISE Rank Brand Category Digital iQ Class Description 71 OBEROi hotel 74 Challenged No email opt-in limits online communication 71 PREFERRED hotel 74 Challenged Strong loyalty program fails to unite brand online Generates more traffic than most luxury cruise lines, but without booking capability what 73 WinDSTAR CRuiSES Cruise 73 Challenged is it worth? 74 OnE&OnLY hotel 72 Challenged Elegant site is hampered by poor functionality 75 SiLVERSEA CRuiSES Cruise 71 Challenged Social sharing hints at digital aptitude, but no booking capability causes IQ to sink 76 AZAMARA CLuB CRuiSES Cruise 68 Feeble Destinations dominate on gorgeous site, but social media efforts have yet to embark 77 TAJ GROuP OF hOTELS hotel 67 Feeble Lackluster social media impairs India’s luxury leader 78 PARK hYATT hotel 65 Feeble Limited stand-alone social media presence and hard-to-find site hinder differentiation online 79 ASiAnA Airline 64 Feeble Limited unique visitors and page rank hurt brand 80 ROCKRESORTS hotel 62 Feeble No customer loyalty program and limited social media use constrain hospitality online 81 SEADREAM YAChT CLuB Cruise 61 Feeble Mobile presence prevents shipwreck, but limited transaction-capability damages IQ Inaccurate, text-heavy site coupled with social media absence leaves this brand trailing 82 REGEnT inTERnATiOnAL hotel 54 Feeble its peers Dated website and lack of social media presence limit brand in U.S. market, but mobile 83 AiR ChinA Airline 52 Feeble effort provides a boost 84 PAn PACiFiC hotel 51 Feeble One of a handful of hotel brands that has ignored Twitter © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 11
- 12. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US D I G I TA L I Q R A n k I n G AIRLINE HOTEL CRUISE Rank Brand Category Digital iQ Class Description URL architecture assures each property can stand alone but fails to yield economies 85 ROSEWOOD hotel 50 Feeble in search, traffic, or authority 86 hAinAn AiRLinES Airline 48 Feeble One of the few airlines with no mobile offering 87 ORiEnT-ExPRESS hotel 45 Feeble Without online upgrades hotel chain risks digital oblivion 88 JAPAn AiRLinES Airline 36 Feeble Outdated site and lack of social media leaves the brand sitting on the tarmac 89 SWAn hELLEniC Cruise 31 Feeble Facebook launch in February may put some needed wind in its sails © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 12
- 13. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS Selling is Knowing A V E R A G E D I G I TA L I Q & There is a direct relationship between the average Digital IQ PERCEnT OF BOOkInGS OnLInE by category and the percentage of purchases made online. By Category Nearly half of Airline bookings are made online. The 29 airlines studied registered an average Digital IQ of 113, and 62 percent 120 60% of brands were classified as Genius or Gifted. The Cruise 113 category lags the industry, and generates only nine percent of its bookings online. Cruise lines posted an average Digital IQ 110 50% 48% of 86 and six of the 16 brands in the Index do not provide basic e-commerce capability. 100 40% 97 % of Bookings Online Digital IQ Score 30% 90 30% “ What’s next? Look for increased personalization of 86 consumer interactions with hospitality brands, based upon past preferences and current online behavior. This mass customization will cut across all digital media as the 80 20% consumer researches, purchases, takes part in, and reflects upon the travel experience. ” —Stuart Levy | Assistant Professor, Dept. of Tourism & Hospitality Management, The George Washington University School of Business 70 10% 9% 60 0% AIRLINES HOTELS CRUISE LINES © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 13
- 14. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS D I G I TA L I Q D I S P E R S I O n % of Organizations per Digital IQ Class Bifurcation GEniuS Delta The dispersion of Digital IQ demonstrates that the prestige travel Lufthansa Le Méridien Southwest DiGiTAL iQ industry does not follow a traditional bell curve when it comes Four Seasons Virgin Atlantic 8% American >140 InterContinental Omni W Hotels to digital innovation. A remarkable 41 percent of brands were JetBlue Mandarin Hilton classified as Genius or Gifted, however an additional 43 percent Oriental Westin were Challenged or Feeble. The dispersion of scoring suggests Hyatt Air New GiFTED Continental British Airways Zealand the winners are pulling away from the losers when it comes to Royal Caribbean Luxury online aptitude. Collection Fairmont Hotels St. Regis KLM There is also a relationship between Digital IQ and the amount Sheraton US Airways DiGiTAL iQ 33% Emirates 110-139 of time users spend on the brand site. Genius and Gifted brands Marriott Disney Cruise Cathay Pacific Line register average user time of 6.2 minutes and 4.9 minutes, Air France Air Canada respectively, while users spend only 3.4 minutes on the sites of Holland Ritz-Carlton Feeble brands. America Singapore Qantas Norwegian Cunard Airlines United AVERAGE Cruise Line Etihad Airways Sofitel Waldorf Astoria AVERAGE TIME On TRAVEL SITES Kimpton Shangri-La DiGiTAL iQ by Digital IQ Class 17% Korean Air Swissôtel The Leading Cruise Line 90-109 Walt Disney Loews Hotels Morgans Hotel World Resorts 8 South African Group Thai Airways Frontier Airways Oceania Joie de Vivre Virgin America 6.2 JW Marriott Cruises ChALLEnGED Jumeirah Regent 7 Seas 6 Lindblad Cruises Expeditions Warwick 4.9 International Peninsula DiGiTAL iQ 4.2 Hotels Conrad Hotels 27% 4.0 Minutes Banyan Tree & Resorts 70-89 Azamara Air China 4 3.4 Oberoi Cruises Pan Pacific Relais & Chateaux Preferred Taj Group of Rosewood Hotels and Hotels Hotels Kempinski Resorts Park Hyatt 2 Qatar Airways Hainan Airlines WindStar Asiana Airlines P&O Cruises Cruises FEEBLE RockResorts Orient-Express Hotels Raffles One&Only International SeaDream Japan Airlines Silversea Yacht Club 0 Crystal Cruises DiGiTAL iQ Swan Hellenic Cruises 16% Regent Genius Gifted Average Challenged Feeble Seabourn <70 International Hotels © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 14
- 15. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS Digital iQ = Pricing Power D I G I TA L I Q v s . Y E A R - O V E R -Y E A R C h A n G E I n The recession forced the prestige hotel industry to slash its A V E R A G E D A I LY R O O M R AT E room rates. Our analysis demonstrates a positive correlation (Hotels with Published Data: 2010 vs. 2009) of 0.60 between Digital IQ and 2010 versus 2009 changes in Average Daily Rate among the nine hotels with published data, 180 suggesting hotel brands that are more digitally competent have been able to rebound faster. Correlation = .60 160 innovation Silos? Examination of Digital IQ across portfolio companies sug- gests travel industry conglomerates are good at leveraging 140 economies of scale online across multiple brands. The average Digital IQ dispersion of parent companies in the industry was 40 points, versus a dispersion of 77 points across parent com- Digital IQ panies in the 2010 Digital IQ Index®: Luxury and 47 points in the 120 2010 Digital IQ Index : Beauty. ® With six brands in the study, Starwood highlights the benefits of 100 an organization-wide approach to digital. All of the company’s brands sit on the same site platform, providing enhanced SEO, cross-sell opportunities, and best-in-class customer service without compromising the distinct identity of each hotel. Star- 80 wood has taken a similar approach on Facebook, where the company boasts a page for nearly every property. Each page highlights unique features of the property, brand, and desti- 60 nation while leveraging community engagement tactics and 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% content from across the Starwood organization. % Change in Average Daily Rate © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 15
- 16. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS AIRLINE HOTEL CRUISE A V E R A G E D I G I TA L I Q BY P O R T F O L I O C O M PA n Y Organizations with More than One Brand 170 GENIUS Disparity 30 Disparity 68 Disparity 140 Disparity Disparity Disparity Disparity 13 Disparity 53 5 71 67 Disparity 44 AVG IQ AVG IQ 134 Disparity 66 AVG IQ 131 132 24 GIFTED Disparity 13 AVG IQ 110 114 AVG IQ AVG IQ 109 111 AVG IQ AVERAGE 105 AVG IQ 103 AVG IQ AVG IQ 101 102 90 AVG IQ 89 CHALLENGED Disparity 23 70 AVG IQ 66 FEEBLE 40 wi & n= on n= al n= d e io es n= M n= n t n= on in al n= up pa ey s an n ld nt KL e ld ls at ffl m sn n= de 5 3 3 n= al 2 2 2 n= td. n= gs 2 n= ny i i i o at w at io se be em Gr Ho tine or te n rn a Co t Di e– ld 6 3 2 2 2 at or or L ui ib te t R W Ho ag or in rn rp rp Cr Car nc n al In on rg W an Co te Co Co r ts od ra W Vi In ls m M n l so wo rF d ya al s lto e te air ite tt el al Th iv Ro Ai R e tar rio Hi ot Ho F ob Un rn tH S ar Gl Ca M at lo Hy ol Ap © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 16
- 17. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS The hare Although travel brands sped to the front of the pack with SITE CONTENT & TOOLS commerce-enabled sites, analysis across airlines, cruise lines, % of Brand Sites with and Without the Following Tools: and hotels suggests progress in the digital medium has slowed. Nearly 40 percent of travel brand sites fail to incorporate video. Less than half provide an online customer loyalty or frequent flier Online 93% 7% = YES program. Only 28 percent have some form of social sharing, and Booking = NO just 20 percent incorporate the Facebook Like button. Video 62% 38% While prestige travel is largely built around customer service, only 17 percent of the brands in the study offer live chat. Online Loyalty Southwest, the leader in site scoring, provides a glimpse into Program 45% 55% the future of brand travel sites, blending function, technology, and community. Social Sharing 28% 72% Facebook “Like” 20% 80% “ Leading travel brands recognize the opportunity to use digital and social media as more than a booking Live Chat 17% 83% channel. Genius brands use their websites and social media communities to extend and enhance the customer service experience; creating deeper connections with travelers and allowing User Reviews 9% 91% guests to experience the quality of their customer service before, during and after their stay. ” —Melissa Dowler | Chief Marketing Officer, ISM 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 17
- 18. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS under Review Although two-thirds of consumers report being influenced by I M PA C T O F S I T E F E AT U R E S O n T R A F F I C G R O w T h traveler-generated ratings, only nine percent of the brands in (March 2010–March 2011) the study offer reviews on their sites.3 Even among those of- fering reviews, most segregate them from the booking experi- 50% ence or sanitize the feedback. Examples include Fairmont’s Everyone’s an Original microsite or Kepinski Hotels, which link to pages on TripAdvisor. Although laggard in other dimen- sions, the Cruise category has been the first to embrace guest 40% feedback, and four brands include user reviews. Traffic to sites that incorporate user reviews grew 24 percent, versus seven percent for those without reviews, suggesting user-generated content provides more authenticity and traffic. 30% Traffic Growth The increasing Cost of Search 24% Industry revenues are up significantly following the recession, 20% but traffic to the 89 travel brand sites in the Index is down eight 17% percent year-on-year. One of the reasons is the increasing cost of paid search, one of the industry’s primary traffic drivers. Of the brands in the Index, 72 percent engage in key-word 10% purchase on Google, and 64 percent purchase terms on Bing. 7% 6% Average cost-per-click search advertising was up 21.3 per- cent in the travel industry January 2010 through January 2011, suggesting it is becoming increasingly expensive for brands to 0% compete for prime search engine real estate.4 Google’s April YES NO YES NO acquisition of ITA, a software company that powers the majority of flight fare search on brand sites and travel portals, provides User Reviews Social Sharing additional cause for pause, and many predict search engine marketing pricing will continue to skyrocket. 3. “Top Traveler Technology Trends,” PhoCusWright, August 26, 2010 4. Company Blog, EfficientFrontier, February 4, 2011 © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 18
- 19. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS T O P 8 R E F E R R A L & D E S T I N AT I O N S I T E S : T R A V E L B R A N D S I T E S The Online itinerary Upstream and Downstream Traffic to and from The average online consumer visits more than 20 sites while Social Media Sites, Online Travel Agents, and Competitor Sites researching travel online.5 Examining the upstream and down- stream referral sites across the 89 brands reveals that social = SOCIAL MEDIA media, online travel agents such as Travelocity and 100% SITE Expedia, and competitor sites factor considerably into this = ONLINE TRAVEL AGENTS (OTAs) sample set. 90% = COMPETITOR In addition, brands are driving significant traffic to and from 81% Facebook. Of the brands in the Index, 78 percent registered 80% Facebook as a top-eight source of referral traffic, and on aver- age Facebook drove seven percent of traffic to brand sites. Even more staggering, 90 percent of the brands recorded Facebook as a top destination site after leaving the brand site. 60% 52% 47% “ While many travel sites have evolved into purely transactional platforms, your customer may have 40% just come from your competitor’s site. The best sites 35% communicate a unique brand experience in a way that doesn’t inter- 29% fere with the transaction. ” —Bob Minihan | Chief Creative Officer, ISM 20% 11% “ Hospitality companies should not view OTAs as com- 7% 5% 6% petitors. Rather, they can be strategic collaborators 2% 3% and super-marketers. Recent research termed the 0% “Billboard Effect” demonstrates that hotel exposure on OTA listings % of Brands % of Traffic % of Brands % of Traffic can drive significant additional booking traffic though brand websites. ” Upstream Traffic Downstream Traffic —Stuart Levy | Assistant Professor, Dept. of Tourism & Hospitality To Brand Site From Brand Site Management, The George Washington University School of Business 5. “Refining the Travel Search Process,” Compete & Google, December 15, 2009 © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 19
- 20. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS The Web is Dying & Facebook is Thriving Another reason for diminishing traffic to brand sites is the B R A n D FA n P O S T R E S P O n S I V E n E S S maturation of the web and the rise of Facebook. In 2001, the 10 A c r o s s 8 5 B r a n d Fa c e b o o k Pa g e s most-visited sites on the web accounted for 31 percent of U.S. (March 2011) page views, in 2006 it was 40 percent, and it is now 75 percent, 50% suggesting the medium and long tail of the web is decreasing in importance.6 Facebook alone accounts for 12.3 percent of all consumer time on the Internet.7 Facebook usage is nearly ubiquitous across the travel category, and all but four brands 40% feature at least one dedicated page. During the first quarter 2011 measurement period, travel brand Facebook communities grew an average of 20 percent. 30% 27% 21% “ Your customers already spend their time on Face- 20% book, so targeting them there is more efficient and 16% 16% effective than driving them to custom-built social 15% networking portals. Facebook continues to enhance its flexibility for custom fan page and application development, making the social 10% networking site an increasingly attractive option for brands. ” —Melissa Dowler | Chief Marketing Officer, ISM 4% 0% 2 Hours 2-6 7-12 13-24 Over Does Not or Less Hours Hours Hours 24 Hours Respond 6. “The Web is Dead, Long Live the Internet,” Chris Anderson and Michael Wolff, Wired Magazine, August 17, 2010 7. “The 2010 Digital Year in Review,” comScore, February 8, 2011 © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 20
- 21. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS S O C I A L M E D I A S T R AT E G I E S Social Media Management Across All Brands Travel brands take a variety of approaches (marketing, custom- 49% 50% 48% er service, commerce, etc.) when it comes to managing social = BRAND PAGE & PROPERTY/ media across properties and regions. Almost half of the Hotel REGIONAL 40% PAGES brands had more than one account on Facebook and Twitter. 33% = BRAND PAGE ONLY Four Seasons maintains accounts on both social media 30% 28% = PROPERTY/ platforms for each of its properties. Norwegian Cruise Line REGIONAL PAGES ONLY maintains separate pages by region, including specific pages 20% = NO PRESENCE for Argentinean and Brazilian passengers. Nine percent of 11% 12% 10% 8% 9% brands on Facebook and 12 percent of those on Twitter have no centralized accounts, opting to let properties manage their own social media efforts. 0% Facebook Twitter TwITTER COnTEnT % of Brands on Twitter with the Following: = YES News/Info 83% 17% = NO Deals 65% 35% Contests 52% 48% Customer Service 46% 54% Regional Twitter page for Four 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Seasons’ Beverly hills location © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 21
- 22. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS T O P 1 0 B R A N D S : FA C E B O O K L I K E S T O P 1 0 FA S T E S T- G R O w I n G FA C E B O O k A C C O U n T S (March 2011) (January–March 2011) Air France 377% Regent Walt Disney 239% International World Resort British Airways 144% 5,699,438 AIR FRAnCE P&O Cruises 54% TRAVEL ChALLEnGE Southwest 1,330,073 Drove significant “like” growth. Fans guessed the location of the “photo of the day” to be entered South African into a sweepstakes for 30 pairs of round trip tickets. Disney Cruise Line 514,793 53% Airways Chance of winning increased by inviting friends to enter. JetBlue Airways 471,787 Cathay Pacific 45% Air France 315,803 One&Only 39% Royal Caribbean 265,751 Frontier 39% United 255,970 Emirates 226,926 Air New Zealand 34% Lufthansa 178,146 Hyatt 32% American 136,385 0 100% 200% 300% 400% = 50,000 FACEBOOK LIKES © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 22
- 23. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS B E S T I N T W E E T: T O P 1 0 F O L LO W E R S T O P 1 0 FA S T E S T- G R O w I n G T w I T T E R A C C O U n T S (March 2011) (January–March 2011) @AIRNZUSA 83% @JetBlue @WindstarCruises 70% 1,606,910 @SAAUSA 58% @SouthwestAir 1,088,473 @RelaisChateaux 47% @VirginAmerica 170,452 @MarriottHotels 42% @UnitedAirlines 163,660 @AmericanAir @AirCanada 38% 163,084 @Delta 142,552 @jumeirah 32% @WaltDisneyWorld 127,301 @AzamaraVoyages 26% @continental 118,444 @Lufthansa_USA 25% @USAirways 105,233 @BritishAirways @EtihadDeals 23% 95,797 0 20% 40% 60% 80% = 25,000 TWITTER FOLLOWERS © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 23
- 24. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS Rapid Response Seventy percent of U.S. hoteliers monitor guest reviews on T O P 1 0 B R A N D S : T W E E T S P E R D AY their own and third-party sites weekly at a minimum.8 Although (January–March 2011) third-party review sites, such as TripAdvisor and Yelp, used to be consumers’ soapboxes of choice, Facebook, and Twitter have taken their place. Across the 85 brand Facebook pages in the study, four-in-five travel brands respond to customer service Korean Air inquiries. 35.0 On Twitter, brands are not as proactive, and less than half Windstar Cruises are actively responding to customer service concerns. While 29.5 adoption has been mixed, many brands are using social Hilton media responsiveness as a point of differentiation. The Palms 24.6 Hotel, which was not included in the study, integrates guest Klout scores, a measure of influence on Twitter and Facebook, Peninsula Hotels 15.4 directly into its registration system and provides upgrades to guests with substantial online influence. Ritz-Carlton 12.2 JetBlue 12.1 Virgin Atlantic 11.6 “ Surprisingly, many travel brands are not utilizing Twitter and Facebook to quickly address consumer Sofitel 11.5 complaints. Companies cannot afford to simply “dip their toes” in the social media current—they must dive in with a Four Seasons 11.1 “listen, react, and engage” strategy. ” —Stuart Levy | Assistant Professor, Dept. of Tourism & Hospitality Management, The George Washington University School of Business Hyatt 10.4 = 1 TWEET 8. “Best Practices for Maximizing Your Hotel, Online Revenue, and ROI”, HSMAI Foundation & Vizergy, June 2010 © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 24
- 25. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS The Travel Channel TOP 10 BRANDS: YOUTUBE All but eight brands in the Index maintain a YouTube channel. Brand Channels with the Most Upload Views For many brands, YouTube merely provides another platform (March 2011) for television commercials, flight safety demonstrations, and promotional videos. However, a few organizations are pushing the boundaries of viral video. Disney Parks’ YouTube channel features 576 videos about the magic of Disney, including a Walt Disney World Resort & Cruises user-generated musical marriage proposal that has garnered more than 3.6 million views. The majority of Air New Zealand’s 17,022,148 playful videos feature sassy spokespuppet, Rico, who flirts with flight attendants and raps with Snoop Dogg. Southwest 6,031,820 Delta 4,222,536 Air New Zealand 2,841,066 Hyatt 1,666,208 Virgin America 1,586,449 Qantas 1,172,643 KLM 1,052,966 Norwegian Cruise Line 858,310 American 713,470 YouTube channels for Air new Zealand = 250,000 and Disney Parks YOUTUBE VIDEO VIEWS © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 25
- 26. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS You’ve Got Mail TOP 10 BRANDS: AVERAGE EMAILS PER WEEK Sixty-three percent of consumers who receive email from a (January–March 2011) travel supplier are more likely to purchase from the brand.9 Even with the rise of social media, email remains one of the American 4.6 highest ROI marketing tools. Ninety percent of the brands in the study maintain an email marketing program. Most averaged only one email every two weeks. American Airlines was the Continental 1.9 most prolific, averaging almost five emails a week, more than AIRLINE 2.5 times the number of messages from the next brand. Emirates 1.2 There is still significant low-hanging fruit in email marketing. CRUISE Ten brands that offered email opt-in failed to correspond within Air Canada 1.0 a six-week period. Across categories, 87 percent of email messaging from brands was not optimized for a mobile device. HOTEL Southwest 0.9 EMAIL MARkETInG JetBlue 0.9 % of Brands Lindblad Expeditions 0.8 Email Opt-in 90% 10% Qantas 0.7 Welcome Email 66% 34% = NO = YES Additional Hilton 0.7 Marketing Emails 79% 21% Link to Social 56% 44% Media on Email Frontier 0.7 Email Viewable on Mobile 13% 87% Etihad Airways 0.7 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0 1 2 3 4 5 9. “Flying High: Measuring the Value of Email Marketing for the Travel Industry”, Epsilon Data Management, February 2009 © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 26
- 27. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US kEY FInDInGS An Approved Portable Electronic Device M O B I L E P R E S E n C E BY C AT E G O R Y % of Brands with the Following: Increasingly, travelers are turning to their mobile devices to help research, plan, manage, document, and share their travel ex- 100% periences. Next year, 15.1 million people are expected to book AIRLINES travel using a mobile device.10 Of the brands in the Index, 56 76% 75% percent have a mobile site and 48 percent have a smart-phone 66% 61% application. Twelve brands have apps designed for the latest CRUISE LINES 50% must-have accessory, the iPad. Hotels and Airlines are the 50% most active in the mobile space, with many allowing customers to book, check in, and track their loyalty points online. 24% HOTELS 25% 13% 11% 6% 0% 0% Mobile Site Smartphone App iPad App “ Genius brands are optimizing their existing sites for mobile and going further by creating mobile-specific tools to target travelers. ” —Melissa Dowler | Chief Marketing Officer, ISM I P h O n E A P P C A PA B I L I T I E S BY C AT E G O R Y % of Brand Apps with the Following: 100% “ Mobile applications will be of relatively less importance, given the increased technological 79% AIRLINES sophistication of mobile sites along with the limited 73% 75% number of apps that smart-phone users tend to download. ” 63% —Stuart Levy | Assistant Professor, Dept. of Tourism & Hospitality 55% Management, The George Washington University School of Business HOTELS 50% 47% 42% 25% 14% NA 0% 10. “Mobile Travel Takes Off: Emerging Trends and Best Practices for Marketers,” Book Check-In Loyalty Boarding Pass eMarketer, March 2011 © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 27
- 28. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS AIRLInES SOAR On TwITTER Nine of the 10 most followed travel brands on Twitter are air- lines. From the brand perspective, airlines are trying to combat Air new Zealand’s increasing consumer frustration in the face of rising fees by “12 Days of Valentine’s” campaign prompts proactively engaging their communities. tweets from its followers During Air New Zealand’s “12 Days of Valentines” Twitter cam- paign, followers were encouraged to respond to the question, “What is your favorite cuddle position?” Each day the most creative answer was selected by judges to win a round-trip flight for two on a Skycouch to Auckland or London. @AirNZUSA grew its followers 76 percent two weeks into the promotion. To celebrate the inaugural Airbus A380 flight from Germany to New York City, @Lufthansa_USA Twitter followers were allowed to select one seat on the virtual A380 seat map. Each day for four days, one virtual passenger was randomly selected to win a vacation package to Frankfurt. In two weeks, @Lufthansa_USA gained 2,000 new followers. The airline also paired the online campaign with an offline component, a one-day scavenger hunt in New York’s trendy SoHo neighborhood to win a pair of round- trip tickets to Europe, with clues posted on its Twitter account. Lufthansa utilizes Twitter for flight give-aways © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 28
- 29. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS Delta uses Twitter to address both customer service Delta uses Twitter to monitor customer service issues and com- issues and real-time plaints 24/7, employing its @Delta and @DeltaAssist accounts travel information to preempt passenger issues. The latter account is particularly active, rebooking customers’ flights when they Tweet in-flight, of- fering reimbursements, posting travel advisories, and using real- time info to adjust on-the-ground operations at boarding gates. True to its value DNA, JetBlue was one of the first airlines to embrace Twitter as a platform to broadcast last-minute deals. Its @JetBlueCheeps account was launched in July 2009 with tantalizingly low fares ($49 each way to Las Vegas!). “ The importance of mobile to the travel category is right there in its name: mobile. From the moment your customer leaves Point A on their way to any Point B, their mobile devices are going to be their primary means of consuming—and generating content. ” —Bob Minihan | Chief Creative Officer, ISM JetBlue broadcasts last-minute deals through Twitter © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 29
- 30. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS norwegian Cruise Line allows users to start a countdown PLAYInG OFFEnSE and connect with cruisers pre- Taking a page from the playbooks of travel portals Expe- embarkment dia and TripAdvisor, travel brands are attempting to foster the same sense of community and brand loyalty that the OTAs have achieved. Norwegian Cruise Line’s online forum, “Freestyle Voices,” allows past cruisers to post reviews on the ship and shore excursions. Future passengers can ask questions about their upcoming trip and start a countdown clock that doubles as a vehicle for connecting cruisers pre- embarkment. Sheraton’s “Better When Shared” virtual community allows travelers to recount their experiences at and memories of various Sheraton properties and give advice on local attrac- tions, dining, shopping, and more to future travelers. With Facebook sharing and an interactive interface, the microsite is a good first step to building a digital community. Many of the posted stories, however, read as little more than adver- tisements for a specific property’s amenities. Fairmont’s highly interactive “Everyone’s an Original” is a more robust community effort, with a large library of user- generated content across a wide breadth of categories, including mixology and the 2010 Olympics. Fairmont salts original content, including recipes from property chefs. Sheraton has built “ Savvy travel brands provide a forum for customers to a digital community share feedback on their own web and social media through customer’s sites. This lets them monitor and participate in con- shared experiences and memories versations and scores authenticity points with potential customers. ” —Melissa Dowler | Chief Marketing Officer, ISM Fairmont boosts community spirit through its interactive “Everyone’s an Original” site © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 30
- 31. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS KLM SURPRISE In ThE SkIES KLM introduced a campaign this past holiday season to surprise, delight, and reward its customers. The KLM Surprise team moni- tored Foursquare activity at its locations. For each passenger who checked in, the team searched for corresponding Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts to determine a personalized sur- prise gift for the customer waiting in the terminal. Gifts included champagne, notebooks, and a custom itinerary of New York’s best soccer bars. Not satisfied to stop there, KLM uploaded pic- tures of surprised passengers to Facebook and monitored con- versations about the campaign across social media platforms. kLM uses Foursquare to surprise passengers with hand-selected gifts © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 31
- 32. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS KLM DJS On A PLAnE! In March, a Dutch DJ and filmmaker tweeted disappointment that KLM’s recently reinstated Amsterdam-Miami flight would depart one week too late for the annual preeminent Ultra Music Festival. KLM responded, challenging the duo to find enough passengers to fill an earlier flight. Five hours later, 150 travelers were signed up and shortly thereafter were airborne in what became the Guinness World Record for the world’s highest dance party. kLM’s in-flight DJ dance party all began with a tweet © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 32
- 33. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS AA (ThE) UPWARDLY MOBILE AMERICAN Leaving its competitors in its airstream, American Airlines has blazed a path to mobile dominance. American’s mobile foot- print includes commerce functionality across its mobile iPhone, iPad, and Android apps. All three apps enable fliers to quickly book reservations, monitor flight status, check in, and generate an electronic boarding pass. American’s mobile apps provide upgrades to the travel experience with offers such as AA sudoku, terminal maps, and one-day passes to Admirals Club lounges. American Airlines allows passengers to search, book, track, and even board flights all from their mobile device © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 33
- 34. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS MAnDARin ORiEnTAL A LUxURY hOTEL In ThE PALM OF YOUR hAnD Mandarin Oriental’s free iPhone app matches the brand’s reputa- tion for timely service and a chic aesthetic. Using stunning imagery from properties around the world, the app features seamless search and reservation functionality. Users can find a hotel and This app provides guests with detailed immerse themselves in the brand with photos, detailed amenities, amenities, city information, and city information, and special offers. special offers worldwide Mandarin Oriental’s homepage © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 34
- 35. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS LuFThAnSA ThE DIGITAL CARRY-On Combating boredom in the skies, Lufthansa recently unveiled CloudStream, a social content site. Users can “pack” articles, music, videos, and other online content for quick access while traveling. With a browser bookmark, adding content to their “My carry-on” is as simple as a click and is accessible over any Internet connection, including Lufthansa’s in-flight Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi on other airlines, or at home. Additionally, Lufthansa takes the extra step of curating content feeds across categories such as art, travel, and business. This is not the airline’s first foray into enhancing the flight expe- rience. In 2009, Lufthansa launched the MySkyStatus website app that sent passengers’ altitude, location, departure, and arrival updates to their Facebook and Twitter accounts, regard- less of what airline they were flying. Lufthansa’s digital carry-on helps passengers curate content to access while traveling © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 35
- 36. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS WALT DiSnEY WORLD RESORT / CRuiSES MICkEY MEETS ZUCk One of the most iconic travel destinations in the world, Walt Disney World has no trouble attracting a massive fan base on Facebook. Feature-rich tabs include Share Memories, I’m Going to Walt Disney World, and Epcot® Flower & Garden. Mickey’s Facebook page offers behind-the-scenes videos, trav- el advice, and planning resources, and solicits user-generated content. Antithetical to social media, however, is users’ inability to post on Disney’s wall. Share memories and plan your trip through Disney’s Facebook page © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 36
- 37. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS FOuR SEASOnS A SEASOn FOR FAMILIES / FAMILY FOR ALL SEASOnS Four Seasons has always been synonymous with the highest quality service, creating a “home away from home.” No surprise then that the brand’s latest campaign focuses on families and memories. The recently launched “Have Family Will Travel” blog offers varied tales from writers who have traveled the world with family in tow. Featuring rich media, tips, stories, and more, it’s quickly becoming a go-to blog for the family on the move. Four Seasons has incorporated the blog as the landing tab on its Facebook page, unifying its web presence. In conjunction with the blog, the Facebook tab also solicits guests to upload photos of their vacation memories to an easy-to-use music video generator. The Four Seasons blog has developed a community of like-users who share experiences of traveling with a family in tow © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 37
- 38. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS inTERCOnTinEnTAL ThE VIRTUAL COnCIERGE Recognizing that a trip starts well before their guest re- ceives a room key, many hotels offer itinerary-enhancing content on their sites. Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts leads the way, encouraging guests to “Explore the Area” around each property with a variety of virtual services. Each hotel’s chief concierge has recorded videos featur- ing spotlights on hotel amenities, dining, local attractions, shopping advice, and more. Each video is shareable via email and downloadable for use on the go. Property pages also recommend the “perfect day” itinerary for that locale. InterContinental’s Chief Concierge highlights the area hotspots and can be viewed on the go The “Perfect Day” itinerary assists guests in making the most of their stay © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 38
- 39. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US FLASh OF GEnIUS DELTA FACEBOOk FRIEnDS wAnT TO FLY TOO Delta is turning its social communities into customers. Its sleek “Ticket Counter” feature on Facebook works efficiently, enabling users to search flights, book reservations, manage their rewards miles, obtain flight status and check in for a flight. The app, which requires no installation or application, drives incremental traffic to Delta.com with call-outs to learn more about travel advisories, in-flight amenities, and the SkyMiles program. Code-share partner, Air France, followed Delta’s lead, launching F-Commerce, resulting in a tripling of its Facebook fan base. Delta’s Facebook ticket counter drives incremental traffic to their site © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 39
- 40. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US TEAM: L2 SCOTT GALLOwAY marking projects for hospitals, including UCLA Medi- recently, she led creative services at ELLE during Professor of Marketing, NYU Stern cal Center, UCSF, and HCA. She has gone on to lead the most successful years of the magazine’s history, Founder, L2 research and consulting efforts focused on digital developing innovative integrated marketing programs Scott is a Clinical Associate Professor at the NYU media, private banking, M&A, insurance industry risk for advertisers. Christine received a B.A. in Econom- Stern School of Business where he teaches brand management, and renewable energy economics for ics and Journalism from the University of Connecticut strategy and luxury marketing and is the founder of professional firms and academics. Maureen has a and an M.B.A from NYU Stern. L2, a think tank for digital innovation. Scott is also B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University and the founder of Firebrand Partners, an operational an M.B.A. from NYU Stern. TAnUJ PARIkh activist firm that has invested more than $1 billion in L2 U.S. consumer and media companies. In 1997, he R. DAnIELLE BAILEY Tanuj began his career as a project manager at the founded Red Envelope, an Internet-based branded L2 Center for Economic Transformation at the New York consumer gift retailer (2007 revenues: $100 million). Danielle began her career at The Home Depot, Inc., City Economic Development Corporation, where he In 1992, Scott started Prophet, a brand strategy where she led a variety of internal consulting engage- worked on a variety of initiatives designed to grow consultancy that employs more than 250 profession- ments focused on supply chain, merchandising, the city’s innovation economy. Tanuj is also the co- als in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Scott was and in-store process improvement. She went on to founder and director of UniThrive.org, a peer-to-peer elected to the World Economic Forum’s “Global Lead- manage the implementation of award-winning mobile student lending social enterprise. In 2007, he was ers of Tomorrow,” which recognizes 100 individuals initiatives for several large media clients, including a Kenya-based Fellow for Kiva.org, the world’s first under the age of 40 “whose accomplishments have The New York Times Co., NBC Universal, Disney/ peer-to-peer lending marketplace for the poor. Tanuj had impact on a global level.” ABC, Maxim magazine, and Zagat. Danielle has a received his A.B. in government with a secondary in B.S. in systems engineering from the University of economics from Harvard University. Scott has served on the boards of directors of Eddie Virginia and an M.B.A. from NYU Stern. Bauer (Nasdaq: EBHI), The New York Times Company CAnDICE MORTIMER (NYSE: NYT), Gateway Computer, eco-America, and L2 ChRISTInE PATTOn UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. He received Creative Director, L2 Candice started her career in hotel group sales for a B.A. from UCLA and an M.B.A. from UC Berkeley. Christine is a brand and marketing consultant with Marriott in White Plains, New York. She then moved more than 15 years of experience creating brand into logistical planning of special events in Miami and MAUREEn MULLEn identities and marketing communications for aspi- later Lower Manhattan. Candice is a member of the L2 rational and luxury brands. She began her career at Professional Convention Management Association Maureen leads L2’s research and advisory group Cosí, where she developed the brand and oversaw and serves on the International Meetings task force. and has benchmarked and/or developed digital and its evolution from concept through growth to 100 She earned a B.S. in hospitality management from social media initiatives for more than 300 prestige restaurants. Since then she has provided creative Syracuse University and a will receive a master’s in brands. She began her career at Triage Consulting direction for a wide array of clients, including the tourism administration from The George Washington Group in San Francisco. At Triage, she led several launch of Kidville and CosmoGIRL! magazine. Most University in May. managed care payment review and payment bench- © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 40
- 41. DiGiTAL iQ Index ®: Travel Want to know more about your brand’s ranking? COnTACT US TEAM: ISM & GWSB GARY LEOPOLD and Partner at Holland Mark in Boston, ADWEEK STUART LEVY President & CEO, ISM magazine named the agency one of the top 10 Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism & creative agencies in the United States. His resume Hospitality Mangagement, The George Washington Gary is the President and CEO at ISM, where he sets also includes the title of Creative Director at Arnold University School of Business the vision and serves as lead strategic advisor for all clients. His thinking has influenced such brands and Worldwide and additional brand experience including Stuart is an Assistant Professor in the Department of destinations as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, McDonald’s, T.J. Maxx, Titleist, Foot-Joy, Pinnacle, Tourism and Hospitality Management at The George Sheraton, Abercrombie & Kent, American Express, Dreyfus Funds, Citizens Bank, and the Massachu- Washington University School of Business, where Hong Kong, The Islands of the Bahamas, Barbados, setts Office of Travel and Tourism. His awards include he teaches hospitality industry management and Emirates, Harley-Davidson, and more. Gary often lec- the One Show, Cannes, CA, Mercury, Athena, Kelley, internet marketing courses to undergraduate and tures at universities, while being regularly published Obie, and Clio. graduate students. Stuart’s current research focuses in leading travel industry publications. on relationship marketing, mobile technology, and MELISSA DOwLER corporate social responsibility in the hospitality Prior to co-founding ISM, Gary held the position of Chief Marketing Officer, ISM industry, and his work can be found in academic Worldwide Corporate Director of Public Relations for Melissa brings a wealth of digital and social media publications including the Journal of Travel Research Sonesta International Hotels Corporation. Gary is also experience to her position as Chief Marketing Officer and the Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing. the proud recipient of the Albert E. Koehl Lifetime at ISM. She is a builder of teams, relationships, and Achievement Award in travel advertising from the successful marketing campaigns with a career his- Before academia, Stuart worked as a consultant Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International tory that spans industries, media, and continents. for PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Global Hospital- (HSMAI), an honor he shares with Michael Eisner and Melissa offers a dozen years of international strategic ity and Leisure Practice, and he has also served Sir Richard Branson, among others. Gary is a past marketing experience to ISM clients, having worked in management positions for tour operations and President of HSMAI and serves on the board of the in London at IMC.UK and Arc Integrated Market- internet marketing firms. He received a B.S. in Hotel HSMAI Foundation. He is also the current president of ing on global brands including Kellogg’s, Tesco, Administration from Cornell University, an M.B.A the MAGNET global agency network. Shell, and The Government of Jamaica Food & from Georgetown University, and a Ph.D. from the Drink Exports. In addition to her extensive traditional University of Calgary. BOB MInIhAn marketing background, Melissa has brought innova- Chief Creative Officer, ISM tive digital and social media strategy to brands such As Executive Creative Director and Partner at ISM, as Reebok and The Drew Company (World Trade Bob is responsible for all ISM creative content. His Center, Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, travel brand experience includes Four Seasons Ho- Seaport Hotels). tels and Resorts, Emirates airline, American Express Travel Services, Best Western Hotels, Barbados, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club, Fodor’s, and FareCompare. In his previous position as ECD © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com 41
- 42. u PCOM inG EVE nTS 05.20 .11 L2 Clinic Emerging Digital Media Platforms While Facebook dominates the social media landscape, a multitude of other digital platforms and new consumer behaviors that surround them have emerged. In isolation, these platforms may not have reached critical mass; but in aggregate, they provide a fertile ground for brands to run L2 is a think tank for digital innovation. creative experiments, reach new consumers, and glean We are a membership organization that brings together thought leadership insights into wholly new forms of digital self-expression and from academia and industry to drive digital marketing innovation. consumer activity. 06 . 24 .11 L2 Clinic Mobile & Geolocal Every year has been touted the “year of mobile.” However, R ESEARCh looking back at 2010, predictions and estimates on the Digital IQ Index®: The definitive benchmark for online competence, Digital IQ Index® reports score explosive growth of mobile devices, smart phones, and the brands against peers on more than 350 quantitative and qualitative data points, diagnosing their ubiquity of mobile web have all reigned true; we are now at digital strengths and weaknesses. an inflection point. EVE nTS 07. 22.11 L2 Clinic Video & Celebrity Forums: Big-picture thinking and game-changing innovations meet education and entertainment. The largest gatherings of prestige executives in North America. This half-day immersion explores successful strategies to drive 300+ attendees engagement and brand awareness through the use of online video and traditional—and untraditional—celebrities. Clinics: Executive education in a classroom setting with a balance of theory, tactics, and case studies. 60 –120 attendees Working Lunches: Members-only lunches led by digital thought leaders and academics. u PCOM inG R ESEARC h Digital IQ Index® Reports Topic immersion in a relaxed environment that encourages open discussion. Financial Services Beauty 12 – 24 attendees Prestige Facebook Index Fashion & Leather Goods MBA Mashups: Access and introduction to digital marketing talent from top MBA schools. Magazines Watches & Jewelry China: Prestige 100 Gen Y Affluents: CO nSu LT inG Prestige Brand Ranking Advisory Services: L2 works with brands to garner greater return on investment in digital initiatives. Specialty Retail Advisory work includes Brand Digital Roadmaps, Social Media Strategy, and Site Optimization engagements. MEMBERS hiP For membership info and inquiries: [email protected]
- 43. A ThInk TAnk for DIGITAL InnOVATIOn 821 Broadway, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10003 W: L2ThinkTank.com E: [email protected] © L2 2011 L2ThinkTank.com