Posts by author

Automatic

2825 posts

Sojern’s 2025 State of Destination Marketing Report

📌 In a 2025 report involving nearly 200 global DMOs, 85% are either maintaining or boosting digital ad budgets. A notable 83% utilize programmatic advertising, 97% use display ads, 90% opt for social media, and 80% choose search marketing. AI is used by 63% for content, but only 28% apply it to data analysis. Additionally, 52% favor always-on marketing, 84% leverage data for insights, yet 51% struggle with analysis. Social media remains potent, while CTV and short-form video are on the rise.
View Post
Share

Canadians may soon change their travel plans

🏙 On Feb 5, 2025, President Trump's 25% tariff threat led to potential travel industry losses of $2.1 billion and 140,000 hospitality jobs in the US due to a predicted 10% drop in Canadian visitors. Canadians are canceling vacations, particularly affecting Florida and California. Flight Centre reported increased cancellations of US trips, including vacations over $10,000 CAD since early February.
View Post
Share

Marriott wants 100% of your travel wallet

🏨 Marriott, in 2024, achieved 6.8% net unit growth, adding 123,000 rooms and signing for 162,000 more. A corporate reorganization streamlined decision-making. The luxury segment now includes 658 hotels with 266 in development. Bonvoy's 219 million members enjoy enhanced rewards. Marriott's CEO Capuano credits a team-driven approach for the company's efficiency and success. 📍 At the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Marriott outlined plans to broaden its market reach.
View Post
Share

How ‘extended reality’ will transform travel for the next generation

🌍 On February 5, 2025, Extended Reality (XR)—including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR)—is changing the travel industry. Through these technologies, travelers can preview destinations, plan itineraries interactively with programs like Google's pilot with Singapore, and receive personalized recommendations via platforms such as Apple Vision Pro. XR enables immersive 3D recreations of travel memories, providing a new dimension to reliving past experiences.
View Post
Share

Marketers prepare for fragmented search ad landscape

📱 Key facts: TikTok is becoming a search hub; Search behavior shifting due to generative AI; Google's ad tech dominance is under legal challenge; AI and social platforms like Perplexity AI emerging in search advertising; Marketers testing new tools with experimental budgets, cautious of ROI; Search platforms adopting CPM models over CPC; Google maintains ad revenue dominance; Marketers preparing with intent-based strategies and organic channels. [Digiday, Feb 4, 2025]
View Post
Share

How the world’s best hotels deliver exceptional customer experience

🏠 McKinsey reveals that exceptional customer experiences in luxury hospitality stem from a culture of excellence. As of Feb 4, 2025, the emphasis is on anticipating needs and exceeding expectations rather than just lavish decor. Building this culture demands strong leadership, with leaders directly setting high service standards from day one. Empowering employees, updating guest experiences, and personal commitment are essential, leading to increased customer loyalty and long-term value.
View Post
Share

Bleisure travel market poised for rapid expansion

📈 On February 4, 2025, it's reported that 60% of global business travelers combine leisure with work trips, boosting bleisure travel growth, particularly in cities like Singapore and London where hotel occupancy surged by up to 18%. The industry sees a demand for flexible, personalized travel packages, simplified booking via tech, an uptick in sustainable travel options, a preference for authentic cultural experiences, and increased corporate support for bleisure policies.
View Post
Share

Key trends shaping the corporate travel in 2025

💸 Business travel evolves as a strategic asset for collaboration by 2025, with decentralized booking, AI integration, and hub-based team structures at its core. Employees self-book travel using management tools, while AI slowly enhances efficiency. Mergers and acquisitions in the industry foster innovation. Despite tech advances, the necessity for in-person meetings endures. Full details at Travolution.
View Post
Share

Google search trends for restaurants to watch in 2025

🍴 Feb 4, 2025 - Google analyzes restaurant search trends, revealing a 232% increase in "Hot Honey Pizza" searches, a 99% growth for "Food Near Me," and an 875% surge for "Food Near Me Open Now." These trends emphasize the importance of accurate business hours and catering to multilingual patrons with searches like "Restaurants Cerca de Mí" gaining traction.
View Post
Share

OpenAI’s impact on travel search and marketing

📈 On Feb 4, 2025, AI advancements, especially OpenAI's "Operator," are expected to transform travel planning, challenging Google's search engine dominance. Websites must adapt to serve AI agents with structured data, while maintaining human usability. Major travel brands are partnering with OpenAI, anticipating an AI-driven ecosystem. Marketing strategies will shift towards AI optimization. Early adopters in the next 12-24 months could benefit. Consumer preferences will dictate the AI adoption rate.
View Post
Share