richard branson | kiersten rich | damon and jo | louis cole | and more!
issue one FollowMeTo
shaping the social media world
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
www.theinuencersmagazine.com
Matthew Karsten
Issue 1
influencers MAGAZINE Publisher Kevin Rolfe Editor Siddharth Thaker Designers Mike Gibas Mark Askam Editorial Team Ana Strack Christopher O’Toole Rebecca Cohen Phil Blizzard Photography Mark Hakansson Ben Roberts Anjjelo San Buenaventura Business Development Chris Frost Sion Rapson Gina Reynolds Mike Sawicki Chris Frost
Production team Rasha Akar Nadeem George Denis Halilaj Tracy Rolfe Content management Marfee Ybañez Laarni Mendoza Suguitan Heizel Amora Juvilyn Camello Virendra Singh Bhanu Roel Christian Yambao Ai Ling Foong Trishia Delas Alas Kaycee Melon Jel Varca Athena Davadilla Online George Cooke
Influencers Magazine is published by World Luxury Media Momentum House, Lower Road, London, SE1 8SJ, United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 20 7925 0000 M: +44 (0) 7792965550 E: influencersmagazine@ worldluxurymedia.com www.worldluxurymedia.com The use of our Website and Digital Magazine are all subject to the following: All rights reserved. No part of Influencers Magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmied, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from world luxury daily. Whilst every effort has been made to check the information contained in this issue of world luxury daily magazine, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of Influencers Magazine. Unless otherwise stated, the copyright of the individual contribution is that of the contributors. Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holders of images. We apologise in advance for any unintentional omissions and would be pleased to insert the appropriate acknowledgment in any subsequent publication.
© 2017 World Luxury Media
influencers one to ten
1
Brian Kelly Kelly figured out how to game the credit card points and frequent flyer mile systems while living life on the road as a recruiter for Morgan Stanley a decade ago. In 2010, he posted his first blog as The Points Guy, and began doling out tips, tricks and deals. By 2016, his following was such that Chase hired him to launch their newest card, paying upwards of seven figures for the campaign. The 34-year-old leads a team of 20 from his New York base.
instagram.com/thepointsguy facebook.com/thepointsguy twier.com/thepointsguy
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
2
Kiersten Rich At 22, having tried her hand at corporate wealth management, Rich booked a flight across the world on a whim. "I had saved very little money and I had no idea what I was doing," she said. She started blogging what turned into a grand tour of Australia, New Zealand, and southeast Asia and The Blonde Abroad was born. Today, her success is such that she'll co-host a blogging retreat in Bali this summer (cost: $4,200-$4,500).
instagram.com/theblondeabroad www.facebook.com/theblondeabroad twier.com/theblondeabroad
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers one to ten
3
Murad and Nataly Osmann The story has started on our first trip together to Barcelona. We were very young, very much in love, and absolutely carefree. We were strolling along sunny narrow streets, chatting, laughing, and, of course, taking lots of photos. All of a sudden Natasha looked away and pulled Murad forward, and that was the moment when he caught ‘that shot’! Taking a fancy to each other, more and more, we were falling in love with travelling together. It has become our little tradition to bring a ‘post card’ to our friends from every country we went together. An idea of the image in all of them was the same: a girl taking a young man’s hand and leading him to the most iconic places on Earth. It didn’t take long for the overseas media to start talking about the project. And after some articles in Reddit, Daily Mail, and BuzzFeed the obsession took over the whole world.
instagram.com/followmeto/ facebook.com/followmeproject/
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers one to ten
3
Murad and Nataly Osmann We were on fire and work A LOT (really, really a lot!). Art Basel exhibitions and shows in Time Square; collaborations with Google, Macy’s, and Samsung; special projects with National Geographic and NBC Channel. Even found time to finish writing two books! And here we go. One more very important step. This time we proudly present to you our new online project! FollowMeTo.travel is our own map of the world. We are sharing with you our stories about some of the world’s most unknown and unrecognizable landmarks and showing you how a travel to a destination you always dreamt about could become a reality. And it doesn’t matter what language you speak, or how much you earn. With you in mind we created detailed guides tracing #FollowMeTo, adding to them a pinch of secret and very useful instructions from locals, and a dash of our own recommendations. Only here you could literally ‘get inside our heads’ and find out all we think about different countries, airlines, hotels, how to pack your suitcase, and other little things, which when summed up create a whole big picture of a great journey.
instagram.com/followmeto/ facebook.com/followmeproject/ hps://followmeto.travel
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers one to ten
4
Eric Stoen Stoen had always traveled with his kids and shared photos with family and friends, but after winning Conde Nast Traveler's Photo of the Year award in 2012 he decided to move beyond his small circle. He started blogging in early 2014; shortly thereafter, he left his healthcare career of 18 years to share his tips and reviews with his TravelBabbo community full-time.
instagram.com/travelbabbo facebook.com/travelbabbo twier.com/travelbabbo
5
Damon and Jo American Damon Dominique and Brazilian Jo Franco met as college freshmen and bonded over their linguistic abilities (they speak five languages apiece). When they began filming their travels, they were broke, crossing continents on a dime; today, the twentysomething YouTubers have scored partnerships with brands like Toyota, MTV and Greyhound on the back of their quirky, witty travelogues. instagram.com/damonandjo facebook.com/DamonAndJo twier.com/damonandjo
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
6
The Planet D Fortysomething husband and wife team Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil launched their website in 2007 when they took part in the 7,500-mile Tour d'Afrique cycling adventure from Cairo to Capetown. The Toronto film industry veterans soon began traveling all winter, when work was slow, blogging along the way. Today, they run a fully-fledged media company, partnering with the likes of American Express and Cathay Pacific. instagram.com/theplanetd facebook.com/ThePlanetD twier.com/theplanetd
7
Louis Cole British-born Cole started vlogging in 2012, when he took a road trip around the UK on a double-decker bus. Then a DJ, he worked with charities along the way, allowing at-risk youth access to a music studio on board. In the years since, he's amassed almost 2 million subscribers on his 'Fun For Louis' YouTube travel channel and has partnered with Land Rover, Sony, and tourism brands worldwide, among others. instagram.com/funforlouis facebook.com/FunForLouis twier.com/funforlouis influencers MAGAZINE
influencers one to ten
8
Johnny Jet The travel guru (real name: John DiScala) used to loathe flying, and was even reluctant to leave his house at one point. Once he conquered his fears, he became addicted to exploring the world and started accruing miles and points, starting a newsletter in 1995 and a website in 1999. The original travel influencer has partnered with brands including RitzCarlton, Marriott and Avis.
instagram.com/johnnyjet facebook.com/JohnnyJet747 twier.com/JohnnyJet
9
Kate McCulley The blogger known as 'Adventurous Kate' started her first site in 2002 as a college freshman, but launched its current incarnation in 2010. Her niche and area of expertise: female solo travel. Her fans trust her on topics ranging from the best accommodation in Paris to traveling with a sibling; she regularly collaborates with tourist boards in locations as diverse as Finland and Malta. instagram.com/adventurouskate facebook.com/AdventurousKate twier.com/adventurouskate
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
10
Jay Alvarrez This social media star has gained a massive following on Instagram and continues to attract a lot of people. He is an extreme sports enthusiast and an active skydiver and surfer. He travels all around the world with his girlfriend, Alexis Ren, who also has a big Instagram audience, and shares pictures and videos of their adventures together. His primary audience is girls in their late teens. His most recent sponsors on Instagram include Islandview Hawai’i, Lokai, and Hyundai. instagram.com/jayalvarrez facebook.com/jayalvarrezofficial twier.com/jayalvarrez influencers MAGAZINE
Discover Abu Dhabi Discover Abu Dubai is available across • English Platforms: Google Plus, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram • Languages: Weibo, VK, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Arabic • The platforms are updated daily with new and relevant content
discoverabudhabi.co facebook.com/Discover-Abu-Dhabi1474161929559535/ twitter.com/365AbuDhabi instagram.com/365abudhabi uk.pinterest.com/365abudhabi vk.com/abu_dhabi weibo.com/discoverabudhabi1
TOTAL FOLLOWERS:
240,000
World Luxury News World Luxury Newsis available across • English Platforms: Google Plus, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter • Languages: Italian, Portuguese, German, Korean, Japanese, Weibo, VK, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, French • The platforms are updated daily with new and relevant content
luxnews.co facebook.com/pages/World-LuxuryNews/847917261948711 twitter.com/worldluxurynews instagram.com/worldluxurynews uk.pinterest.com/ worldluxurynews
TOTAL FOLLOWERS:
vk.com/worldluxurynews
247,000
weibo.com/worldluxurynews
social media trends Jessica Debrah Travelport.com
How social media has impacted the travel industry The infiltration of technology, especially social media, has turned us into an on-demand society. We now demand fast, simple and personal experiences and social media has allowed this. The impact of social media in all industries has been phenomenal, especially in the travel industry. It has changed the way people choose where they want to go, who they look to for recommendations and how we interact with brands without an intermediary.
Travel recommendations and decisions are easier due to social media We all love a holiday, but not everyone knows how to plan their perfect trip. With an abundance of choices and brands promoting their offers of where to travel, it is increasingly difficult to decide which source to trust. Thanks to the rise of travel bloggers and YouTubers, choosing a source is now simplified. Why? Unlike brands, we trust bloggers recommendations as we deem them to have an impartial view and therefore we feel they are more honest. As a result, 70% of consumers are influenced by bloggers or digital influencers when making a purchase decision. With the rise of social video, YouTube is
now the second largest search engine after Google. People spend on average 15-25 minutes per day on this channel, so no wonder consumers would turn to YouTube when making decisions on where to travel. Influencer marketing generates twice as many sales than paid advertising and these customers have a 37% higher retention rate. Not surprisingly brands work with major travel bloggers and digital influencers such as Nomadic Matt and Fun for Louis. However, it isn’t only bloggers who are influential. Our own personal networks on social media can have a major impact on our purchase decisions. According to AD week, 52% of Facebook users were influenced by their friends’ holiday photos.
Consumers have greater control, thanks to social media Social media has allowed the consumer to hold power over brands and is frequently utilized as a customer service channel. With brands utilizing channels such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate to their end users directly, it has removed the need for intermediaries which makes communication faster and at times more effective. Utilizing social
media as a customer service channel has significant benefits, not only does it create a more personal brand experience but it also allows for an open and transparent dialogue between the brand and customer. For example, Heathrow airport has an award winning Twitter account. They cleverly create and curate user-generated content from their customers. In addition, the company regularly and efficiently answers customer queries within 15 minutes and makes sure to add a personal and polite touch when responding. All of this creates a relationship with their audience.
So what does the future hold for social media in the travel industry... Overall, it is evident that social media is very powerful within the travel industry. However, we cannot conclusively determine the overall effect social will have on the travel industry. It is increasingly evident that as a brand, social media must be used in an effective way to communicate with your audience in order to create deeper and meaningful connections and strong brand presence.
AccorDing to AD week, 52% of fAcebook users were influenceD by their frienDs’ holiDAy photos.
BLOGGER FUN FOR LOUIS
influencers MAGAZINE
social media trends kristen Matthews Convince&convert.com
How to match the perfect travel influencers to your brand
Let’s say your product is ideal for travel—hiking boots, maybe, or one of those folding toothbrushes, a pair of awesome hiking pants, or the most durable suitcase in the world. You want everyone to see it in action, watch it hit the road, and get honest and genuine feedback from the influencers using and showcasing it. In short, you need travel influencers. Who better to tell your brand’s story than an influential traveling power couple who can write, take great photos, and showcase that toothbrush to thousands of followers that have grown to trust them? Good news: These people do exist.
Travel Bloggers With Lots to Share
Choosing Products for Authentic Fit
Meet Hannah and Adam from gettingstamped.com, two thirtysomethings that busted out of the corporate world and decided to travel the globe, all while writing about and photographing everything they see, do, and use. Over 100,000 people see where they go, what they pack, and how they use it every day.
As with all types of influencer marketing, being authentic and complementary to your brand are key components. If it isn’t something your audience would use, forget it. Unless a blogger is a true brand fan, it’s not a post that would do your brand any good, anyways. Always use authentic brand fits as your first filter when vetting.
If you’re a smart marketer, you’re probably craving a chance to showcase your brand in such an authentic and organic experience. We recently talked to Adam of Getting Stamped, and he told us exactly how to do it.
Adam says, “Brand and blog mismatches are one of the biggest causes of failure with influencer campaigns. Many bloggers don’t see the downsides and take the projects anyways. This can cause blogs to lose credibility and brands to waste marketing dollars. It’s a lose/lose.” (highlight to tweet)
“we AlwAys try to give soMe reAl inspirAtion on why soMeone woulD wAnt or neeD A proDuct by tAlking About it in context or weAring/using it in soMe greAt photos.”
HANNAH FROM GETTINGSTAMPED.COM
Adam from gettingstamped.com
In short, don’t stretch. The blogger will feel uncomfortable trying to include the product, and the audience will sniff that out. If another influencer can better integrate your product into their lifestyle, it’s a better choice—even if they have fewer followers!
Adam explains it like this: “We always try to give some real inspiration on why someone would want or need a product by talking about it in context or wearing/using it in some great photos.”
Following that train of thought, it makes sense to have, say, your new toothbrush in a list of must-haves, rather than an individual review. Featuring one item on its own can seem a bit forced. If you include it in a list, or a kit of travel essentials, it has context, and its utility is much more obvious—and it will almost certainly get more clicks. If you want interactive feedback and engagement with the consumer, it’s sometimes best to be a part of one of these lists.
Really getting to know the influencers is one of the more overlooked aspects of this type of marketing. Notice on their blog that they’re heading to the Maldives? Maybe hold off on shipping them the flannel shirts, and send the bikinis instead; it’s much more likely to be appreciated and, most importantly, used and reviewed.
Relationship Building
One of Adam’s favorite campaigns did just that. “If I had to pick just one memorable successful project, it would probably be the ‘7-day Stretch‘ Campaign with PrAna. We had to wear their pants for seven days and take Instagram pictures and share our experience. We took the pants on a road trip full of hiking and outdoor activities that paired well with the brand and our style. It felt natural and unforced, and we got plenty of great shots and a bunch of comments on the clothing in the pictures and posts.”
Likewise, thinking through their travel plans and sending something versatile that is likely to be used every day would make that campaign that much more effective.
influencers MAGAZINE
World Economic News World Economic News Social is available across: • English Platforms: Google Plus, Twitter, Facebook • Languages: Weibo, VK, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese, Korean • The platforms are updated daily with new and relevant content
worldeconomicnews.social facebook.com/World-Economic-Forum-Social1663390230585814/timeline twitter.com/EconomicNews365 instagram.com/economicnews365 pinterest.wef.social vk.com/economicnewssocial weibo.com/5823094655/ profile?topnav=1&wvr=6&is_all=1
TOTAL FOLLOWERS:
66,000
STARS
Social Media Stars Social Media Stars is across 26 platforms: • English Platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google Plus, We Heart It, Tumblr, Flickr, Taringa, Whatsapp, WeChat, Viber, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Reddit, Stumbleupon • Language Platforms: VK, Weibo, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Hindi • The platforms are updated daily with news about social media, celebrity social media posts and social media influencers • A new ‘Influencer of the Week’ post will be done on the site every week
worldsocialmedia.directory
Plus: • linkedin.com/company beta/22310783/ • reddit.com/r/ socialmediastars/ • weheartit.com/ SocialMediaStars • tumbleupon.com/ stumbler/ socialmediastars • flickr.com/people/ socialmediastars • taringa.net/ SocialMediaStars • whatsapp.com • web.wechat.com • snapchat.com
facebook.com/pages/Social-MediaStars/1257024624314518?ref=ts&fref=ts twitter.com/365SMSTARS instagram.com/365socialmediastars uk.pinterest.com/ socialmediastars vk.com/public137303963 weibo.com/socialmediaawards
TOTAL FOLLOWERS:
73,600
influencers eleven to twenty
11
Foster Huntington After quitting his job as a designer for Ralph Lauren in 2011, Foster has travelled all over the country with his VW van, publishing numerous photo books and posting pictures and videos. In 2014, he decided that his nomadic life was enough and it was time to settle… in a treehouse! He documented the building process of “The Cinder Cone” and posted pictures and videos of it on Instagram and even wrote a book about it. His Instagram feed is filled with beautiful scenic shots and his treehouse, that includes a hot tub and a skateboarding rink. He also shares his favorite books and camera equipments.
instagram.com/fosterhunting facebook.com/foster.huntington twier.com/fosterhunting
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
12
Chris Burkard Chris travels all around the world and takes amazing, awe-inspiring pictures that look like they could be your computer’s preset wallpapers. He has worked on global campaigns with Fortune 500 brands, given a TED talk, developed specialty product lines, held workshops to teach photography, and published many books. He has won many awards, including most recently the PMDA Visionary Photography Award in 2016. Most recently on his Instagram, he has posted pictures of Denali National Park, the Westords of Iceland and promoted the sailboats that tour that region as well, and the Yellowstone National Park. instagram.com/chrisburkard facebook.com/ChrisBurkardPhotography twier.com/chrisburkard
13
Alex Strohl Alex is a Madrid born, French photographer, who attempts to capture the most authentic moments of nature. His Instagram feed is filled with calm, serene pictures that makes you appreciate nature. He lives in Whitefish, Montana, but travels on the road with his wife Andrea Dabene, who also has a great Instagram following, to the farthest places in the world. He has been featured in many prestigious publications such as Forbes, Vanity Fair, and Gentleman’s Journal and has many noteworthy clients like Apple, Canon, and Microsoft. instagram.com/alexstrohl facebook.com/alexstrohl twier.com/alexstrohl
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers eleven to twenty
14
Jared Chambers Jared is an LA-based photographer who documents his travels with pictures of people, nature, and cars. His pictures are simplistic and minimal but very aesthetic and beautiful and thus have attracted a lot of people to follow him on Instagram.
Many young people seem to like his approach as his primary audience is people from ages 17 to 24. He has worked with companies such as Lincoln Motor Company, iGNANT, and Front Runner Outfitters.
instagram.com/jaredchambers twier.com/jaredchambers
15
Zach Glassman Zach is a passionate explorer and shares his experiences with authentic and interesting pictures on his Instagram. All his pictures are very different and tell a story of their own. He is the founder of the Passion Passport, which is an organization of travelers and storytellers that seek to inspire people to travel. He has traveled to Lord Howe Island in New South Wales; Matera, Italy; Chengdu, China; and many more!
.instagram.com/zachspassport twier.com/zachspassport
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
16
Matthew Karsten Matthew is a full-time adventure travel blogger and photographer who has been traveling and exploring the world for over 5 years, after leaving his job and close friends and family when he was 29. He takes incredible pictures of people, animals, buildings, and scenic views to share his journey with the world. His primary audience is people in their thirties who share his taste for medieval buildings, exotic animals, and beautiful landscape. instagram.com/expertvagabond facebook.com/ExpertVagabond twiî…&#x;er.com/ExpertVagabond
inuencers MAGAZINE
St. Petersburg is recognised as one of the largest economic, cultural and scientiďŹ c centers of Russia, Europe and the whole world. MagniďŹ cent architectural ensembles, beautiful courtyards, splendid parks, unique museums.
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Discover Saint Petersburg
www.discoversaintpetersburg.co
ST. PETERSBURG 30 SEPTEMBER 2017 | MaRBlE Hall, RuSSian MuSEuM of ETHnogRaPHy DESTINATION St. Petersburg The majestic city of St. Petersburg is gearing up to welcome WTA to Russia for the first time with the Europe Gala Ceremony on 30th September 2017. Having itself been recognised as “Europe’s Leading Destination” and “World’s Leading Cultural City Destination” in 2016 by WTA voters, the capital of culture will take hosting responsibilities of the gliering red carpet gala ceremony. A global cultural centre, St. Petersburg is more than just home to the Hermitage Museum and the Kirov Ballet. With an exceptionally rich history, centuries-old traditions and a bright future, this fascinating destination is built on more than 45 islands and has been modelled in the French style by some of the world’s great architects.
St. Petersburg Commiee for Tourism Development Chairman, Andrey Mushkarev, said: “We will be honoured to host the leading European tourism industry professionals in St. Petersburg in 2017. VENUE Russian Museum of Ethnography The Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg is one of the largest ethnographic museums in the world. It features more than 700,000 artefacts and photographs, which represent the cultural heritage of 157 peoples of European Russia, Siberia, Far East, Caucasus and Crimea, and embraces the period from 18th century to present times. ethnomuseum.ru
WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS EUROPE GALA CEREMONY 2017
www.worldtravelawards.com
influencers eleven to twenty
17
Eelco Roos Eelco is a Dutch photographer that travels to many places in the world and takes portraits of animals, as well as grandiose scenic shots. His feed is filled with pictures from all over the world including Uganda, Canada, and the United States. And while his captions are brief, they have a lot to say and give a glimpse into his witty personality. One of his most liked picture is a shot of the Boreal Prairies and it is absolutely stunning. instagram.com/croyable facebook.com/OnceinaLifetimeHD twier.com/eelcoroos
18
Kirsten Alana Kirsten is a professional photographer that specializes in travel and lifestyle. She lives in New York City and when she is not traveling, she explores and takes pictures of her home city. She has tested camera and smartphone technology for Microsoft, Google, Nokia, Sony, Lensbaby, and Leica, and continues to be an ideal influencer for many brands due to her passion and reputation.
instagram.com/kirstenalana facebook.com/kirstenalanatravels twier.com/KirstenAlana
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
19
Gary Arndt After selling his house in 2007, Gary has been traveling, blogging, and photographing all around the world in over 180 countries. He is a self taught travel photographer who was named Travel Photographer of the Year by both the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association. He mostly works with travel agencies such as G Adventures, Adventure Travel Trade Association, and most recently, TravelAlaska. instagram.com/everythingeverywhere .facebook.com/EverythingEverywhere twier.com/EverywhereTrip
20
Steffi Crivellaro A travel photographer who has produced content for clients ranging from Benefit to Air BnB and Mashable, Steffi is probably best known for her stunning photos on Instagram. With over 75,000 followers, she has built herself a power account and is recognised as a powerful influencer on UK travel.
instagram.com/steffi_daydreame facebook.com/steffidaydreamerpage twier.com/stef_daydreamer
influencers MAGAZINE
11 caDogan garDens https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=RMqY8BcUFKD
The WesTbury hoTel https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=3Ss8F1WHP11
san Domenico house hoTel https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=GUYm5VkJTBa
grosvenor house – a JW marrioTT hoTel https://my.matterport.com/show/?m= odJDqFnYXGM
Fraser TWo beDroom suiTes KensingTon https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=ErN2nW1NfAW
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influencers twenty-one to thirty
21
Elon Musk South African born Elon Musk is the renowned entrepreneur and innovator behind PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. Musk wants to save our planet; he wants to send citizens into space, to form a colony on Mars; he wants to make money while doing these things; and he wants us all to know about it. He is the real-life inspiration for the Iron Man series of films starring Robert Downey Junior. He started a pair of huge dot-com successes, including PayPal, which eBay acquired for $1.5 billion in 2002. Musk was forced out as CEO and so began his lost years in which he decided to go it alone and baffled friends by investing his fortune in rockets and electric cars. Meanwhile Musk’s marriage disintegrated as his technological obsessions took over his life. instagram.com/elonmusk twier.com/elonmusk
22
Alex Hunter 2016 has been a huge year for Alex, winning numerous awards thanks to his breathtakingly successful YouTube channel Attache Travel. This is most definitely one to watch in 2017, as he will undoubtedly soon by gracing our televisions.
instagram.com/cubedweller twier.com/cubedweller
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
23
Paul Johnson Paul brought the world the illustrious blog called A Luxury Travel Blog, which gains over 150,000 unique visitors per month. The blog has gone on to win numerous awards and is often considered to be in the top 10 travel blogs in the world.
instagram.com/paulhjohnson facebook.com/luxurytravel twiî…&#x;er.com/luxury__travel
inuencers MAGAZINE
influencers twenty-one to thirty
24
Jack and Finn Harries Twin brothers Jack and Finn were taking a gap year back in 2012 and wanted to record all of their favourite moments, saving it to their YouTube channel. They certainly didn’t expect such an enthusiastic and addicted audience. The channel now has over 4 million subscribers, while their videos have been watched over 190 million times, not bad for a couple of guys taking a break before University!
instagram.com/finnharries twier.com/jackharries
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
25
William Gray World renowned both for his writing and for his photography, William has released a number of books and was also the presenter on the BBC show Holiday. His work has been featured almost everywhere, including the Guardian, National Geographic and The Times. facebook.com/william.gray twier.com/William_D_Gray
26
Mark Hodson Mark is the co-founder of 101 Holidays and has written for a number of other publications, including the FT and the Telegraph. instagram.com/HuffPost facebook.com/101holidays 101holidays.co.uk/twier-comp/
27
Jini Reddy If you’re into nature and responsible travel then Jini Reddy is your go-to guide. She released a book in October, titled Wild Times, which offers her input on how to experience the natural beauty we have here in the UK. twier.com/@Jini_Reddy influencers MAGAZINE
Rwanda has long been seen as the premiere destination for gorilla tracking, but today more than ever there are dozens of reasons to extend your stay, starting with the 13 species of primates and East Africa’s only canopy walk, all to be found in the dense rainforests of Nyungwe Forest National Park. Still, it’s hardly a surprise that Rwanda developed its reputation for Gorillas—experts estimate that there are only 780 mountain gorillas still in existence anywhere on earth, and one third of these majestic creatures can be found in Volcanoes National Park alone. With the recent reintroduction of lions to Akagera National Park in the east, Rwanda has truly come into its own as a full-fledged safari destination, and to top it all off, it’s not even a day’s drive between each of these world-class attractions.
| 38 |
Discover Rwanda
www.discoverrwanda.co
RWANDA 10 oCToBER 2017 | RadiSSon Blu HoTEl & ConvEnTion CEnTRE, Kigali DESTINATION Rwanda The heart of Africa, remarkable Rwanda is a pristine wilderness of unrivalled biodiversity, including virgin rainforests, beautiful mountains and thundering waterfalls. The thriving capital of Kigali is nestled along picturesque hilltops and renowned for its cleanliness, warm hospitality, and its thriving cultural and culinary scene. Just a two-hour drive away is Volcano National Park – home to an estimated half of the world’s population of wild mountain gorillas. The dramatic landscape also offers thrilling hiking and visits to the fascinating golden monkeys. To experience a classic African safari head to the beautiful Akagera National Park. Meanwhile the Nyungwe National Park is an untouched natural rainforest, filled with biodiversity and home to chimpanzees. www.rwandatourism.com
VENUE Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali Situated just 5km from Rwanda's thriving capital, Kigali, and the Kigali International Airport (KGL), the five star Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre features the first convention centre in Rwanda with room for up to 5,000 delegates. The hotel's plush 292 rooms and suites pamper guests: expect private balconies, deep soaking tubs, flat-screen satellite televisions and complimentary high-speed, wireless Internet. Other amenities include a 24-hour health club, dedicated concierge team, swimming pool, tennis court and a total of 18 meeting rooms – the standout of which is the state-of-the-art auditorium that can hold up to 2,600 guests for weddings or professional business meetings. hps://www.radissonblu.com/en/hotel-kigali
WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS AFRICA GALA CEREMONY 2017
www.worldtravelawards.com
influencers twenty-one to thirty
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Nigel Tisdall If you’ve found yourself reading an article on the Telegraph travel section, there is a fair chance you have been reading an article by this Eloquent writer. It all started for Nigel with a trip to Hong Kong in 1985 and since then he has been addicted to the travel industry. facebook.com/TELEGRAPH.CO.UK twier.com/telegraphnews
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Brian Jackman One of the most decorated travel writers Britain has to offer, Brian has been a key travel influencer for over 30 years, having won travel writer of the year back in 1982. Whether it’s the BBC wildlife magazine or Travel Africa, he is an ever-present within travel publications. What draws me to Brian is his constant battle to protect threatened wildlife in Africa. info@brian-jackman.co.uk
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Philip Bloom Philip has become famous for his filmmaking, often with a travel focus, producing content for the likes of the BBC, CNN, ITV, Canon, Sky, and the list goes on. An influencer both for travellers and for budding videographers, Philip’s blog receives over a million visitors per month. He now has over 130,000 followers on Twitter and has 125,000 subscribers on YouTube.
instagram.com/philipbloom facebook.com/philipbloom twier.com/PhilipBloom
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers thirty-one to forty
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The Travel Mob Originally founded by Urban Travel Blog, The Travel Mob are an umbrella collective of some of the most influential travel bloggers in the world, mostly based in the UK, but with contacts around Europe and North America as well. If you’re looking for a ready-made team to take part in press trips or to undertake content and social media campaigns for your brand or destination, get in contact – or check the website for examples of our work. We’ve worked with Visit Ljubljana, Valencia Tourism and the Spanish Tourist Board (in Menorca, Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia and Murcia) typically reaching over a million people per campaign, and in doing so delivering between 100,000250,000 USD of advertising value for a fraction of the cost.
facebook.com/TheTravelMob/ twier.com/SimonCalder
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Simon Calder If you work in the travel industry then you’ve undoubtedly heard his name before. Simon has been featured on numerous BBC shows over the past decade, while he is currently the senior travel editor at The Independent, having started with the newspaper back in 1994. facebook.com/simon.calder.58 twier.com/SimonCalder
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Richard Branson An inventor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, adventure seeker… there aren’t enough words to describe this man. Having setup Virgin Records back in 1972, his empire grows with every passing day, with an estimated net worth of 4.25 billion pounds. We’re now all waiting for the new fast flights from London to New York, which should only take three and a half hours.
instagram.com/richardbranson/ facebook.com/RichardBranson/ twier.com/richardbranson influencers MAGAZINE
If you’re considering a summer holiday packed with family fun, look no further than Dubai. The city is sprinkled with a host of family-friendly activities and places to see to keep you busy all day long. From outdoor adventures to multiple theme parks and dining options, the choice and variety of experiences makes Dubai the best holiday destination for families.
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Discover Dubai
www.discoverdubai.co
DUBAI 29 oCToBER 2017 | aRMani HoTEl duBai Many theories have been proposed as to the origin of the word "Dubai". One theory suggests the word was used to describe the souq, which was similar to the souq in Ba.[19] Another theory states that the name came from a word meaning "money", as people from Dubai were commonly believed to be rich due to the thriving trading center of the location. An Arabic proverb says "Daba Dubai" meaning "They came with a lot of money." According to Fedel Handhal, a scholar on the UAE's history and culture, the word Dubai may have come from the word daba (a past tense derivative of yadub, which means "to creep"), referring to the slow flow of Dubai Creek inland. The poet and scholar Ahmad Mohammad Obaid traces it to the same word, but to its alternative meaning of "baby locust" due to the abundant nature of locusts in the area before selement.
VENUE Armani Hotel Dubai The first word in luxury, the last and most of those in between, Armani Hotel Dubai – the debut hotel from fashion designer Giorgio Armani – occupies 10 of the 160 floors in the iconic Burj Khalifa. Accommodation consists of 78 rooms and 82 suites, which come in 11 different sizes. Regardless of which room you plump for, expect floor-to-ceiling windows, bespoke furnishings, king-sized beds and iPads that control everything - from the 40-inch flat-screen televisions to the curtains, lighting and front door. However what really sets the Armani Hotel Dubai apart is its dedication to personalisation: every guest is assigned a personal butler-concierge whose only goal is to ensure you are spoilt non-stop. www.armanihoteldubai.com
WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS MIDDLE EAST GALA CEREMONY 2017
www.worldtravelawards.com
influencers thirty-one to forty
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David Attenborough An absolute national treasure, David Attenborough’s BBC series of Planet Earth 2 has kept audiences eyes glued to the screen. The Iguana vs snake scene is now recognised as one of the greatest moments in TV history and went viral around the world. His voice is one of the most recognised in the world and he creates travel lust like no other.
instagram.com/bbcearth facebook.com/bbcearth twier.com/bbcearth
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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Selena and Jacob According to Instagram, the couple that travels together, stays together. Los Angeles natives, Selena and Jacob, left their lives in California to travel and document their exotic getaways. We'll warn you, checking out their feed will likely result in some major travel envy.
instagram.com/finduslost facebook.com/finduslost twier.com/finduslost
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Loïc Lagarde Loic Lagarde’s photography is otherworldly, literally. His photography skills truly shine in his collection of gorgeous images from his explorations all over the world– and you can follow each and every one of them, from Paris to Patagonia, via his account. instagram.com/loic80l facebook.com/loiclagardephoto
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers thirty-one to forty
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Jack Morris It’s hard not to get lost in Jack Morris’ feed of impressive photos from around the globe. He’s currently living in Bali but spends most of his time photographing and exploring the world with his other half, @gypsea_lust, and their feeds are the definition of #relationshipgoals and #travelgoals. instagram.com/doyoutravel facebook.com/doyoutravelphoto twier.com/doyoutravel
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Lauren Bullen From the sand dunes in Abu Dabi to ethereal ocean views in Greece, Lauren Bullen’s photos make us wanting to book our trip to wherever she is immediately–and look as good in the bikinis she sports while doing it. instagram.com/gypsea_lust
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Kelly Lack Kelly Lack, an alum at some of the top lifestyle companies such as Martha Stewart, One King's Lane, and Spot, delights her Instagram followers with beautifully curated images of her favorite spots (pun not intended) from her latest journeys. When you're traveling to California, hit up her Instagram account for hidden gems–she's based in San Francisco and knows the best in the West. instagram.com/kellyalack/
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Gigi Hopkins Gigi Hopkins' feed is a free city guide to the places we want to go to now. She left her corporate job to live life on the road, and is sharing her favorite finds to her loyal audience. From the Catskills in Upstate New York to Orpheus Island in Australia, you can trust her to guide you to all of the hottest spots and hidden gems–especially when she's chatting about her hometown of Melbourne, or contributing her best tips to BAZAAR.com as one of our contributing travel editors..
instagram.com/_itsbeautifulhere twier.com/sobeautifulhere influencers MAGAZINE
KITzBüHEL 17-19 novEMBER 2017 | a-RoSa KiTzBüHEl | auSTRia World Ski Awards™ is the only global initiative to recognise, reward and celebrate excellence in ski tourism. It's annual 3 day event is the only time that the international leaders of the industry come together to exchange local knowledge, innovations and principles of best practise on a global stage.
We are thrilled to announce that Kitzbühel – the home of legends – will once again host ski tourism's undisputed event of the year over 3 action packed days! A host of exclusive VIP networking events and once in a lifetime ski experiences will be built around the red carpet awards ceremony and the formal start of the 2017 winter ski season. www.worldskiawards.com
WORLD SKI AWARDS KITzBüHEL 2017
www.worldskiawards.com
social media trends Andy black The Drum Network
rules of engagement: the modern day travel influencer
Travel bloggers have fast become more influential than review websites for those looking to escape to dreamy beaches and buzzing cities. The Drum Network asked some of our members and some travel industry marketers: how can marketers tap into the vast array of high profile bloggers without discrediting their authenticity with sponsored content?
Will Weeks head of content, Contiki Credibility is based on how bloggers engage with and are perceived by their audiences, so how marketers research and evaluate during outreach is vital. You need to ask yourself, does your product legitimately fit within their brand and travel behaviour, and how does their audience trust and engage
with branded content? When it comes to money and credibility, you have to trust your product. Pay for the experience, don’t pay for the endorsement. We’re increasingly seeing value in the advocacy driven by micro-influencers, particularly their impact across dark social. It’s a great, scalable way to combine influence and authenticity.
the first place. If customers are at the heart of what you do then you will ascertain the real value to them of consuming that content before you associate your brand with it. If the content is valuable, easy to consume and most importantly ‘personally relevant’ then most customers probably couldn’t care less whether it’s sponsored or not.
Brad Smith commercial director, Sagiarius
Michaela MacIntyre business development director, Gravity Thinking
Marketers need to ask one simple question regarding any content they choose to tap into. How does this content actually benefit my audience? Put simply if the content provides no real value or benefit or feels like irrelevant sponsored content you risk losing the credible reputation, trust and respect that you no doubt worked hard to gain in
Controversially, I don’t think the introduction of disclosure by influencers is a problem. It really shouldn’t be, if you’re doing influencer marketing right. An influencer worth their salt has painstakingly built an audience through authenticity and wouldn’t dream of promoting a brand (travel or otherwise) that they don’t like.
“MArketers neeD to Ask one siMple question regArDing Any content they choose to tAp into. how Does this content ActuAlly benefit My AuDience?”
PAUL JOHNSON A LUXURY TRAVEL BLOG
Brad Smith of Sagittarius
The good ones know that if they do this, they’ll damage their ability to earn in the long run. So, even if you are paying for the relationship, you can bet that if they’ve agreed to work with you, they genuinely like your product. Most good influencers will begin their relationship with you with an honest discussion (especially if they’ve not heard of you before) stating that they might choose to not work with you once they’ve reviewed your brand and objectives. Stop worrying about getting around disclosure, marketers. Rather, spend more time up front finding influencers who have genuine affinity with what your brand stands for.
Bob D’Mello head of campaigns, Roast I’d say there are two things key to
strong influencer marketing in the travel vertical. It’s important to identify and work with influencers relevant to your brand – finding the right fit is half the battle. Identify creative and skillful influencers who reflect your brand, rather than concentrating on the size of their following or engagement numbers. And when working with influencers in the past, the more collaborative the approach, the more likely you are to see genuine, authentic content that reflects not just how you see your brand, but how real people see it, use it or interact with it.
Steve Wilkins head of content strategy, BWP Group The key for marketers is to build relationships with bloggers and identify key messages early on. At BWP Group, we find high profile bloggers via a tried and tested social
media outreach programme and then meet with them face to face or through video conference calls to share our content strategy, and look for possibilities that will provide a win-win partnership. This approach enables us to identify if the blogger will be able to utilise their everyday experience with the products the brand sells or services they offer and provide authentic and engaging content that will resonate with the brands audience. As somewhat of a self-confessed foodie who loves nothing better to cook and more importantly eat, in my spare time I am always looking for inspiration for new dishes from far and wide which is why my favourite travel bloggers are the Travel Eaters, JB and Renée, who travel the globe and document the vast array of different food and delicacies as they do it.
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Tala Byrne senior channel manager, Dog Great travel blogs are built on being aspirational, or useful to their audience (or sometimes both). To tap into the power of travel bloggers without it becoming forced, marketers should give the blogger freedom to create content, which still resonates with audiences in this way. Insisting on ‘must use’ taglines, imagery or talking points to be used in the content aren’t a good idea – authentic content needs to represent that blogger’s voice and their take on the brand or product. Ambassador partnerships with just a few bloggers are becoming more prominent and are often the best way to achieve this. My favourite travel blogger would have to be The Blonde Abroad. Not only does she have a killer Instagram feed full of colourful, aspirational shots, but her website itself has some great information – she adds value to aspiring travellers with detailed destination guides accessed via an interactive map and travel tips from solo travelling to exploring on a budget. Her partnerships with brands are always relevant to her readers and fit her personal brand and style as well, which is key.
Chris Nurko global chairman, FutureBrand Paid-for reviews, blogs and marketing, like travel agents, are seen as useful but biased. Holiday researchers want to hear from visitors like them, who paid the same and were treated the same, not given the special attention of a reviewer. Interesting to note, that on sites such as TripAdvisor and its specialist sister Cruise Critic, more than 80% of reviews are positive. In a sector all about creating joy and memories, this underscores the importance people place on sharing
the ‘good news’ of where they have been and enjoyed themselves. We all value having our ‘expertise’ rewarded, and are happy to share the ‘secrets’ of a good holiday.
Rich Wand head of UX and planning Hugo & Cat As people start to dream about their next trip, destination marketing organisations need to raise their game in how they inspire and lure these potential visitors. This needs a shift from traditional marketing of idealised images and controlled narrative. Travel bloggers have managed to bottle the desired ‘realness’ in a way that inspires and captivates. Hugo & Cat clients are already seeing the value in collaborating with influential bloggers, but understand the terms of engagement ensures what creates the connection with bloggers’ audiences isn’t compromised. Vis-a-vis, clients need to be a little bit brave; give bloggers the freedom to tell their stories to their audience without being censored or filtered. The moment their authenticity strays, the credibility on both fronts is lost. Done well, this is proven to be a potent tool for engaging the motivations and emotional needs of travellers.
Carolyn Spencer Brown editor, Cruise Critic Reviews by travellers are vital and carry more weight than paid-for or paid-by bloggers because the reviews are honest, real and often are related to the aspects of travel that the ‘average person’ wants to know. The details and things to consider that an experienced traveller such as a blogger might take for granted.
Billy Leonard senior account executive, Harvest Digital They key to tapping into the network that travel bloggers have is realising why travel bloggers are so influential. People want to romanticise and realise the trips that we see travel bloggers experience. Consumers want to see personalised, authentic reviews from people they can trust – not heavily branded content. Sending travel bloggers on holiday is an easy way to get them to give unbiased reviews. Don’t try and control the messaging, remember that making sure that you still retain authenticity is the key here. And avoid branded hashtags. Nothing screams #ad more than a branded hashtag. One of my favourite travel bloggers is Emily Luxton. I’ve worked with her previously and I really admire her work ethic and integrity. I encounter so many bloggers that are only in it for the money, so I really admire that about her. Plus her Instagram is literally #travelgoals.
Cat Birch marketing manager, Koozai Influencer marketing has fast become a vitally important strategy within the marketing mix for every industry, but especially so in travel. Blogging, vlogging and social influencing is now an established career and we need to get over the fear of paying for these services. Work with bloggers rather than buying links. Collaborate as you would with a freelancer, create relevant content and campaigns and only work with influencers who naturally fit with your brand. The more natural and fitting the partnership, the less focus there is on sponsoring.
JACK MORRIS DO YOU TRAVEL
“trAvel bloggers hAve MAnAgeD to bottle the DesireD ‘reAlness’ in A wAy thAt inspires AnD cAptivAtes.” Rich Wand of Hugo & Cat
influencers MAGAZINE
social media trends TARA MILK TEA
Kris Boorman digital marketing executive, Sagiarius
Theresa Santos account director Immediate Future
Grant Owens chief strategy officer Critical Mass
I’ve seen content creators give their brutally honest thoughts on sponsored content many times, so when a positive review is given, their audience knows that it’s their genuine opinion. I believe that this trust between content creators and their audience is so strong that discrediting authenticity is not a concern. Instead, marketers need to understand that bloggers and YouTubers must always be authentic to keep their audience, ensure that the risk of an online thrashing is kept minimal by carefully assessing their chosen content creator’s suitability, and make sure their service offerings are airtight.
Travel bloggers are ten-a-penny, but the ones with cut through are those who look at the world from a different angle – they show places in a way that brands simply can’t. Choose bloggers who fit with your audience and have a slightly quirky take on travel, then let them put their own spin on the content they produce for you. By slackening the reins on creative control, you’ll ensure the blogger’s contribution is authentic and in the process, they’ll lend some of their cachet to your own brand.
For the Marriott Hotels site, the brand opted for a ‘quality over quantity’ strategy. Instead of publishing content about hotel properties or travel destinations at great frequency, it is seeking out high-minded topics (eg ‘entrepreneurship’ and ‘curiosity’) penned by well-known authors and cultural authorities. The end product is a high-quality, quarterly digital magazine that lives on the Marriott site. The focus on special, quarterly topics, rather than traditional brand-promotion, ensures that both the authors and brand retain their authenticity, which is vital for connecting with the core audience.
My favourite travel blog is more of an Instagram account – I love @Paperboyo’s take on the world – he transforms famous views and landmarks into something completely different and makes me want to visit all of them in the process.
“on’t look At it As A ‘tApping into’ exercise. look At it As An invitAtion for genuine criticisM AnD/or prAise.”
Loïc LEGARDE
Robert Philbin of Latitude Digital
Joanna Arnold chief executive officer Vuelio The ‘authentic’ and ‘relatable’ image that has made superstars of bloggers and other digital influencers makes it little surprise that most will react violently against anything that threatens that image. This doesn’t necessarily preclude ‘sponsored content’, provided no one’s insisting it appears in disguise, but a better approach (certainly for the influencer) involves some level of co-creation. Co-creation is a broad church. Some influencers are happy to take direction, others will run from any pre or proscription, while most will be willing to negotiate finer points within a framework of mutually beneficial agreed outcomes. When brands identify the influencers they want to work with, considerations should be as much about how they work as what they produce.
And of course, brands need to understand the risks – even when remunerated, bloggers can and will describe any experience, no matter how purportedly luxurious, just as they find it. My favourite travel blog is ‘A Luxury Travel Blog,’ there is a plethora of content and has a great balance of captivating copy and images.
Robert Philbin head of creative Latitude Digital Don’t look at it as a ‘tapping into’ exercise. Look at it as an invitation for genuine criticism and/or praise. Offer a free stay at your hotel. Quality bloggers will Instagram their experience. You don’t need to force it as a condition of the agreement. They might even write a blog, produce a video, record a podcast. It’s their prerogative. If your hotel is excellent, their word-of-mouth recommendations alone are going to cover the cost. If it isn’t, their criticism might be just as valuable,
too. If they ask for payment, don’t be offended. This is their life, not a hobby.
Nico Sarti head of digital strategy, TVC Group Be clear: outline your goals from the start and be open about the reasons why you are connecting with bloggers to support your brand message. Collaborate first: treat their platforms as a playground, you are on their turf, so to a certain extent you need to follow their rules. You are trying to promote your brand as much as they are trying to make a living out of this. It has to be a fair exchange where they create and the advertiser curates. Exclusivity: allow these individuals to have access to exclusive experiences to make sure their content stands out, it’s newsworthy and breaks through the noise of common travel reviews.
influencers MAGAZINE
World Ski News is where you can ďŹ nd the latest and most up to date content on skiing around the globe. Available through the google+ platform, content is added every day from around the world with strong imagery and video wherever possible. News on the best places to ski, the best places to stay, the races, the stars and the ever changing and developing equipment can all be found in an easily digestible format.
www.worldskinews.co
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influencers forty-one to fifty
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Beautiful Destinations A hub of drop-dead amazing travel photos is what's garnered this key Instagram influencer community almost 9 million followers–and that's just for this account. Beautiful Destinations is one of seven accounts that chronicle the worlds most beautiful things, from hotels to apparel to cuisine– and puts them all at your fingertips to lust over. instagram.com/beautifuldestinations/ facebook.com/BeautifulDestinations/ twier.com/beautifuldestinations
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Tara Milk Tea Aside from being the master of food (especially sweets!) photos and breathtaking self-portraits, Tara’s feed also includes images of jaw dropping destinations from her recent adventures to lust-worthy destinations like Chiang Mai, Shibuya, Jaipur and Finland. Her feed comes complete with perfectly styled shots, the best hotels to spend the night in and some of the best secret spots to indulge in dessert along the way. instagram.com/taramilktea facebook.com/taramilktea facebook.com/taramilktea
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Rosie Clayton Rosie Clayton, the brainchild behind this colorful account, works with a team of equally well-traveled editors to find and share all of the best public art from all over the world.
instagram.com/rclayton
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influencers forty-one to fifty
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Callum Snape Leave it to a professional photographer and filmmaker to capture parts of the world in the most stunning and unexpected ways. Callum Snape is based in Vancouver, and so expect loads of breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, arctic wonders and dreamy lakes. instagram.com/calsnape twier.com/CalSnape
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Pretty Little London Planning a trip to lovely London? Then you must follow this account immediately. It has photos of where you can find all the wisteria when it's in bloom, the quaintest spots for tea and a look at one of the world's best cities from every angle.
instagram.com/preylilelondon facebook.com/preylilelondon twier.com/pllondon2016
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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Wonderful Places There’s a reason why this account has over 8 million(!) followers. This account is more of a community than an Insta-feed; the #wonderful_places hashtag generates over 5 million user generated photos of magical places all around the globe, all of which are curated to create the account's content. Trust–you'll want to go to every single place on their feed
instagram.com/wonderful_places
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Pretty Cities For the traveler that loves pink, girly findings and flowers, this is the feed for you. There are endless photos of lush florals found in various cities across the globe as well as shots taken in must-go cafes and all the quaint streets in-between..
instagram.com/thepreycities
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influencers forty-one to fifty
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Jamie Beck One of our favorite photographers, Jamie Beck, has been capturing stunning fashion images paired with her adventures around the world for years, but her recent move to the South of France with her husband and collaborator, Kevin Burg, has her landing a spot on this list. We've been turning to Jamie for all things French as of late, and her riffs on classic French art spotted at the various musées she frequents in her studio as well as her obsession with haute cuisine consistently have us coming back for more.
instagram.com/annstreetstudio facebook.com/AnnStreetStudio twier.com/AnnStreetStudio
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Polina Here, constant traveler and food, fashion and flowers lover, Polina, fills her feed with luscious and vibrant images of her latest eats, discoveries, and experiences with her equally nomadic and sartorial friends.
instagram.com/elladvornik facebook.com/elladvornik twier.com/elladvornik
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Ella Dvornik There is no better gift in life then the gift of exploration, the hunger for adventure and understanding of the world. I have set off to see the world and most of it I share here. I am a hedonist. When I am not travelling, I’m eating, and I am eating a lot. instagram.com/elladvornik facebook.com/elladvornik twier.com/elladvornik influencers MAGAZINE
SPAIN 23-26 novEMBER 2017 | la Manga CluB | MuRCia | SPain DESTINATION La Manga, Murcia Located in the region of Murcia, La Manga and Cartagena offer a tourist everything they could possibly need to make it a top destination: • a city of unique cultural and historical interest • beautiful beaches • surrounded by the Mar Menor, Spain's largest salt-water lagoon and the Mediterranean Sea • Calblanque and Monte de las Cenizas Natural Park • Cabo de Palos, an internationally recognised marine reserve • the ancient city of Cartagena • a resort with average temperatures of 22ºC, the best climate in Spain with more than 300 days of sun a year.
VENUE La Manga Club La Manga Club is an exclusive vacation, sports and leisure resort located in a privileged seing bordered by natural parks and unspoilt beaches, offering luxury, leisure and sport with wonderful weather all year round. Covering an area of 1400 acres (560 Ha.), the resort offers exclusive accommodations, first-class professional sports facilities and fine dining, ideal for those seeking exceptional tranquillity, security and privacy, coupled with superlative service. Ever since it opened in 1972, La Manga Club has aracted holidaymakers and sports teams with its outstanding facilities, all designed to the highest international standards. www.lamangaclub.com
WORLD GOLF AWARDS SPAIN 2017
www.worldgolfawards.com
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World Golf News aims to gather all the news on golf across the world and share this with golfers and fans of the great game under one site. Our content, posted every day, covers all the tournaments, the greatest players, their coaches, and the specialist equipment that supports them. Supported with strong imagery and video footage, we are here to provide you with all the golďŹ ng news in an easily digestible format through the google+ platform..
www.worldgolfnews.com
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social media trends clare chamberlain digitalmarketingmagazine.co.uk
Social Media is the dominant form of travel and attraction recommendations. or is it? In a digital environment where nearly everything is shared on social media, long trips and weekend getaways are not to be excluded. Travel, tourism and hospitality brands have latched on to this trend for marketing purposes, but the question is, is it working? Although social media should be part of the marketing mix its influence is less than expected. The fact is social media has a long way to go to become the dominant form of recommendation for travel and tourism destinations. A new research study by customer experience agency Network Research looked into the influence of positive and negative endorsements within the travel and tourism industry. The study exposed that trust in recommendations
made on social media lag significantly behind those from family and friends, TripAdvisor and other traditional media in influencing holiday and leisure choices.
Where are travellers actively looking for advice? Of course, as a high involvement purchase decision, consumers like to research travel destinations and attractions to seek advice and recommendations. So these brands are using social media to reach their consumers. But the fact is that less than a quarter of consumers actively consult Facebook for holiday recommendations, followed by 11% on Twitter and 9% for Instagram. However, for younger consumers aged 18-24, social media recommendations are more
commonly sought after, with 40% stating they would consult Facebook, 23% for Twitter, and 28% for Instagram. Of course, travel brands should never turn their heads from social media as its sheer presence and reach offer reward. Around 80% of people claim to have some social media interaction – and 15% even claim to post daily. The predictable age skews are present, but perhaps not as marked as you might expect – nearly three quarters of those aged 55+ claim to use social media – albeit at a lower frequency than their younger peers. So, whilst its dominance overall is perhaps less than expected, it’s clearly a channel on the rise with great impact especially on younger consumers.
PAUL JOHNSON A LUXURY TRAVEL BLOG
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social media trends it MAkes A Difference who’s Doing the tAlking. trAvellers tenD to trust people they know over celebrities. Who do consumers trust the most with their holiday planning? Overall respondents are less likely to trust recommendations made on social media compared to almost all channels surveyed. Of social media, Facebook is seen as the most trustworthy, with a third of respondents claiming to trust recommendations on Facebook, whereas only 20% of respondents claim to trust Twitter and Instagram. However, Millennial trust in these channels is significantly Facebook, 31% for Twitter, and 38% for Instagram.
So what’s the good news for travel brands? PR activities by travel companies still appear to have a positive influence on holiday goers with around two in five claiming to trust newspaper articles. Other sources are also still hanging strong with four out of five holiday goers trusting recommendations from friends and family and twothirds of respondents trusting review sites such as Trip Advisor. In addition to the source, it makes a difference who’s doing the talking. Travellers tend to trust people they know over celebrities. In fact, three in four consumers state that friends and family have a positive influence on holiday and attraction bookings, whilst six in 10 state that endorsements by celebrities have no influence at all on holiday or attraction bookings.
in fAct, three in four consuMers stAte thAt frienDs AnD fAMily hAve A positive influence on holiDAy AnD AttrAction bookings, whilst six in 10 stAte thAt enDorseMents by celebrities hAve no influence At All on holiDAy or AttrAction bookings.
Bad-mouthing has consequences – what’s the solution? The ease of digital word of mouth has meant that bad reviews, whether on a rating site such as Trip Advisor or on social media, have more exposure than ever before. The good news is that despite what we may think the most common motivator for posting on social media or TripAdvisor is sharing a great experience, with around half posting for this reason. On the other hand, bad experiences still drive a third of people to share negative reviews – and this certainly has its consequences. If consumers read a negative review on social media, it will lead 23% of people on Facebook, and 19% on Twitter, to avoid the holiday destination or attraction. Comparatively, around a third of consumers will avoid a destination from a bad TripAdvisor or newspaper article review.
So when eluding all negative experience isn’t possible, how can brands manage these consequences? The solution is to address the complaint head on. If a company fails to respond to a complaint, or denies the complaint, more than half of consumers are less likely to consider the destination or attraction. On the other hand, if the company in question leaves a full apology almost three in five would be more likely to still consider the attraction or destination.
What does this mean for travel and leisure brands? This research points to massive opportunities for leisure and tourism brands, big and small, to engage with customers more, and get them talking about their experiences. It’s clear that recommendations and reviews from personal contacts trump many other influences, so those companies that deliver great experiences and encourage customers to talk about them, in whatever forum, will be more likely to succeed. The role of social media is definitely growing but it hasn’t taken over, even amongst the young.
LAUREN BULLEN GYPSEA LUST
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Mark Murphy One of the travel industry’s most successful entrepreneurs, Mark is always at the forefront when it comes to industry news and insights. Trusted among many, Mark provides professional commentary for both consumer and business travellers, he is also a frequent travel expert and travel analyst on many major networks and news stations including: The Today Show, CNN, FOX Business, FOX News and many more. A bestselling author, he has also written a variety of books such as ‘Travel Forward’, an exploration of how you can enlighten yourself through travel, and ‘Travel Unscripted’, a chronicle of his own experiences travelling the world. facebook.com/LeadershipIQ twier.com/LeadershipIQ
Brian D Evans Definitely one to keep an eye on, Brian D Evans is always eager to help the next aspiring business reach new heights online. Brian has helped hundreds of start-ups find their feet, even creating ‘Influencive’, his very own marketing outlet for millennials and entrepreneurs to share their stories and inspire others. His advertising and consulting agency, BDE Ventures, ranked #172 on the Inc. 500 list for the fastest growing private companies in America. In addition to this, he is also a frequent contributor on Forbes, Business Insider, Inc. and Entrepreneur.com, offering regular insights for businesses to achieve success online. instagram.com/briandevans facebook.com/briandevansofficial twier.com/briandevans
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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Nomadic Matt New York Times best-selling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and founder of this site. Each month over 1,000,000 people use my advice to travel better, cheaper, and longer. instagram.com/nomadicma facebook.com/nomadicma twier.com/nomadicma
Love and Road Robson Cadore and Natalie Deduck founded Love and Road through their passion for travel in April 2014. Ever since, they have been blogging travel tips, guides, stories, curiosities and some misadventures for their readers. Their blend of useful information and personal experience attracts new readers every day. Their mission is simply to inspire people to travel more, and better.
instagram.com/loveandroad facebook.com/loveandroad twier.com/loveandroad
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
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Travel Fashion Girl
Jade Broadus
There are more women travelling solo than ever before, so why not engage with them? Travel Fashion Girl is the number 1 blog for female travellers. Managed by Alex Jimenez, the blog curates the best travel packing tips for practical and stylish travellers. She also provides eBooks containing additional tips and advice, as well as beauty tips. Over 500,000 women read her blog every month, making her one of the top influencers to follow online.
Jade Broadus is the Social Media Manager and writer at Travel Mindset. She is also one part of the blogging duo at Vagabond3. Much of her work focuses on road trips, animal encounters, and quirky getaways; she is constantly on the hunt for the best taco in the world.
instagram.com/vagabond3 facebook.com/Vagabond3
instagram.com/travelfashiongirl facebook.com/TravelFashionGirl twier.com/TravlFashnGirl
twier.com/vagabond3live
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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Lee Abbamonte Lee Abbamonte is the youngest American to visit every country in the world. He's visited 307 total countries and is one of the world’s most-traveled people. Lee is a travel writer, travel expert, travel television personality and global adventurer. Lee appears regularly on Fox News Channel and has appeared on the Travel Channel, NBC, CBS, CNN, BBC, ESPN, Yahoo Screen and many others. He has also been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, Bloomberg, Discovery Channel, Sky Scanner, Travel Zoo, Smart Money, Slate, OK! Magazine, Peter Greenberg radio and many others. Lee is an active member of the Travelers Century Club, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a member of the Circumnavigators Club. He's also a sports fanatic and loves the New York Yankees. instagram.com/leeabbamonte/ facebook.com/leeabbamonte twier.com/leeabbamonte
Corinne Edmiston Five feet of bubbly enthusiasm and cheesy jokes, Corinne is always up for trying awesome food and visiting new travel destinations. Next on her travel wish list is backpacking Europe and seeing the Northern Lights.
instagram.com/c_edmiston twier.com/c_edmiston1
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
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Jennifer Chong
Christie Kanani
Designer and photographer Jennifer Chong has a big heart (and stomach) for all things food! A Georgia native now living in Long Beach, CA she also writes a lifestyle blog focused on travel, food and design – blog.jchongstudio.com. When she isn't working, she can be found playing beach volleyball, continent hopping (four so far!) or searching for some delightful treats to devour!
San Francisco-based Christie is a world traveler known for bright and bold photography style. She hasn't been everywhere, but it's on her list. instagram.com/ckanani facebook.com/ckanani twier.com/ckanani
instagram.com/jchongstudio facebook.com/jchongstudio twier.com/jchongstudio
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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Aida Mollenkamp Salt & Wind is a food and travel lifestyle site created by food and travel expert, Aida Mollenkamp. We're the sister site of Salt & Wind Travel. We're here to help you travel in good taste! instagram.com/saltandwind facebook.com/saltandwind twier.com/saltandwind
Bret Love We realized the healing power of nature very early on in our relationship. When we took our first big trip together to Hawaii’s Big Island in early 2009, Bret had just lost his beloved grandmother and Mary was coming out of a painful divorce. Spending a week together swimming with Sea Turtles, watching breaching Whales, hiking Volcanoes National Park, and sailing to see lava reach the boiling sea cemented our love, both of each other and of travel. And we’ve been living, working and traveling together constantly ever since.. instagram.com/green_global_travel facebook.com/GreenGlobalTravel twier.com/greenglobaltrvl
influencers MAGAZINE
VIETNAM 10 dECEMBER 2017 | JW MaRRioTT PHu QuoC EMERald Bay | viETnaM DESTINATION Phu Quoc, Vietnam The pristine island of Phu Quoc is a hidden lush paradise off the southern coast of Vietnam. Surrounded by the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand, the island is renowned for its stunning beaches, unblemished habitat, relaxed atmosphere and world-class scuba diving and snorkelling. Much of Phu Quoc Island is a National Park, providing ample opportunities for exploration and geing away from it all. Go kayaking in the bays, dive the reefs, trek through the lush rainforests, or just relax on the beach massage and dine on fresh seafood, Phu Quoc is the spot.
VENUE JW Marrio Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa Travel back to the bygone era of the early 20th century with Bill Bensley's whimsical design and exquisite detail in all 243 rooms, suites, and villas of the sumptuous JW Marrio Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa. Experience culinary wonder at the resort’s three restaurants and contemporary bars. Talented chefs source local fresh produce and the finest ingredients from the world market, masterfully preparing authentic flavors. A wide range of enriching experiences are waiting to be explored, from cultural events, artisanal shopping experience, ultimate indulgence at Spa by JW, to water activities at the resort's private beachfront. www.marrio.com/pqcjw
WORLD SPA AWARDS VIETNAM 2017
www.worldspaawards.com
The latest spa tourism news on the most significant developments in the wellness and spa tourism industry. Find stunning photos, videos and interactive discussions with our group members.
www.spatravelnews.com
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
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Dave Thompson
Kristin Luna
Over the past 20+ years our core focus has been promoting experiential travel; our readers are actively interested in a wide range of travel & lifestyle experiences across a variety of budgets. I began Dave’s Travel Corner in late 1996 as a result of of a life-changing trip to Nepal in which I trekked near Everest Base Camp. I began writing a journal while I was on the trip and it was the notes from this journal that became the foundation for Dave’s Travel Corner.
I’m a Nashville-based writer and live very close to where I was born; I have held court at this corner of the Internet since 2007, which I’m pretty sure makes me a senior citizen in blogging years. In case you’re brand new to these parts, let me give you a little bit of a rundown on the past decade from C&C’s conception to the present instagram.com/lunaticatlarge/ facebook.com/camelsandchocolate
instagram.com/davedtc/ facebook.com/davestravelcorner twier.com/DaveDTC
twier.com/lunaticatlarge
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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Pete Halvorsenn
Broderick Smylie
Pete Halvorsen is a cutting edge creative advisor and content producer who has evolved with technology to create his own niche. Utilizing over 15 years of onsite experience in film, television, technology and advertising, Pete not only captures assets for brands but has become a creative asset himself. Past clients such as GAP, TOMS, Microsoft, The Getty Museum, Virgin Hotels, The Dorchester Collection and Toyota have trusted Pete with their brand's story and allowed him to execute campaigns on their behalf.
There are two things that have been constants throughout my life and those would be good food and cameras. My mother and cooked meals pretty much every day growing up and I inherited her love of good food and travel. On the photography front, my mother’s many brothers and sisters operated a large photography studio in their home country of Jamaica. Dozens of cameras and flashes would go off at any large gathering. I’ve had a variety of cameras growing up in Ohio, and I learned to develop film in middle school. I was very involved in publications in high school.
instagram.com/petehalvorsen/ twier.com/petehalvorsen
instagram.com/savoryexposure/
influencers MAGAZINE
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
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Bobby Christian
Lindsay Ferrier
Bobby Christian loves telling a story. After traveling around the world, he now likes to takes his camera with him everywhere- capturing little moments to share with the world. Check out his other videos at Oversaturated Inc .
I work as a blogger, freelance writer, and on-air talent and specialize in the topics of travel, parenting, lifestyle and humor. I recently hosted and co-wrote the Emmy Award-winning travel TV show, Tout Your Town. Before that, I covered the presidential election for CafeMom and Headline News and hosted and wrote the viral hit I’ll Take That Dare for YouTube. I’ve earned two Emmy Awards and been featured on the Today show as well as in major publications like The Washington Post and USA Today. And I’ve been nominated as one of Nashville’s Best Local Bloggers in The Tennessean’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards.
instagram.com/civilmatador
instagram.com/suburbanturmoil facebook.com/SuburbanTurmoil twier.com/SuburbanTurmoil
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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Spencer Spellman I was fortunate enough to start traveling at a young age, thanks to a flight attendant sister and history teacher father who believed the only way to travel was by pop-up camper. It was the best of both worlds. I’d be lying though, if I didn’t say I was eating up having my own personal flight attendant when I flew by myself for the first time at age 7 (naturally with a notebook and disposable camera in hand). It was about that time, too, that I started drinking— Coca Cola that is. The first essay I ever remember writing was a submission for a competition to win a year’s supply of Coca-Cola. My essay: An account of how I beat Michael Jordan at a game of H-O-R-S-E in my backyard. instagram.com/spencerspellman facebook.com/spencerspellman0213 twier.com/spencerspellman
Keryn Means If you are an active parent ready to bring your kids on your travel adventures, you have come to the right place. We don’t believe parenting means giving up your passions, especially when you travel. Here you will find inspiration to get you out the door while keeping your sanity. We bring you restaurant recommendations, favorite shops, hotel reviews, packing lists, plus activities, cultural events and more that everyone in the family (not just the kids!) will enjoy. Thanks for joining us and don’t be a stranger.
instagram.com/walkingontravels facebook.com/walkingontravels twier.com/walkingontravel
influencers MAGAZINE
7,520,065,232
GLOBAL POPULATION
3,686,032,678
TOTAL INTERNET USERS
2,789,582,541
ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA USERS
A CONNECTED PLANET
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
71
Fresh Off The Grid At the time, the couple were preparing to embark on a year-long road trip, but found themselves struggling to reconcile their love for cooking with a life outdoors. Most home recipes were too complicated to be made at a campsite, while most camping recipes were too unhealthy to eat for anything more than a few days. So they started documenting theirs attempts to make healthy, nutritious meals under the constraints of a camping environment.
instagram.com/freshohegrid
72
facebook.com/FreshOffTheGrid
twier.com/FreshOffTheGrid
Monique Volz I won Nordic Ware’s Bundts Across America recipe contest, Fage’s recipe contest, appeared in a cook-off in Washington D.C., hung alongside Bobby Flay, shared my recipes on the Food Network’s HealthyEats.com and have been featured on numerous cooking sites such as the Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Today.com and Cup of Jo. In less than 3 years, I was able to quit my full time corporate job to work on Ambitious Kitchen full time..
instagram.com/ambitiouskit
73
facebook.com/ambitiouskitchen
twier.com/ambitiouskitch
Rachel Rudwall Rachel has had countless global adventures, ranging from TV hosting for HLN's Vacation Chasers and ABC's FABLife, to digital hosting for Travel Channel and Mashable, and from brand influencing for BMW and Chase Bank, to producing shows like Ice Road Truckers and Ax Men. To top it off, Rachel shares global inspiration through Speaking, Keynote Addresses and Conference Workshops.
instagram.com/rachelroams
facebook.com/RachelRoams
twier.com/RachelRoams
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
74
Lindsey Tramuta I am a Paris-based journalist and author who moved to Paris from Philadelphia nearly 11 years ago. Since beginning this site in 2009, I’ve covered some not-so-cliché topics, uncovered new trends, shared my travels, and introduced you to an inspiring group of Francophiles.
instagram.com/LostNCheeseland/
facebook.com/lostincheeseland
75
twier.com/LostNCheeseland
Michelle Yam Having grown up in a multi-cultural surrounding, Michelle Yam developed her love for ethnic food and international travel at a young age. Her true appreciation for travel came when she studied abroad in Italy for a year and backpacked all throughout Europe by herself. Michelle has been featured as one of the top photographers on Instagram and regularly works with brands and destinations on social campaigns.
instagram.com/michelleyam
facebook.com/michelleyamphoto
76
twier.com/michelleyam
Lauren Monitz Bitten by the travel bug early and often, from becoming a certified Viking in Iceland to eating her way around Thailand, Lauren "Lo" is intent on seeing all 50 states and 50 countries by the age of 50. You can follow her (mis)adventures on The DownLO.
instagram.com/lmonitz
facebook.com/lmonitz
twier.com/laurenmonitz
Discover the latest news from 200 dierent locations around the world in an easily digestible and fun format. Discover group is the world's leading destination and lifestyle multi-channel content network. Discover your next travel destination now.
| 100 |
Discover
www.discover.group
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
77
Kristy Bernardo I started my food blog five years ago as a fun outlet for myself and – amazingly – it’s grown into something that has become much more than just my much-loved hobby. Food has become my “accidental career” – I call it that because until I had my first child ten years ago, the only things I knew how to cook were my leftovers on reheat (head over here to see my original “about” page and get more on that story). But as with anything in life, nothing is ever really accidental. I’ve had to work long hours to bring my blogging and chef career to where it is today. And I finally understand that old saying “If you find a job that you love, you’ll never work another day in your life”. instagram.com/thewickednoodle facebook.com/thewickednoodle
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twier.com/thewickednoodle
Jessica Quirk Jessica Quirk has been interested in style since she first learned how to sew in grade school. Dressing to look and feel her best was a skill that led Quirk to a career in fashion design, and ultimately to building her personal style blog, What I Wore.
instagram.com/whatiwore
79
facebook.com/WhatIWoreOfficial
twier.com/whatiwore
JD Andrews A video producer for more than twenty years, exploring the globe (96 countries across all 7 continents), capturing, shooting and editing travel/tourism videos for various companies, cruise lines, airlines, DMO's and tourist boards.
instagram.com/earthxplorer
facebook.com/earthXplorerMedia
twier.com/earthXplorer
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
80
Scott Eddy After a life changing event in high school, I was left feeling unmotivated and lost. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life but a few months later I was accepted into an investment training program. I excelled and went on to be a stockbroker for the next 10 years. In 1999, I was chatting with a friend who lived in Thailand and decided to visit. The firm I was working at had just been sold, so it was a perfect time for me to resign and relocate. I loved being abroad so much, I continued to live in Europe and Asia for the next 17 years.
instagram.com/mrscoeddy
facebook.com/MrScoEddyPage
81
twier.com/mrscoeddy
Megan Claire Adrenalin junkies, and incredibly active travelers, we are Meg & Mike Jerrard, and have been blogging since 2007 to bring you the best in adventure travel from all over the globe! (We’ve even won a few awards for being a top adventure travel blog!)
instagram.com/mappingmegan
facebook.com/mappingmegan
82
twier.com/mappingmegan
Justin Carmack Originally from Colorado, USA, Justin Carmack left home to travel the world. His first stop was to get PADI Open Water certified on Mozambique, which changed his life forever. Around that time he started the popular scuba travel blog, TrueNomads.com, where he documents all the places in the world he explores underwater.
instagram.com/truenomads
facebook.com/PADI
W O
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World Luxury News, has one aim, to bring you the latest luxury news from around the globe from the world's leading brands and luxury service providers.
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L U X U R Y
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Working across a multitude of social media platforms, delivering content in an easily digestible image lead format in English, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese and Russian, we engage with those that live and experience a luxury lifestyle each and every day.
Delivering the best news on this exciting and ever changing market and working in conjunction with the leading world luxury events.
www.luxnews.co
presents
American Express World Luxury Expo, Jeddah 4 - 6 OCTOBER 2017
ACCESS BY INVITATION ONLY American Express World Luxury Expo, Jeddah, will take place at the newly opened spectacular Ritz-Carlton, to showcase the world’s leading luxury brands to an ultra-affluent and highly discerning target audience.
www.world-luxury-expo.com/ world-luxury-expo-jeddah/
COMING IN 2018 The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah 9-11 May 2018 The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh 24–26 October 2018 Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi 22-24 November 2018
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
83
Ann Tran Authentically and carefully she has built a highly engaged audience, purposefully cultivating a genuine connection with her readers through storytelling and video. Ann has had the privilege to become a speaker in demand for corporate and other industry-related events as a result of her work as a travel writer and social media influencer.
twier.com/anntran
84
Yasmin At Luxury Travel Diary we blog about the best luxury accommodation, and the most exclusive transport for your travels. Additional features hi-light essential style & fashion items, required for luxury travel. We also host our own online auctions, allowing users to bid on a dream holiday or luxury item for as little as £0.99 GBP. Great new items are added all the time. Take a look at the fantastic bargains available in our auctions.
instagram.com/luxurytraveldiary
85
facebook.com/luxurytraveldiary
twier.com/LuxTravelDiary
Jeane Beena Happiness is ... a little Surf and a lot of Sunshine. A blog about travel, family, weddings, southern california beach living, crafts, cooking, fashion and entertainment!
instagram.com/jeanatravels
facebook.com/SurfandSunshine
twier.com/SurfnSunshine
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
86
Urban Travel Blog Urban Travel Blog is a collective blog of expert travel writers, headed up by experienced travel journalist and editor Duncan Rhodes, who report on trends, experiences, festivals and nocturnal adventures in cities around Europe and the world.
instagram.com/UrbanTravelBlog
facebook.com/UrbanTravelBlog
87
twier.com/UrbanTravelBlog
Emily Luxton Travels I grew up in Weymouth, a small seaside town on the South Coast of England, but for as long as I can remember I wanted to travel. It took a long time for me to actually realise that dream, but ever since I did, there’s been no stopping me! While I’m still based in the UK, these days Me SquareI’m almost constantly travelling – so much so that right now I have no fixed address.
instagram.com/em_luxton
facebook.com/EmilyLuxtonTravelBlog
88
twier.com/em_luxton
Savoir There Sorry to say blood in the first sentence like that. If you’re queasy, so sorry. Well I have already said sorry twice so that tells you I’m British. Of course my manners could equally make me Canadian, so you won’t be surprised to learn that I spent 4 years living in Vancouver. I have always been inspired to travel by my family; my English mother (of Norwegian descent) moved to Beirut as a young woman with my Egyptian father who himself has lived in places as varied as London and Libya as well as another of the most polite nations on the planet, Denmark.
instagram.com/SavoirThere
facebook.com/SavoirThere
twier.com/SavoirThere
presents
Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi 23-25 NOVEMBER 2017
ACCESS BY INVITATION ONLY World Luxury Expo returns to the magnificent Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. The event will again showcase the world’s leading luxury brands, to an ultra-affluent and highly discerning target audience.
world-luxury-expo.com/world-luxuryexpo-abudhabi
COMING IN 2018 The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah 9-11 May 2018 The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh 24–26 October 2018 Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi 22-24 November 2018
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
89
Hand Luggage Only As a hare-brained challenge at University… Just kidding!!! Hand Luggage Only was born back in April 2014 on a surprisingly warm afternoon in Yaya’s college room at University of Cambridge. In what seemed like an oasis of calm between assignments, Yaya and Lloyd (that’s us!) were talking about sharing our travel stories and photos with others like-minded travellers on the internet. We’d already been doing this for a while and (almost competitively) sharing our stories on Facebook but what we really wanted was to connect with other travellers across the globe and have a two-way conversation about travel. instagram.com/HandLuggageOnly facebook.com/HandLuggageOnly
90
twier.com/HLOBlog
Mallory On Travel It is probably about time I told people a little about myself, being mysterious is only  interestting for so long. Time to explain a little about why I believe this site has something worth reading, my definition of adventure and what qualities me to write about it.
instagram.com/malloryontravel
91
facebook.com/MalloryOnTravel?ref=ts&fref=ts
twier.com/MalloryOnTravel
Beyond Blighty Welcome to Beyond Blighty! I started my blog back in 2011 in the run up to a seven-month trip in South America, and I never could have anticipated the way this decision would change my life.
instagram.com/beyondblighty
facebook.com/BeyondBlighty
twier.com/BeyondBlighty
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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Kristina Makeeva Spectacular photgraphy is what distinguishes Kristina from many of her social media cpntemporaries. Colourful, surreal and full of wit and invention this is travel photography as high art.
instagram.com/hobopeeba
facebook.com/hobopeeba
93
Leonie Hanne ohhcouture.com was founded in the beginning of 2014 by former strategy consultant and passionated shopper Leonie Hanne. After being named one of the most promising talents of the textile industry by German textile journal „Textilwirtschaft“, Leonie decided to quit the corporate career in order to fulfill her dream of working independently on her own fashion and lifestyle blog.
instagram.com/ohhcouture
facebook.com/ohhcouture
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twier.com/ohhcouture
Nicola Easterby I started Polkadot Passport as a source of travel inspiration and information for adventurous souls. By sharing unique, bucket-list experiences, destination guides, travel photography tips and endless adventures, Polkadot Passport simple goal is to inspire everyone to go out and explore this beautiful world we live in. I am living proof that you don’t to have a full-time career under your belt or an overflowing bank account in order to explore the world. A life of adventure is possible for anyone who is willing to chase after it!
instagram.com/polkadotpassport
facebook.com/polkadotpassport
twier.com/polkadotpp
influencers fifty-one to one hundred
95
Girls Born to Travel Girls Born to Travel is a community of female travellers sharing their trips and stories online. Our goal is to empower others to travel a road of their choosing and provide courage and inspiration to dream big, going out their comfort zones and be fearless.
instagram.com/girlsborntotravel
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facebook.com/girlsborntotravel
twier.com/girlsborntravel
Ketevan Giorgadze Taking a glamorous and inventive look at her travels, Russian blogger Ketevan has explored places from Indonesia to France, Turkey to Malta.
instagram.com/katie.one
97
facebook.com/oneliletrip/
Luxury Columnist If you have a taste for the finer things in life then our luxury blog should be right up your street.I’m Suze, aka Luxury Columnist and with my husband Paul, we aim to help everyone experience a little luxury in their lives. More than just a luxury travel blog, we’re also a luxury fashion blog and London blog rolled into one. You’ll discover some of our favourite hidden gems in cities like Paris and Rome and secret London hotspots. We’ll reveal quirky and original experiences like our first hot air balloon flight and first time at London Fashion Week.
instagram.com/luxurycolumnist
facebook.com/LuxuryColumnist
twier.com/luxurycolumnist
TOP 1OO TRAVEL INFLUENCERS
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The Travel Hack The Travel Hack Travel bloggers with a love for stylish adventure travel. Proving stylish travel can be affordable and adventure travel can have a luxury twist!
instagram.com/thetravelhack
facebook.com/TheTravelHack
99
twier.com/TheTravelHack
Globalhelpswap We started globalhelpswap to show the world that responsible travel can be easy, comfortable and very special. We’re on a mission to hunt down the most magical, responsible experiences on this wonderful planet of ours so that we can share them with you. We want to share our stories so as to inspire you to create your own.
instagram.com/globalhelpswap
facebook.com/globalhelpswap
twier.com/globalhelpswap
100 This Battered Suitcase .This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why. Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too. instagram.com/thisbaeredsuitcase
facebook.com/ThisBaeredSuitcase
twier.com/SuitcaseBrenna
World Travel News World Travel News is available across • English Platforms: Google Plus, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram • Languages: Weibo, VK, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Arabic • The platforms are updated daily with new and relevant content
worldtravelnews.co facebook.com/World-Travel-News107968282910625/ twitter.com/365TravelNews instagram.com/365travelnews/ uk.pinterest.com/365travelnews/ vk.com/worldtravelnews weibo.com/worldtravelnews1
TOTAL FOLLOWERS:
123.000
Discover Dubai Discover Abu Dubai is available across • English Platforms: Google Plus, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram • Languages: Weibo, VK, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Arabic • The platforms are updated daily with new and relevant content
discoverdubai.co facebook.com/discoverdubai365?skip_ nax_wizard=true twitter.com/365Dubai instagram.com/discoverdubai365 uk.pinterest.com/discoverdubai vk.com/discoverdubai weibo.com/discoverdubai1
TOTAL FOLLOWERS:
221,000
social media advice nancy huang traveltripper.com
How to use social influencers successfully to market your hotel Influencer marketing has received quite a lot of buzz in recent years and was even rated the fastestgrowing online customer acquisition method. Hotel brands are lavishing freebies to Instagram and YouTube stars in return for posts or videos. And this year, nearly 50% of US marketers will increase their influencer marketing budgets this year.
conversion-optimized foundation. That said, influencer marketing is especially valuable for lifestyle and boutique hotels aiming to define and build their identity, all while casting a wider net across their target guest segments.
Essentially the digital age’s version of a celebrity endorsement, influencer marketing is a powerful way to connect with larger audiences. Producing a successful campaign is easier said than done, however, as hotels need to take influencer selection, compensation, and ROI into account.
There are multiple social media tools that you can use to discover influencers and their key metrics, including their social platform of choice, number of followers, level of engagement, and more. Tools vary in price and complexity, but if you are just starting out, you can dabble in one of these seven free influencer marketing tools.
Influencer marketing for hotels has the potential to be an effective channel, but as long as it’s built on a solid multi-channel marketing and
Identifying Influencers: Who to choose
In recent times, a wave of new startups have started offering travel brands an opportunity to discover a
world of potential influencers, from social media celebrities to adventurous everyday travelers who showcase a high degree of creative talent. For instance, Crowdriff enables travel brands to source inspiring visuals from user-generated content, providing a potential opening to connect with content creators. Meanwhile, Tinflur helps travel and tourism marketers find influential bloggers while seeing their number of social followers by different platforms. In addition, specialist agencies such as Media Kix help brands connect with major influencers on channels such as Instagram, YouTube, and Vine. In a recent example, Media Kix helped Fairmont Hotels and Resorts find four influencers who visited and promoted Fairmont properties around the world.
JACK & FINN HARRIES
if you finD A populAr blogger posting content AligneD with your brAnD, you’ll hAve A greAt stArting point to get in touch.
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When selecting your influencers, consider some of the following factors:
Followers vs. Engagement The first step, and one which is often under emphasized, is identifying which influencers are best to target. While follower counts might be an obvious criteria, sheer numbers alone are not enough, as actual engagement needs to be analyzed as well. A smaller but more buzzing audience can potentially be more useful than a larger inactive one, since the latter will drive awareness, but not necessarily action. As such, its influence might only be short term and potentially unsustainable. These influencers have substantial audiences but may not be as passionate as actual brand advocates, merely producing social media coverage for the sake of garnering freebies.
“Niche” social influencers Finding a social media influencer who’s an especially close fit with your brand is beneficial for a couple of reasons. First, they’ll be more likely to want to partner with you in the first place. Second, when they do promote your brand, their whole message will feel far more authentic. So how do you find a niche influencer? Start by using hashtags that are specific to your brand as possible. For instance on Instagram, a luxury hotel could search for a term such as “#luxurytravelblogger” to find the most suitable prospects, then check their popularity by likes and followers. The same hashtag approach can also be used on Facebook and Twitter.
Alternatively, look for existing followers on your hotel’s social media platforms who have significant followings of their own. If you find a potential candidate, scour their posts to see if they’re publishing travel-related content that feels in step with your brand. Google is another great place to start your search. Again, to carry out a niche search, you could use a term like “family friendly travel bloggers,” or a combination of “travel blogger + your destination” to find local influencers in your area. If you find a popular blogger posting content aligned with your brand, you’ll have a great starting point to get in touch.
The best platforms for influencers Connecting with the right influencer on the right social media platform can help your hotel accomplish a range of goals, from building brand exposure and credibility to driving direct bookings. Depending on your marketing goals and target audience, the following three platforms their own unique set of benefits.
Facebook With close to nearly 2 billion monthly users, Facebook reigns supreme when it comes to global reach. A huge 1.28 billion use the platform every day, so connecting with the right kind of influencer can be a great way of reaching audiences throughout the travel journey. It’s also a platform with a highly diverse demographic. While commonly assumed to be dominated by younger audiences,
Facebook is used by 79% of 30 to 49-year-olds, and 56% of those aged 65 and over. And with the ability to add a “Book Now” button on a Facebook Page, partnering with an influencer means that their followers can be more easily encouraged to book with your hotel through the same platform rather than being directed to your hotel website.
Instagram Instagram recently exceeded 600 million global users and its most popular influencers often have a celebrity-like status, lending incredible weight to their opinions and brand-sponsored endorsements. It’s also driven by visuals more than any other social media platform, which is especially beneficial to hotels looking to promote their property, experiences, and destination. But Instagram isn’t just about building exposure. Last year, Starwood Hotels & Resorts partnered with five Instagram influencers and featured a booking feature within their photos, posted while staying at two of Starwood’s new Parisian hotels. Used creatively, Instagram influencers now offer the possibility of driving direct bookings.
PRETTY LITTLE LONDON
with close to neArly 2 billion Monthly users, fAcebook reigns supreMe when it coMes to globAl reAch.
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Snapchat Instead of building commercial relationships with influencers, Snapchat prefers to encourage its social media icons to spontaneously share content like an everyday user. Not that it isn’t effective for influencer marketing. A huge 85% of its audience are aged between 18 and 34, making it a great platform to reach younger audiences. To reach this demographic, Marriott partnered with four social media influencers as part of their “6 days 7 nights” campaign, shot in various global destinations. The first threeminute long video showed fussy food eater, Jen Levinson, sampling new dishes in Berlin before heading back to the comfort of her Moxy hotel. By understanding its conventions and the right creative treatment, Marriott’s campaign demonstrates the potential of partnering with Snapchat’s younger social media starlets.
Audiences and Brand Alignment Additional factors that need to be considered are the influencer’s type of audience and brand alignment. The audience should match both the hotel’s distinct personality and its target market. Starwood has recognized the importance of taking into account whether influencers can help tell the brand’s story, as they can provide an inside look at the property and the little details that build its brand. The influencer’s audience then notices these unique, eye-catching elements, ultimately driving bookings and not merely providing
free publicity for the hotel. It should be noted that influencers don’t necessarily need to be social media celebs, but simply users with significant followings who are representative of a target market, like a social-savvy corporate traveler for a business hotel. Followers will more likely be able to relate to these down-to-earth personalities.
and content seem much less organic and authentic. Take for example, the Refinery Hotel in New York, which offered up a free night and complimentary meals to the writers of Taste the Style.
Measuring Success: Looking beyond the Addressing Compensation: booking Free or not too free Numbers-driven hotel managers How should hotels compensate social media influencers for their posts and content? This is often a tricky system to navigate, as oftentimes agreements between hotel and influencer are ambiguous. In many cases, hotels provide social influencers with complimentary stays and services, with the expectation that they will post at least a few times from the property. However, because no payment exchanges hands, the hotel has no control over the content or the number of posts received. In such cases, using an intermediary such as a PR agency can be a great help in establishing implicit and explicit expectations. Hotels that want greater control of the messaging, content, and quantity of influencer posts can consider paying for it. In such cases, a proper contract between the influencer and hotel is necessary and should outline specific terms. Social media agencies such as Laundry Service can help hotels navigate these types of agreements. Whether your hotel decides on paid or unpaid compensation, one thing is for sure: editorial style should always be left up to the influencer. These social media gurus have an established voice and style that has made them popular, so attempting to change this will make their posts
often have trouble quantifying the success of influencer marketing. After all, how many likes equals a booking? How much revenue is generated per social influencer? It seems sensible to be cautious about the amount spent on influencer marketing. That said, studies have shown influencer marketing helps with brand building. A recent study by Rhythm One found that for every $1 spent on influencer marketing, $2.26 in earned media value was returned. This study offers a useful reference point for hotels to compare their own ROI to this industry’s average as well as others. Factors to consider include engagement (number of likes, comments, replies), virality (how often the content is re-posted or shared), and reach (how many people saw the post). Other factors to consider include traffic to your hotel website, number of new followers on your social media page, and your hotel’s occupancy rates and ADR over time. Ultimately you’ll want to see a positive relationship between the success of your influencer marketing and the long-term trends in your hotel’s performance.
POLINA FROM POLABUR
A huge 85% of snApchAt’s AuDience Are AgeD between 18 AnD 34, MAking it A greAt plAtforM to reAch younger AuDiences.
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Aending the Annual World Tourism ——— Conference in Rwanda, Facebook and —— Instagram representatives were in Kigali this week to discuss and explore ways in which social media can be used to ——— effectively drive tourism growth across ——— Africa. — Showcasing how both platforms can be used as a tool to creatively help change the narrative of Africa as a tourist destination, the team also took part in a live panel discussion exploring the ‘Evolution of Online Travel and Lifestyle Tourism: Leveraging Africa’s Diversity’.
FACEBOOK ——— HEADS TO ——— ——— RWANDA FOR ——— ——— ANNUAL ——— —— WORLD TOURISM CONFERENCE ——— ———
The event, developed by the Rwanda Development Board, the Corporate Council on Africa and the Africa Travel Association, saw government officials, tourism ministers, tourism boards and business professionals from across the world and the continent descend onto the capital. Showcasing how tourism operators and agencies can leverage Instagram, Facebook Live and Facebook 360, the Facebook and Instagram team discussed how new technologies can be used to create a seamless experience for both the tourist and the operator; from immersive travel experiences to entice potential customers,
AKUA GYEKYE
to using WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to allow tourism companies to build customer service channels and communicate with customers prior to booking, during their trip and on their return home. Commenting on Facebook’s involvement in the World Tourism Conference Akua Gyekye, public policy manager for Africa at Facebook said: “Social platforms offer tourism agencies and companies in Rwanda and across the Continent, wonderful opportunities to put their countries firmly on the map. “We’re excited to share ideas about how Instagram and Facebook can help Africa share its rich culture and beautiful landscapes with the world, and connect with the tourists of today and the future —an effort we’re proud to support.” Ahead of the conference, Facebook undertook a number of training sessions including partnering with the ATA and Rwanda Development, the local business council, to train 100 tourism focused small and medium businesses in how to use Facebook platforms to promote, engage with communities, and grow their operations.
KLM BECOMES FIRST AIRLINE TO ACCESS WHATSAPP BUSINESS ACCOUNT
WhatsApp and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have started a unique test for a new service on WhatsApp. KLM now offers her customers around the world booking confirmation, check-in notification, boarding pass, flight status updates and asking questions in ten different languages on WhatsApp via the official WhatsApp Business application. The carrier becomes one of the first companies and the very first airline worldwide with a verified WhatsApp business account. WhatsApp wants to create value for both customers and the businesses they connect with in their daily lives. This pilot programme is part of that effort. To this end, WhatsApp has created an enterprise solution that makes it possible
for businesses like KLM to connect with their customers in a fast and personal way on WhatsApp.The rollout has already started in a limited number of countries, and the service will become more widely available in the coming days and weeks. KLM president, Pieter Elbers said: “I am very proud that KLM is the world’s first airline with a verified WhatsApp account. This unique partnership with WhatsApp underlines our position as an aviation pioneer. We want to be where our customers are and, given the one billion users, you have to be on WhatsApp. With an account verified by WhatsApp, we offer our customers worldwide a reliable way to receive their flight information and ask questions 24/7. This truly is a major next step in our social media strategy.” Messages are secure so that they can only be read by the customer and KLM, and no one else, not even WhatsApp. Customers can easily recognise verified businesses using the official WhatsApp business application. This means that customers will see a green checkmark badge next to the KLM contact name on WhatsApp.
finnaiR launCHES inTElligEnT CHaTBoT, finn finnair has launched its first artificially intelligent chatbot, finn, on finnair’s facebook global account. finn has a mission to help finnair customers on facebook during their finnair journey. finn knows how to sell flights, knows if flights are on time, helps to calculate how much baggage can be taken on a flight, and helps to redirect the customer to the Manage My booking page to add more services to an existing booking. finn also answers frequently asked questions, and if finn cannot answer a question, the message will be delivered to a customer service agent for further actions. finn is constantly learning and finnair customers have an active role in its training.
“exploiting artificial intelligence is an integral part of our transformation strategy. we are growing and constantly looking for new ways to improve our customer service and developing new sales channels using new Distribution capability technology,” said rogier van enk, vice president distribution, finnair. “we believe that fast developing digital tools will greatly benefit our customers. finn understands and communicates in english, but later it will learn more languages and functionalities. finnish and chinese are coming this year. “After the initial stage, finnair is looking to find a home for finn in other social media platforms such as wechat in china.”
the chatbot is one example of the new distribution channels enabled by iAtA’s new Distribution capability xMl-based messaging standard. finn is the most technologically advanced nDc-solution in the aviation sector, because it offers the possibility to book flights across the whole finnair network. it also brings rich product content like videos and images to instant messagingfinnair is a level 3 certified airline in iAtA’s nDc program. finnair worked with caravelo, a solutions company for the airline industry, to develop the chatbot.
WALDORF HILTON INTRODUCES HANDy PHONE FOR GUESTS
The Waldorf Hilton is empowering guests through the smartphone technology, Handy Phone, to further improve the visitor experience. All 298 rooms are equipped with complimentary Handy Phone service, ensuring 24-hour connectivity and convenience, as well providing free international calls to selected countries (including the United States) and unlimited calls in the UK. Guests can also enjoy unlimited internet access with 3G data; with the Handy Phone also offering social media networking, destination-specific content, exclusive hotel offers and promotions, comprehensive city guides and recommended shops, bars, restaurants and places to visit. Hotels can also provide unique services that answers travellers needs and wants. Benefits for the hotel include call-to-action features, in-depth guest analytics, seamless integration with PMS networks and an integrated TripAdvisor guest feedback system.
All designed to elevate the guest experience and unlock unexplored opportunities for the intrepid hotelier. Guy Hilton, general manager, The Waldorf Hilton said: “Handy Phones are the ideal companion for the modern traveller. “At the Waldorf Hilton, we are always looking at ways of going beyond providing the best service possible for our guests. “Now they can reserve a trip, book theatre tickets and discover more of the city from the comfort of their room or while they are out and about outside of the hotel. “Without doubt it helps us to enhance the guest experience. Handy (which can be used outside of the hotel) also comes equipped with fully adjustable language selection, allowing hotel guests to enjoy the full breadth of the phone’s capabilities regardless of their linguistic preferences.
QanTaS ConCiERgE CHaTBoT launCHES on faCEBooK MESSEngER qantas has launched qantas concierge, a facebook Messenger bot that gives customers in the united kingdom personalised travel inspiration. following a successful roll-out in Australia in february, the launch of the bot in the uk forms part of qantas’ strategy to give customers faster responses and more relevant information through easily accessible channels. kristin carlos, qantas head of digital and entertainment said qantas concierge is an evolution of the airlines customer communications, boosting the airline’s presence on a hugely popular social media platform while offering immediate travel solutions. “we recognise that different people want to communicate with us in different ways. “with around 35 million people on facebook in the united kingdom, growing our presence with the social networking service makes sense,” carlos said. through qantas concierge, customers can access sale information and destination inspiration in line with their interests, whether that be beach destinations or amazing Airbnbs around the world. learning from customer interactions and conversations, qantas’ new Artificial intelligence
backed service will become more user friendly and effective over time, making it an increasingly powerful customer service tool for the airline. since launching, more than 150,000 users have interacted with the bot within facebook Messenger. throughout 2017 qantas plans to grow the chat bots capability to offer a full suite of concierge services including operational notifications such as itineraries, flight and gate change updates and boarding passes. qantas concierge will ultimately become another support channel for customers complementing the airlines suite of call centres and social media response teams. paul Mccrory, group industry director at facebook Australia & new Zealand, who has led the bot development with qantas, said: “facebook’s partners are a community of best-in-class companies who are looking for innovative means to talk to their customers and new audiences. “qantas is always exploring new ways to evolve its customer communication, we look forward to collaborating with them on exciting new projects and pioneering new ground in this space.”
SOCIAL SILK ROAD SEMINAR AT THE WORLD TRAVEL MARKET 2017 In today’s interconnected world, no marketing campaign can be successful without making active use of social media. Following the success of previous years, the Silk Road Programme of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will bring together official tourism representatives from Silk Road countries and tourism marketing experts to discuss recent social media trends and tools. Topics to be addressed will include strategies aimed at increasing the online profile of Silk Road tourism, and the challenges of transnational social media campaigns.
www.breakingtravelnews.com
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Social Media Stars The latest on the social media stars that are changing this sector, the platforms and the posts... Our aim is to deliver content on the people and the brands that are shaping the future of social media, the development of the platforms, how they perform and the stars of social media today and tomorrow. We look at those using social media in the best way and who have built a high level of followers. Through the Social Media Directory we can see how social media performs for the top brands, people and businesses in real time, with their views / likes and follower numbers changing every 24 hours.
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