When Team StayNomad attended the 17th General Assembly of the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization in Carthagena, Colombia, we spoke with many people high up in the chains of command, such as the Minister of Tourism of Colombia, the President of Colombia Mr Ulribe and many, many others from many other countries about the changes required to keep the tourism and travel industry afloat in harsh economic times, which came to be recently on a global scale due to greed, not only in many layers of the banking and insurance institutions but also in individuals like you and … well not me, actually, but that is cause I truly care. Upon talking with these high ranked individuals from all over the planet we found that they all speak the same lingo, but also all of them don’t walk the talk. At least on the big scale.

And why not? I mean, really? What are they/we afraid of? Change? That is a good thing, a great thing actually! It brings new opportunities, new insights and as a direct result new customers and spending to your Destination. So why not embrace the concept of change, the change bringers and the change makers? Why even ask ourselves why not? Just try it, and we will see that change is a great opportunity for all. Barack Obama coined the word Change during his run for the white house, and for good reason. He too realized  that people are ready for change after all the boredom they have lived in their lives. Tourism is the biggest outlet these people have once or a couple of times a year to get away from this boredom. But the potential of it is not harnessed to the fullest. Far from it actually!

So what does Team StayNomad see? We would like to see the change the Tourism Industry has been talking about for such a long time now actually be embraced and executed when it comes to new touristic offer and toursim marketing. The world will be a better place when travelers and tourists (not the same, trust me!) are challenged to be part of change in the world. Sure, a tourist can still lay on a beach somewhere far far from home, but wouldn’t that same tourist be happy to make a contribution to the change we mean, however small, be it a monetary contribution or a personal one in the form of action?

A good example of change happening is the Annapurna area in Nepal. Here, tourism has changed for the better of the tourists and the locals due to an agreement that was reached between all hostel owners in the area. They agreed on a fixed price for lodging in the entire area. Hence, a tourist knows he is not being cheated out of his hard earned vacation money and the locals make a descent income working in the tourism industry. Part of the money is used to maintain the area and keep it available for tourists of the next generations. And this is just one example of change. There are many, but not nearly enough of them.

So why the title? Because we feel that marketeers in the Tourism Industry, a breed we deal with on a daily basis, all to often are stuck in the same boredom their customers (the tourists) are in. Boredom reduces creative thinking and limits options for change significantly. But this practice can not continue and will die out (slowly, unfortunately), just like the dinosaurs did. Don’t want to be a dinosaur? Embrace the change that is offered to you and make it count for your ROI. It’s easy, the tools are there, all you have to do is learn how to use them. And this is not just for the marketeers, it’s also fits for the tourists. The offer is out there, you just have to find it and buy it, and you too will evoke and create change.

Should you need any help with this whatsoever? Just ask, we are here for you.

Social media have started to thrive. Need more evidence? A marketing survey** revealed 59% of senior marketing executives expect to decrease their traditional-marketing budgets, while 63% plan to increase the budget for interactive and digital marketing programs, even in times of recession.

Still not convinced? Forrester Research states that interactive social applications such as communities, social networking sites and word-of-mouth marketing prove worthwhile because they depend not on a diminishing ad budgets, but on an abundant resource of your customers.***

Enthusiastic customers telling others about your product is a more effective medium than any of the traditional media. They have the ability to motivate consumers in the consideration phase of purchase, which, in times of recession, is more cost-effective than the shotgun approach applied by most traditional forms of advertising.

In times of recession, one thing seems clear: interactive and digital marketing-social media strategies in particular-will play a part in how your brand survives and thrives.

At StayNomad, we do exactly this. Our customers, whether they be tourism destinations or product manufacturers, are placed amidst a mix of global customers, all with a keen interest in travel, unique travel experiences and travel gear. And our members love the brands for it, because they enable them to travel in a more memorable and pleasant way.

Does your organization/company need any more convincing?

info@staynomad.com

*PRWeek and Manning Selvage & Lee survey, July 2008.
**Epsilon CMO Survey, August 2008.
***Forrester Research, Strategies for Interactive Marketing in a Recession, Feb 2008

One of the main trends highlighted at the WTM in London (UK) was the travel networking phenomenon. Travel networks like hospitalityclub.org, couchsurfing.org, wayn.com and staynomad.com represent the convergence of several trends at play in the travel industry today. International social networking, the search for more authentic travel experiences and the contact with local communities; all examples of what travelers hope to get from traveling nowadays.

The report states: “Travel networking sites and activities are expected to grow steadily over the next five years ['09-'13] and will become a major trend the industry would be wise to embrace.”

An excerpt of the mentioned report follows.

A. Companies in all sectors of the travel industry will benefit from:

1. Implementing Web 2.0 features on their websites allowing customers to exchange experiences and opinions about their experience with travel services and their travels overall.
2. Enriching their offer and adding packages that promote interaction with local cultures.
   
3. Including destinations that allow for a more authentic experience of local life.
4. Involving local communities wherever possible in tourist activities.
5. Partnering with travel networking websites to promote their offer.

B. Tourism promotion boards at a national and regional level will be able to promote the social aspects of their tourism product to their advantage:

1. Cooperating with tour operators to create specific cultural events that allow tourists to enjoy a more authentic experience of local culture.
2. Promoting the accommodation of tourists in B&B’s or other types of travel accommodation outlets run by locals.
3. Providing more information on their web sites about ways to discover and enjoy the cultures and ways of life of their countries, including travel blogs from locals.

Our take on the above:

Anything “organized” no longer seems authentic, even if it still (kinda) is. It’s the eternal catch 22 of tourism. Someone discovers a unique, fabulous destination or experience. People worldwide learn about this next wonder of the world and sure enough, this unspoiled destination or experience appeals to people all over the globe. We bet you can guess what happens next… Exactly, the next Paris-France, Krabi-Thailand or Gizeh-Egypt is waiting to happen.

Good for business? Probably, at least at first. Attractive in the long run? No. So sustainability also plays a key role in touristic development, also when global travel networking sites are involved. Educating the members of these communities about their (possible) impact as a tourist is as important as the mighty dollar, euro or yen the tourism industry is looking and competing for with hundreds if not thousands of competitor destinations worldwide.

So does it make sense to embrace the travel networking phenomenon? Yes, it does. Not simply because of the (future) size of these networks, but mainly because these people are part of a huge group of individuals with a new take on tourism. And don’t underestimate the influential positions these people have on the Web. We have all seen the power of the Internet through individuals creating travel experiences like Where the Hell is Matt? and Let me Stay for a Day.

All we wonder about is this: When will tourism destination finally grasp the idea and potential power of travel networking sites? The clock is ticking….

At this moment a group of members of the StayNomad community is testing the BETA web site. These people are the very first few to access the new website, have a look around, familiarize themselves with this new online environment and provide the StayNomad Team with valuable feedback on their experiences. In the upcoming weeks new testers will be added to the pool of testing members of the community in order to increase the feedback flow. Want to be part of these people? Sign up!

The BETA version of the web site is online in a secluded area of the World Wide Web, which can not be accessed by just anyone yet. So when you surf to www.staynomad.com, for the time being you will still only find the landing page that has been up there for the past few months. Make sure to SIGN UP if you did not do so already, because you will be notified right away when www.staynomad.com advances to the next stage of our newly born web site!

The Team at StayNomad has been working very hard to get to this point. Many hurdles have been taken on all kinds of levels: technical (a project like this always comes with many technical challenges), personal (the last year has been a roller coaster ride for everyone in the StayNomad Team) and social (friends, do we have any left? , anyone, please? just kidding…). And let me tell you, it affects ALL levels when you decide to start a new company.

So tonight it is time for us to celebrate, in the offices in Montreal and Amsterdam. In fact, I’m sure we’ll take it out of the office…

After our celebrations we’ll be back to deal with the tester feedback and to invite the rest of those thousands of people that have already signed up to become a part of the StayNomad community. We look forward to seeing you become an active member of this community and to one day meeting you in real life! Have a good one…

Ils sont nombreux à nous avons dit de sortir le site rapidement, de créer notre communauté et de se lancer. Qu’est-ce qui retarde le lancement ? Qu’est-ce qui fait défaut ? Qu’est-ce qui se passe ?

D’abord il y a eu la question du financement, ensuite le choix de la technologie à utiliser, puis la phase de conceptualisation qui ne terminait plus, enfin le temps file et on se retrouve aujourd’hui, 2 ans plus tard, à quelques jours des premiers tests usagers.

Si tout ce passe tel que prévu (on touche du bois), c’est le 5 juin que les premiers visiteurs exploreront staynomad.com.

Now established on two continents, StayNomad will be able to develop the StayNomad community even faster and more solid. Break away (at least for a while), and visit Amsterdam with StayNomad… Travel & Stay Free™!

Are you in Amsterdam, the Netherlands or anywhere else in Europe? Get in touch with us, we are looking to extend the StayNomad community and spread the StayNomad feeling! We look forward to hearing from you.

Have a good one!

VDL2 Communications Inc, a Montreal based Web agency, is one of Québec’s leading interests in the sector and one of only a select few to focus solely upon the Internet and Web-based operations. If you are seeking to promote your brand, position your company, develop your markets or enhance website profitability, VDL2 solutions put the Internet to work for you and help you achieve your business objectives. StayNomad and VDL2 will both benefit from this Roots Partnership, resulting in an ever better experience for the StayNomad community!

Welcome on board VDL2!

“La Grande Déclaration proclame les principes et les valeurs qu’ils souhaitent promouvoir à l’échelle mondiale. Elle vise à éveiller l’acteur de changement en chacun et à susciter l’engagement. Si son message est porté d’abord par des jeunes, celui-ci s’adresse à toutes les générations. Originale dans ce qu’elle propose, la Grande Déclaration invite chaque signataire à s’engager personnellement dans une action concrète pour bâtir un monde plus juste, plus ouvert et plus solidaire. La Grande Déclaration sera officiellement proclamée à Québec, dans le cadre des Fêtes du 400e anniversaire de la ville, à l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la jeunesse de l’ONU, le 12 août 2008.”

Pour lire la version française, cliquez ici. To read the English version, click here. Quelle est l’action concrète que vous réaliserez afin de contribuer à la construction d’un monde meilleur ? Je vous invite à prendre part à ce mouvement et de répondre à l’appel ! Cliquez ici pour signer la Grande Déclaration.

 After five succesful days at the ITB we choose to extend our stay in Berlin to enjoy the local culture and the warm welcome of our fellow Nomads Christian and Viola. After visiting the Potsdammer Platz, the Brandenburger Tor and many of the well hidden secrets of downtown Berlin thanks to our Nomad hosts we can say with 100% certainty that Berlin is a kick butt place to be, especially in spring and summer! And we don’t even have to say: “Ich bin ein Berliner” (JFK), because this delicious sausage (!) is as much part of the Berliner culture as the huge glasses of wonderful beer in this surprisingly cheap metropolitan city in the east of Germany, a one hour flight away from Amsterdam. When you get(/take) a chance, check it out!

We know we will, at the ITB Berlin of 2009!