Mobile Marketing for Tourism

With the increasing number of travelers using

their mobile devices, there are outstanding opportunities

for the travel industry predicated on

the real time ability to connect and interact with

consumers at any time or place. The portable

media landscape of mobile offers a powerful

medium to deliver content to inform, influence

and transact.

The opportunities are unlimited, from empowering

mobile travelers to improving travel

efficiency and building ancillary revenues.

Mobile offers the traveling consumer the ability

to research products and services, make instant

reservations, change bookings and check-in/

check-out on the go. Through push marketing, it provides rich opportunities to get consumers to

respond to offers, engage in signups and buy on the spot. You can communicate information

or alerts, send coupons, offer distressed inventory, make timely offers and last minute deals, up

sell and cross sell ancillary products and services.

Airlines are leading the way by upgrading their mobile Web experience from being mainly

information driven to providing the ability to book and purchase flights, join the standby list and

upgrade seating. Hospitality brands are diving in to the space with SMS call to action campaigns

for promotions on discounts for rooms, dining, amenities, etc. and creative concepts

like a mobile concierge for groups. On the operations side, booking confirmations can be cost

effectively and conveniently sent by text message, there's the ability for paperless ticketing and

creative means to improve customer feedback.

For example, Hilton Hotels launched a mobile service for its properties in the UK and Germany

with full booking capabilities as a benefit to its loyalty club members. Hyatt inked a deal with Microsoft to have hotel ads on Verizon Wireless phones to generate new members for its

frequent guest program as well as allowing booking and check in with their mobile phones.

And Amadeus launched a new series of mobile solutions aimed