http://www.bnet.com/blog/advertising-business/america-8217s-lousy-logo-10-countries-with-better-tourism-brands-than-ours/7834

One of my bucket list destinations just kicked the bucket. Egypt, where it all begins. And now ends. As the harrowing details of what happened to CBS news reporter Lara Logan come to light, many Americans will no doubt now have a similar reaction and find that put-off trip to the Pyramids all too erasable.

Of course with active State Dept warnings and uncertainty re the country’s direction with the Muslim Brotherhood at the helm, I and other bucketeers would not be packing our bags and heading off to Luxor any time soon.

But now Lara Logan.

Much like AIG became synonymous with nearly killing off the luxury resort
convention business, Egypt’s tourism decline from the US will be tied to
Lara Logan and the events of 2/11/11.

Notoriety of this sort is not what this South African rising news star
would want. In initial reports, CBS News said they avoided Cairo
hospital care and Egyptian government help because of complete mistrust.
While the truth may be that Logan wanted her privacy and dignity above all else,
the irreparable harm lay in the takeway: if I go, my health and safety can not be
guaranteed. It didn’t help that those same reports stated Logan was a
target that evening of anti-semitic taunts (wrong, for all reasons).

Thus, the heinous actions of a mob will impact the livelihood of thousands
as well as the enjoyment of millions. More the pity as Egypt was having a banner
tourism year by all accounts. Even once-maligned Egyptair was proving up to the
challenge, joining Star Alliance in 2008 and recently introducing the popular
Boeing Triple-7 on its JFK-CAI route.

I had the opportunity twice in 2010 to hear Egyptian tourism officials speak in New York. The star at both occasions to honor the opening and closing of the King Tutankhamun exhibit was Dr. Zawi Hawass of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. Learned and articulate, he won each audience with his passion for the preservation Egypt’s magnificent artifacts, and with his exhortations for us all to visit these true wonders of the world.

Now his efforts and those of the tourism board have been seriously set back. Egypt is a victim of the cruelest of ironies: ancient history is its calling card and only time will tell if visitors ever return.

Jim Cronin

Spanair and its agency decided to surprise, or rather stun, customers who flew late Christmas Eve from Barcelona to Las Palmas with an array of individually selected Christmas presents coming off the conveyor belt as they waited for their luggage. See how it all unwraps…

KLM gets props for exercising its Social Media chops in a recent campaign at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport. When KLM travelers shared travel plans via Foursquare or Twitter, the airline used additional social media info from profiles to come up with the perfect (small) gift, which airlines staffers then hand delivered to surprised passangers at airport gates.

Earlier this month, the Society of American Travel Writers
announced their Lowell Thomas awards, the Oscars of the biz as it were.
The winner of the 2010 Travel Journalist of the Year award was none other
than, envelope please, Andrew McCarthy. Quite the story arc — from
starring in Weekend at Bernie’s (1 & 2!) to award-winning features in T&L,
National Geo, Islands et al. Andrew’s assignments have taken him from
the Amazon to Zanzibar and many spots in between. Read more in the Washington Post Travel section here.

In a bid to tap the interest in travel to South Africa following the country’s successful World Cup event, South African Tourism is launching a broadcast campaign in major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, and South Florida. BCA, together with Mixology, created and produced the 60 second radio commercial which complements the TV spot done in Johannesburg which is part of a global campaign. Beyond the emotional appeals of wildlife and adventure featured in the spots, the ”crux of this campaign is really to drive traffic to the deals page and get people booking trips to South Africa right away.” said David DiGregorio, Manager of Marketing & Communications for the tourism board.

The site was redesigned to appeal to both future guests and travel agents. Guests can peruse through an extended collection of pictures and videos, see what’s happening daily on the calendar of resort events, effortlessly find current specials and book their trips with ease. For travel agents, there is an agent portal with facts and descriptions of the resort and an improved booking system to simplify the reservation process.

“We are very excited to introduce our new Half Moon website to the world,” said Myrtle Dwyer, director of sales and marketing at Half Moon, adding “as soon as the home page loads, you’ll feel like you’ve entered paradise without even leaving your home or office.”

The site also features a smart phone version and will soon be available in Spanish

J.D. Power Hotel Satisfaction Study

• Overall the 56,000 guests polled are happier this year
• Top 3 amenities: Wi-Fi, free breakfast, bedding and pillow choices
• Almost 6 out of 10 book rooms online
• Guests who book direct with property via web or phone are “notably more satisfied” than those who use other means
• Ritz-Carlton unseated Four Seasons for top luxury chain

Ypartnership/Harrison Group Consumer Trends Survey
Note: this eagerly awaited annual study by the esteemed Peter Yesawich is featured in this week’s Travel Weekly. Read the full 24-pg survey here.

• Average US traveler took 4 trips last year and spent more than $3,500 on travel
• 20% of affluents plan to travel more in coming year
• 65% have taken one ‘celebration’ trip in past year (birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, family reunions top occasions)
• 81% claim to be eco-concious, yet only 9% have booked trip/property based on environmental impact
• 48% would give preference to eco-friendly supplier, yet only 16% willing to pay more for it
• 36% are using direct offers more
• 35% are more likely now to wait for sales
• 79% have become smarter shoppers since downturn
• 28% of all leisure travelers are Sensationals (one of four market segments profiled). This group whose mean age is 40 is particularly receptive to travel deals via flash emails

HSMAI/Vizergy (hotel industry white paper surveying use of digital)

• Travel marketers spend more on digital than any other industry
• 70% of hoteliers state online gives greatest ROI
• 69% include social media in online mix, with majority having specific strategy
• 50% encourage guests to post reviews
• 70% monitor guest reviews at least weekly