Stop Planning, Start Doing - What I learned at Annual Convention
By: Douglas Ralston, True Omni
Turn Challenges into Opportunities:
- Deliver visitors transportation options and parking information throughout the visitor journey.
- Educate visitors on environmental, social, and cultural responsibility.
- Provide real-time information on unique travel options, events, and activities.
- Reduce paper-based flyers and marketing materials.
- Strengthen the local economy by partnering with local businesses.
Technology solutions that can help meet these demands:
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Find your digital vehicle, in-destination mobile, kiosk, and signage (note: mobile is not necessarily native apps, progressive web apps are far superior, and not just a mirror of your existing website.
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Transportation is a key element in helping solve local issues and reduce traveler’s carbon footprint:
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Educate visitors pre-visit on options for getting around, especially in high-impact areas, parks, attractions, hiking, or monuments.
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Technology to consider to garner mobile and tech engagement:
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Maps and recommendations for trails, trolleys, and buses.
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Easy access to booking and real-time tracking of reservations.
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Provide ways to save money or time, and incentivize the visitor to use digital tools to engage.
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Appeal to their sense of sustainable ownership and if not their sense of convenience.
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Timely notifications as they enter locations reminding them, sending out alerts or information to let them know about closures, etc…
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Kiosk, digital signage, video, and social integrations:
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Utilize kiosks or interactive experiences inside visitor centers or near high-traffic areas to help visitors find information and tools which allow them to easily share information that will make their experience better to their mobile devices and email.
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Provide at-point of origin mapping, and transportation directions highlighting areas and local businesses.
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Contribute educational and dispersion messaging across the destination market in key areas of town and educate them on the best times to visit heavy traffic areas.
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Create experiences full of exploration and education with trails and merit systems that reward engagement which plays to the uniqueness of your destination.
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Key technology features to consider:
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Ticketing and reservation systems.
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Trails, historic, and cultural push notifications and alerts.
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Itinerary building and planning.
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Advertising and brand awareness via signage in airports and key hot spots.
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True Omni case studies references:
About the Author

About the Author
Throughout his 20 years of tenure with the technical and digital industry, Doug continuously reinforces a seamless solution for marketing and industrial development. He focused his career creating impactful products in order to redefine brand experience, which eventually steered technology businesses to Fortune 500 companies such as Symantec, Panasonic, Microsoft, Cisco, and Citrix. Doug's industry-wide background in a commerce solution, sales, social, and digital strategy also equipped him to work with some of the biggest brands in travel, hospitality, and retail commerce.