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Expedia and Travelocity began accepting online bookings in 1996, but the phenomenon of using the Internet to routinely book and plan travel has exploded in the 21st century.

In 2009, for the first time, more than half of travel bookings were made online, according to Douglas Quinby of PhoCusWright, a travel industry research company. (If you’re surprised that online bookings make up only 50 percent of travel, consider this: Most group travel, most cruises, many complicated itineraries and even the majority of lodging reservations are still booked through a travel agent, by phone or in person, Quinby says.)
But the Internet’s impact on travel is not just in booking; it’s also in planning trips. Instead of buying a guidebook, today’s traveler might consult a destination Web site. To find a restaurant, you might go online to Yelp or Chowhound, or ask friends for a recommendation through Facebook or Twitter. For hotels, you might visit TripAdvisor.com, which started allowing customers to post reviews in 2001 and today has over 30 million of them.
Technology has even changed the way we drive to our destinations. MapQuest started offering directions online in 1996, the same year GM introduced Onstar. Google Maps dates to 2005. An early handheld Garmin GPS device sold for $589 in 2003; today’s Garmins start as low as $89. But you might not need one if your phone has a mapping app.

Travel and Technology, a combination that is embraced here at 4TM! :)

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This, combined with the effective application of technology, is our core area of expertise. 4TM has developed a range of tried and tested services to support communication and conversation in the industry, developed with input from some of the industry’s most progressive thinkers.

We’re now ready to shout about it.

Our TouristSite destination portal enables information about a destination, and the businesses in it, to be readily maintained and made available through a compelling and flexible web site. TouristSite links with blogs, TripAdvisor and YouTube, enabling the area to be projected through the eyes of satisfied visitors as well as the industry.

Our social media workshops for tourism businesses offer an understanding of social media and practical steps of how to manage and engage with customers using TripAdvisor, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and similar tools. Read some of our 5 star reviews.

Our Dashboard for Tourism provides real-time updates, including monitoring of conversations, blogs, news and reviews in one place, managing reputation and enabling pro-active customer engagement. It’s an easy yet effective way of being part of social media, without having to spend all day doing it.

The latest addition to our product range are mobile web sites and applications, enabling tourism businesses and destinations to connect with visitors while they are in the local area. We expect this to be a big “wow”!

Please contact us to find out more about 4TM’s services for tourism and travel. You can give us a ring on 01309 638077. Or visit our website at 4tm-services.com for more.

Image by Craig Rodway.

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