QUO

QUO Calls for Change in Perception of Brand Thailand

David Keen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:35:24 GMT

BANGKOK, 2 February 2012 – A leading tourism brand strategist based in Bangkok has called for a "structural" change in the perception of brand Thailand. A new brand should better reflect the warmth and humility of Thai people, he said.

Addressing over 400 travel industry stakeholders at the inaugural Thailand Tourism Forum in Bangkok today, David Keen, the CEO of QUO Keen, said that current promotions based on "amazing" and "miracle" taglines don't accurately present Thailand.

In his presentation, Keen told the audience: "Thailand needs to come together and form a perception of the country that is based on truth. Thailand has extraordinary assets – none greater than its multi-cultural and dignified people. It is the people who should form the essence of a new perception of the country," he said.

The QUO CEO showed a four-minute video called, "Harnessing Our Potential" to illustrate the diversity of Thailand's assets. The video combined images of attractive locations with interviews with Thai people and foreign residents.

Keen said: "In my opinion, we should define our brand as a convergence of our greatest assets and take that perception to the market. Thailand should form an identity that conveys all the wonderful things about the country and its people. I believe it would be far more meaningful and have a greater impact than traditional or existing strategies."

The Thailand Tourism Forum 2012 was organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand under the guidance of Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks. The event, held at the InterContinental Bangkok, positioned itself as "the country's first report card on the state of the tourism industry".

What social media can and cannot do for non-profits

David Robinson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:54:33 GMT

An interesting article in THE ECONOMIST looks at the opportunities for fundraising through social media.

Rather than looking at social media as a direct fundraising tool in itself, charities would be better to think of Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, YouTube and other popular social media platforms as the first step of your donor journey. These are places for your organization to be seen by people who have a view on the subject on which you work, thereby building your exposure.

People who leave comments on your social media sites are potential supporters. To make the transition from support to donor they need to register on your website. They will be be more inclined to do this if your charity has a strong brand, has an explanation of the problem and the solution, and clearly articulates a role for the supporter in bringing about change.

You need to be active in the social media space, sharing views, photographs and videos, and all of this must be linked to your website. Most importantly, your website needs a means of collecting the name, email address and mobile phone number of the individual on a database.

Once you have this basic information you can begin the journey from interest to support to donation.

What ever happened to Khao Lak, Thailand?

Matthew O'Lemmon — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:15:56 GMT

The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 wiped out the sleepy coastal town killing thousands and all but scouring it from the Earth. But where is it now in terms of redevelopment and tourism?

In October, 2011, QUO Keen conducted research in Khao Lak speaking with foreign and Thai tourists, small business owners and hoteliers to find out their perceptions of the area seven years after the tsunami. With the help of students from Webster University Thailand, we surveyed over 200 people from 22 different countries, including Thailand, and found that while people still remember the tsunami and the destruction it caused, it no longer is a source of concern or fear.

What we found was that most people knew – and knew a good deal – about the tsunami but were not worried about any similar event occurring in the future. Further, tourists were also not concerned about the prospect of future natural disasters along the Andaman Coast or the rest of Thailand. And even though people knew a lot about the event, they did not associate it with Khao Lak. It was identified as a regional event and not connected with one particular location.

Something else we discovered was that Thais were no longer bothered by supernatural issues connected with the disaster and were not concerned about taking a holiday in the area. This was cited by many – including the Tourism Authority of Thailand – as the principal reason why Thais stayed away. This may have been a concern immediately after the tsunami, but seven years on this issue no longer holds sway.

There are likely several reasons for the overall change in perception among foreign and local tourists, time and the relatively quick redevelopment compared to other areas being the most notable. Local and external events – from the 2006 coup to the recent flooding – have also overshadowed the tsunami while a loyal following of tourists did their part to help bring Khao Lak back on the tourist map.

What has also likely played a big part in this change is the fact that so much coverage of the tsunami created a significant learning curve for people around the world. Tsunamis, such as the one in 2004, are no longer oceanic mysteries but now seen as natural events with identifiable causes. In many ways it was as though a light was turned on in a darkened room: once people learned what caused tsunamis and knew the signs to watch out for, they were no longer afraid of them.

Tourism has returned to Khao Lak and new hotels and resorts are springing up everywhere. The beautiful waters and tranquil scenery are bringing in tourists to an area local billboards proclaim is “Just Like Phuket 20 Years Ago.” Its location and low-key atmosphere are once again proving to be an idyllic alternative to the more urbanised and touristy areas elsewhere in the kingdom.

For more details on this research, please click here.

GetUp!

David Robinson — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:39:29 GMT

GetUp! is an Australian non-government organization that campaigns online to give Australians a greater voice in political decision-making. It regularly emails supporters, now more than half a million, to sign petitions, turn up at rallies, write to members of parliament, or donate to a campaign. Donations often are used to take viral videos into other places such as large video screens at sporting events, billboards or commercial television.

GetUp! does not advocate for change on any one issue. Rather, it identifies issues it thinks will resonate with its supporters and Australians in general. GetUp! has called for action on climate change, support for the recently introduced carbon tax, changes to the handling of refugees and asylum seekers, protection of forests, and support for marriage equality.

Rights-based advocacy takes on many shapes. Whether it's the rights of children, gender equality, anti-discrimition for people with disabilities, campaigns against bullying in school or the rights of the poor. On the issue of marriage equality, GetUp! has campaigned for a number of years with varying actions. At the Australian Parliament's annul charity auction, where politicians put up various of products and opportunities for public bid, GetUp! raised $10,000 from its supporters to purchase a dinner with the Prime Minister. It was successful, and they sent three gay couples to the Prime Minister's residence for the dinner.

This month at the Australian Labor Party's annual conference, presided over by the Prime Minister, members will be voting on whether to make it their policy to end marriage discrimination. To help focus the politicians, GetUp! produced a video. Released on the internet over a weekend, by Monday the video had been viewed more that a 1.5 million times.

Now GetUp! is calling for donations to pay for a TV commercial version of the video to be screened on national television. It's another great example of how organizations are harnessing the power of video to bring about change.

QUO launches in India

Press Office — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:23:09 GMT

QUO to be led in India by Advertising Guru Kamal Oberoi, and Communications specialist Caroline Rowe

NEW DELHI, 22nd November 2011 – Today in New Delhi, CEO of QUO Global, David Keen, marked the launch of QUO in India. QUO is the world's first and only consultancy to specialize entirely on the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. It offers comprehensive expertise from corporate and brand strategy to concept creation, PR, sales & marketing representation and integrated communications. Its ethos is 'business avant-garde'. Currently present in the UK, Thailand, Germany and Vietnam, QUO is in a rapid expansion stage.

On opening, David revealed Advertising Industry Guru, Kamal Oberoi, as the Chairman to bring QUO to life in the Indian arena. David said "I believe we have brought together a team of thinkers who share the QUO philosophy that brand culture defines every aspect of the customer journey, not just the logo and tagline". Joining Kamal is the former head of the Hospitality practice area for India's largest PR firm, Perfect Relations, Caroline Rowe. The India QUO office will also act as a center of excellence across the QUO network for both advertising and communications, yet only in this highly focused vertical. Of the specialization Kamal said, "We are unapologetic about our complete concentration on what we believe to be an area of great excitement and potential in the coming decades. This will allow us to research, understand, and become experts in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. We believe the very future of branding and communications is niche"

QUO was created by the coming together of two renowned agencies, Hills Balfour, the UK's best recognized travel and destination representation and PR agency, and KEEN, Asia's most prominent branding, design, and image creation agency. The Munich office of Hills Balfour, previously Magnum Hills Balfour, has also joined the QUO fold. An office in Ho Chi Minh City is current being opened, and 2012 will see offices opening in Chicago, Hong Kong, Manila, Milan, Paris, Shanghai and Singapore.

QUO offers a wide range of innovative solutions, including;

QUO Consult
Imagination meets in-depth analysis. Destination strategy. Corporate structuring. Partner sourcing.

QUO Strategy
Defining your brand culture. Your essence. Your customs. Your architecture. Your politics. Your voice.

QUO Talk
Communicating your brand or destination to a global audience. Public Relations with unrivalled media connections.

QUO Representation
Extending your reach to every key market. Sales and marketing representation with local expertise, globally.

QUO Create
Master artisans. Dreaming, creating brand identities and visual communications with a renaissance flair.

QUO Digital
The forefront of technology. Complex, sophisticated website platforms with sleek, user-friendly interfaces.

QUO Media
Sing from the same page. High-Impact campaigns across all media from social networks to TV networks.

Notable QUO clients include; Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, Amari (ONYX Hospitality), UNESCO, Accor, Per Aquum, Jetwing, Zinc Hospitality, Brunei, the Sofitel, the St. Regis, the Metropole, the Sukhothai and the Tourism Council of Bhutan.

Recently, QUO's Bangkok office has completed the Nation Branding of the Maldives. More information is available in a specific press release included in this Press Pack.

About QUO
QUO Global is a new global brand creation, communications and representation specialist for the tourism and hospitality sectors. Its client portfolios cover most of the globe and embrace small and large destinations and multiple hospitality companies. QUO leaders bring with them decades of experience. QUO Global is a new entity launched in October 2011. Further information: www.QUO-global.com.

For more information, please get in touch…
Media contact, India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh
Caroline Rowe
QUO
Mobile : (+91) 9650 30 8953
Email: caroline.rowe@quo-global.com

Google+ Business pages

Than Rassadanukul — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:55:11 GMT

Google+ has recently launched a business pages feature, a la Facebook pages - it even features a photostrip. Big names such as Pepsi and NASA have already set up pages.

Currently in an early stage of its life, Google+ pages are simply like personal profiles with some business touches. According to Google, if you add links between your website and Google+ page, then people can access your Google+ page directly from search results for your brand name.

A couple of limitations at the moment; you can only have one administrator and there are no short/custom URLs yet.

We have set up own very own QUO page, so if you're on Google+, don't forget to add us to your circles!

And if you need help setting up your page, please get in touch via the yellow bar below!

Senior Copywriter

QUO Global — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:37:36 GMT

Senior Copywriter

QUO, the world's first and only specialist agency for the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, is seeking an experienced copywriter to join the editorial team. Under the guidance of the editorial director, copywriters are responsible for bringing brands to life through the written word. This involves following a specific tone of voice to write a range of material, including website copy, brochures, advertising, presentations, sales material and more.

The Requirements:

Highly intelligent, experienced writer, with marketing or branding experience preferred. Journalists, creative writers and others may also be considered.
Must be able to unite creative writing skills with commercial objectives.
Able to work individually and in teams, able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Confident, shows initiative and is able to work in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
Familiarity with the hospitality and travel & tourism sectors desired.
A business background, or the ability to understand and write about business issues, would also be beneficial.
Thai or expatriate, but must be fully fluent in English to native-speaker level and have an obsessive eye for detail.

Hungry for video

David Robinson — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:47:45 GMT

Sir Ken Robinson, in the opening lines of his follow-up TED Talk in 2010, joked with his audience that people all over the world had "a hunger of videos of me." And right he was.

Sir Ken's first talk, "Schools Kill Creativity", has been viewed a staggering 7.5 million times since being uploaded to the Internet back in 2006. His follow-up talk in 2010, "Bring on the learning revolution", has been viewed 1.8 million times.

Such is the power of a good presentation, recorded on video and shared on the Internet.

I'm an ex-TV guy, so of course I would espouse the virtues of video. TV has the power to move people like no other media because it can take you places and tell you stories, and because of the sheer volume of homes and people it can reach.

At least this is what TV executives like me around the world used to say. But we knew the time would come when people would spend as much time in front of the computer screen as they do in front of the TV.

And this is exactly what is happening now. In fact people are spending more time with computers and smart phones than with what we once affectionately called 'the box'

Those who recognize the power of video are utilizing it to engage individuals and organizations to support a campaign, donate to a cause or change behaviour.

With 'Ken and Barbie' cast as its stars, Greenpeace convinced Mattel to source their packaging materials elsewhere (Indonesia forests campaign). BBC World Service Trust created a campaign in India to reduce the stigma associated with condom use, pushing up sales of the product in the country and strengthening HIV prevention.

But not all videos require production budgets as large as these examples. Mobile phones now offer good quality stills and video recording wherever you are. There's no need for “lights, camera action” anymore. Anyone in your organization or community can record and share their videos in a click.

Known as user-generated content, people all over the world now share their photos and videos effortlessly on personal, group and organization social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

So what are you waiting for...

Flooded with mistakes

Catherine Monthienvichienchai — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:44:22 GMT

The biggest threat to Thailand’s tourism industry right now is not the encroaching flood waters that may or may not ‘inundate’ (a word used far too much by the local English language press at the moment) the city centre, but the sheer amount of miscommunication and false information that is coming via the media – national, international and of the social variety.

From typos (30m of flood water rather than 30cm) to misleading picture captions (a picture of flood waters at Bangkok’s second airport mistakenly labelled as being that of the country’s aviation hub Suvarnabhumi) to incorrect geographical descriptions (the flood waters were described by one international news site as coming from the ‘north’ of Thailand, when in fact they originated in the Central Plains), errors and inaccuracies have been rampant. Meanwhile, government officials and scientific experts contradict each other on a daily basis. At one point experts claimed the Ladprao area of Bangkok (where I live) was due to flood 'in 2-3 days', except it remained '2-3 days' for at least 5... the flood waters finally reached this part of the city last Friday.

And don’t get me started on Twitter. I admit, I’ve been following the social media site like a hawk for several weeks now in the hope that I can get some sense of what is going on, but have always come away confused and frustrated. Amongst all the genuine, useful information is a barrage of rumour and conjecture, with the slightest puddle or overspill from a drain declared a ‘flood’.

If I, as a resident of Bangkok, am confused, then what of the tourists?

Hoteliers and tourism operators around the country are painting a dismal picture. Thai hotel operator Centara Hotels & Resorts reported that they’d lost 70 million baht (2.3 million US dollars) from guest cancellations and event postponements since the beginning of October. And, of the 16,000 room nights cancelled, 35% were at hotels outside Bangkok.

At a time when the tourism industry should be gearing up for peak season, arrival numbers are dwindling. Tourists are staying away – not just from Bangkok, but from unaffected tourist destinations in the north and south of the country. In total, it’s been suggested that tourist arrivals may fall by as much as 800,000 this year, cutting revenue by 20 billion baht (652 million US dollars).

The government today announced a plan to rehabilitate devastated areas, revive investor confidence and develop infrastructure to prevent future flooding. Perhaps improved communications and PR could be added to that list…

Creating paradise

Emma Rosenberg — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:35:51 GMT

On the Editorial Team, I deal with words. How they're spelled, what they mean, if "sweeping blue vistas" properly conveys what it's like to look out at the lulling waves of the South China Sea from a private balcony.

It is difficult to describe perfection: stretches of white sand, untouched jungles, breathtaking mountains. Even with an accompanying visual, I worry I haven’t done justice to the beauty of a coral reef in the Galapagos, or the first taste of pomegranate panna cotta under a starry sky.

The colour of the water may be accurate – indigo, maybe azure on a clear day – but it’s the feeling you get when dipping your toes into the ocean that matters. Luxury travel is an experience, not just a collection of pretty sentences strung together in a brochure.

That’s where copywriters come in, to conjure a feeling in our readers as close to the real thing as the experience itself. But how do you explain emotions through words?

On this issue, I will refer to one of my favourite novels, “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides. The narrator says,

“Emotions, in my experience, aren’t covered by single words. I don’t believe in ‘sadness’, ‘joy’, or ‘regret’. Maybe the best proof that the language is patriarchal is that it oversimplifies feeling. I’d like to have at my disposal complicated hybrid emotions, Germanic train-car constructions like, say,…..‘the sadness inspired by failing restaurants’ as well as for ‘the excitement of getting a room with a minibar’.”

Simple one-word emotions are inadequate to cover the palette of human experience. We all know that the excitement of getting a room with a minibar is different, one would hope, than the excitement of passing the bar examination, or finding out about a pregnancy. There’s excitement laced with elation, confusion, denial, or even fear.

Jonathan Safran Foer, once a student of the writer above, has his own method of overcoming the limits of the English language in describing the shades of sadness. In his highly-stylized novel “Everything Is Illuminated”, he has a list that goes on for three pages. Here are a few:

-Sadness of a bad conversation

-Sadness of feeling the need to create beautiful things

-Sadness of the could-have-been

-Sadness of being sad in front of one’s parent

His exercise is striking because of its linguistic implications and emotional resonance; how could their possibly be one word, “sadness”, to describe such a vast range of sensations? In the same way, how can any feeling be captured, or worse, imprisoned, by one word? Even with exhaustive lists of “Germanic train-car constructions”, one cannot help but feel there will always be more feelings, not listed or impossible to explain.

Safran Foer covered sadness, but a classification system for happiness is still missing. And within happiness, the happiness of travel. And within the happiness of travel, the happiness of experiencing luxury…

Here’s a running list of my own, to (partially) fill the lacunae of language:

-Happiness of breakfast in bed

-Happiness of chocolate on your pillow

-Happiness of your reality feeling like a dream

-Happiness of an ocean breeze through French doors

-Happiness of sand between your toes

-Happiness of seeing a school of fish underwater

-Happiness of wanting to be nowhere else but where you are

-Happiness of lying in a terrazzo tub

-Happiness of seeing a sky covered in stars

-Happiness of lying down on silk sheets

-Happiness of entering a spa room

-Happiness of leaving a spa room

-Happiness of standing up on a surfboard

-Happiness of watching your food cooked in front of you

-Happiness of freedom from worries

-Happiness of dining al fresco

Chime in below to add your own!

QUO Keen creates a new nation brand for the Maldives

Press Office — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:54:39 GMT

New identity offers unique cross-marketing possibilities

LONDON, 7th November 2011 – QUO Keen, a specialist brand consultancy for the global tourism industry, has successfully created a unified nation brand for the Republic of the Maldives.

The 'Always Natural' tagline and thumb print logo offers an identity that will allow the Maldives to move beyond its current image as simply a luxury romance and honeymoon destination.

David Keen, CEO of QUO Keen said: "We have created a brand that stands for the Maldivian people, for tourism and for all of Maldivian industry. The slogan ‘Always Natural’ talks to the wonderful character of the people of the Maldives, as well as to sustainability and to the ultimate tourism experience. The hand-crafted logo expresses the natural elements of the country formed in a thumb print".

The identity reinforces the government's policy of repositioning the Maldives as a country focused on its environment, sustainability, and with a wide range of offerings across all spectrums. It draws on the topography, culture, and people of the nation and will appeal not only to traditional markets, but also to the growing inbound tourism markets of China, Japan and India.

David Keen added: "While the mark and tagline speak clearly of the natural beauty of the islands and will appeal to tourists around the world, the new identity has also been created for investors interested in the drive towards sustainability, and those drawn to conduct business with a country of unique natural characteristics".

Simon Hawkins, Managing Director of MMPRC, said: "We are delighted with the end result and look forward to proudly communicating the new brand to the world".

QUO Keen was selected to create the new identity in 2010 in a public tender involving top international advertising and branding agencies.

The final identity was brought into immediate use following the President's approval.

For more information about the Maldives' new brand identity please click here.

About QUO

QUO is a global brand creation, communication and representation specialist for the tourism and hospitality sectors. Its client portfolios cover most of the globe and embrace small and large destinations and multiple hospitality companies. QUO leaders bring with them decades of experience. QUO Keen evolved from Keen Media which was established in Bangkok in 1997. QUO officially launched in October 2011. Further information: www.quo-global.com.

Media contact for QUO Keen
Ken Scott
ScottAsia Communications
Mobile: (+66) 81 931 2753
Email: ken@scottasia.net

Tharinee Wongwattanun
Mobile: (+66) 87 327 7899
Email: tharinee@scottasia.net

A series of books apart

Than Rassadanukul — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:26:21 GMT

Recently I have stumbled upon a series of books named "A Book Apart", produced by the good folks from A List Apart, a website for people who make websites.

The series touches on various aspects of web development, from design to coding to content. The books are easy to read, short and straight to the points, with soft copies and hard copies available.

So far six titles in the series of seven are out, and they are all great reads. My favourites were "Responsive Web Design" and "Mobile First”. Tablets and smart phones are now ubiquitous, so web developers have to at least consider compatibility for them, if not actually designing with them in mind first.

Strong roots, bold growth

QUO Global — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:11:56 GMT

Colouring the soul of a brand

The evolving hospitality landscape called for a change in direction for Amari. One of Thailand's largest locally-owned hospitality brands, Amari sought a new identity as it looked to future growth and expansion. Identifying Amari's roots in warm Asian hospitality, QUO Keen repositioned the brand as a resolutely modern experience, imbued with Asian flair, a new colour palette, tone of voice, and communications guideline, while still staying true its 40-year heritage. The signature 'Hotels and Resorts' was replaced by 'Colours and Rhythms', the visuals and brand essence coalescing into one uniquely daring identity.

Amari Watergate

Advertising campaign

www.Amari.com

Coasters and wine bag

It’s all in the curve

QUO Global — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:55:03 GMT

It’s all in the curve – a modern twist for an industry stalwart

Twenty-two years ago, HICAP (Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific) began as an answer to Asia's evolving hospitality industry and is now a yearly stomping ground for the region's biggest players and executives. A forum of exploration, exchange, and opportunity, HICAP came to QUO Keen in need of a revamp to better reflect their forward-thinking vision. QUO Keen developed a modern visual identity inspired by the curving lines of Asian letterforms, perfectly reflecting HICAP’s high-powered, contemporary image.

Stage backdrop

Event brochure

Visual identity design guidelines

Signage and badge

Pioneering discoveries

QUO Global — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:43:19 GMT

A travel legend, a fresh direction

A trusted name in Sri Lanka's tourism industry, Jetwing came to QUO Keen in need of brand guidance. After careful market research and cutting-edge strategy, QUO Keen developed a brand essence 'pioneering discoveries' that embodied unparalleled experiences and new horizons. With a brand logo the pays homage to the freedom of travel, Jetwing found an identity to fit its legendary history and bold future.

Visual identity guidelines

Corporate folder, CD cover, and CD

Caroline Rowe

QUO Global — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:46:41 GMT

An Oxford Graduate, Caroline has spent the last decade in a variety of marketing communications and PR roles for some of the most recognised hospitality brands across Shanghai, San Francisco and the Indian subcontinent. Her speciality is openings; her most recent accomplishment being the opening of the Leela Palace New Delhi.

Caroline’s work on food and cuisine is regularly published in national newspapers and annually at the Oxford Symposium of Food & Cookery. She is also co-editor of the Mail Today 101 Top Restaurant Guide, amongst other works.

Kamal Oberoi

QUO Global — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:44:01 GMT

Chairman of our India office, Kamal is one of the most respected faces in the country’s communications industry. In 2005 he founded M&C Saatchi, ranked amongst the top 20 best advertising agencies in India by the Economic Times. Prior to that, he spent over 20 years with JWT, heading India as its President.

Kamal has stewarded brands such as Pepsi, ITC, Hero, Nestle, Ford, Levis, GSK, Frito Lay, Unilever’s tea brands, Pizza Hut, Bajaj Alliance, Jet Airways, WelcomGroup Hotels and Lalit. Kamal holds an MBA degree from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi.

A flutter in Hong Kong

Laura Markes — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:30:18 GMT

Interactive art at Langham Place, Mongkok by the award-winning Dominic Harris:

An interesting alternative to sticking paintings on walls, don't you think?

Crowdsourcing the flood

Than Rassadanukul — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:17:58 GMT

Thailand is facing the worst flood in half a century, and sometimes it is rather difficult to find quick information about flooded areas, especially on the outskirts of Bangkok. But every cloud has a silver lining - enter crowdsourcing, platforms made by the people, for the people, reported by the people.

Here are some we have found useful. All of these websites are in Thai, but luckily the developers made them intuitive enough for foreigners to try the navigation or wade through with Google Translation.

Is My House Flooded?
Report and check for floods in areas by postal code. Although postal area codes vastly vary in sizes here in Thailand, one can check to get a general idea of the situation in specific areas.

Gamling.org
Named after a royal project that deals with detaining water, Gamling lets you log in via Facebook to put pins on maps reporting your flood situation including water levels and photos.

ThaiFlood.com
By far the largest citizen group to coordinate flood relief. You can submit a detailed form to request relief, pledge donations and list relief activity.

And of course there is the wild world of Twitter: #ThaiFloodeng and #ThaiFlood are currently your best bets for reports, rumours and criticisms.

If you have more to share, do tell us in the comments.

A propensity to give

David Robinson — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:15:17 GMT

"Giving time or money voluntarily to help others is seen by sociologists as a marker of cohesiveness in a society."... The opening lines in The World Giving Index 2010 report, and interesting reading it makes too.

The annual report prepared by the Charities Aid Foundation is based upon data from Gallup's WorldView Poll, which is carried out in 153 countries that together represent about 95% of the world's population. Depending on the size of the country and the difficulty of access, between 500 to 2,000 questionnaires (averaging 1,000) are completed in each country.

Gallup looks at ‘giving' in three forms: donating money to an organisation, volunteering time to an organisation, and helping a stranger. An organization can be a political party, registered charity, community organization or place of worship.

So here are some questions for you to consider. According to the report:

Which country has citizens with the highest propensity to give overall?
Which nation scores highest on giving money?
Which region has the highest propensity to volunteer time?
Where would you be most helped as a stranger in someone else's country?

As the centre of gravity for world economic supremacy shifts from West to East, many international NGOs are rethinking where to locate and fundraise. ActionAid moved their headquarters from London to Johannesburg and WOCAN from Washington to Bangkok, both relocating from the global North to the global South to be closer to their work and political conviction.

But are they moving further from their donors?

Looking at how BRIC countries rate in the World Giving Index you could be forgiven for assuming they are. China ranks at number 147, India at 134, Russia at 138 and Brazil at 76, However, South Africa's index is 76 and Thailand 25, suggesting they have a much greater propensity to give than some ‘developed' countries. South Eastern Asia scores highest of the Asian regions for giving money and is fourth in the world overall.

Of course, the type of fundraising best pursued will depend on a range of different factors: the availability of donor acquisition services, access to funding institutions, sophistication of fundraising programmes and experience of local practitioners.

And of course, I am sure, with the presentation of all statistical analysis, there will be those who dispute the findings or those who might point to more relevant measures for giving, such as levels of empathy and happiness. But I will leave you to read the report and make your own judgement.

So, how did you get on with those questions?

On the World Giving Index in 2010, Australians and New Zealanders have the highest propensity to give, followed by Canada, Ireland, Switzerland and the USA.
Malta ranks number one for giving money with 83%, followed by The Netherlands at 77%, the UK and Thailand at 73%.
Australasia is the region with the highest incidence for volunteering time, followed by Central Asia.
North America shows the highest level of helping behaviour in the world with an average of 67% having helped a stranger.

Let me know how you scored, and drop me a line if you would like to discuss how we might support your fundraising efforts.

Sorry, I'm afraid you've timed out

Alex Gardner — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:26:13 GMT

Many a true word spoken in jest - how many hospitality sites put their visitors through this? It reminds me of a great Jared Spool case study on how much impact small changes in the purchase cycle can have. Always worth a re-read.

Urban acupuncture: skateboarding in Kabul

David Robinson — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:51:22 GMT

Cameron Sinclair describes Architecture for Humanity, an NGO he started with $700 and a website back in 2001, not as a charity but as a social enterprise. His team of architects are paid professional rates by donors, and work with communities as their clients. This ensures the communities get the buildings they need and want.

A by-product, Cameron explains, is the numerous small businesses that pop up around the projects they undertake: local communities supplying materials and products for the construction and beyond.

Architecture for Humanity's work is "violence prevention through acupuncture". New buildings and precincts developed in the middle of trouble zones create a sense of "perceived safety", attract more people and thereby reduce dangerous behaviour.

In Siyathemba, Africa, where young women in the community have a 50% HIV AIDS infection rate, Architecture for Humanity worked with the community to build a youth sports centre that doubled as a health centre. The coaches of the girl's team are also trained doctors, thereby creating confidence in and access to regular healthcare.

But the most fascinating of Cameron's stories for me, having visited Afghanistan when working with ActionAid, was the story of Skateistan.

A group of development workers noticed reduced violence wherever there were skateboarders in Kabul. So they established Skateistan as an NGO that uses skateboarding as a development tool.

Initially, founders shared three skateboards amongst young Afghans. Spurred on by the interest in skateboarding and the culture it created, the Skateistan plan to expand their concept, bring additional boards back to Kabul and establish an indoor skateboarding venue to teach many more youth. The venue would also provide older girls with a private facility to continue skateboarding.

Skateistan called upon Architecture for Humanity to build a skate park in Kabul: the world's first co-educational skateboarding school. Why not take some time out now and watch their nine-minute film of this amazing project.

Architecture for Humanity has many more stories of success. So impressed by Cameron Sinclair, Architecture for Humanity was awarded the $100,000 cash TED Prize for 2006. Here's Cameron 'strutting his stuff' on TED.

_{Images courtesey of Skateistan.}

Not just a name

Diana Hubbell — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:37:36 GMT

Names are more than just a word, whether they belong to a person or a corporate entity.

When Shakespeare's infatuated Juliet scoffed, "What's in a name?" she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Lately, I've been realizing just how much goes into a name, and how incredibly important these simple combinations of sounds and letters can be. Maybe this fascination started way back in my pre-QUO days when I worked for an American NGO with Chinese teenagers. In order to help the youth practice their language skills, I had them come up with English names. What struck me about this deceptively simple exercise was both how tremendously enthusiastic the students were and how all of them were eager to have a name that was different or unique. Most opted for unusual, famous or evocative monikers, both for entertainment and to distinguish themselves from their peers. Hence, "James Bond," "Rainbow," "Flamenco," and even "Superhandsome" came into being.

The whole exercise was a lot of fun and ended in fits of teenage giggles, but I think it points to a deeper truth: names are how we define ourselves in the larger context of society. You could even say that a name becomes a kind of summary of our identity. If I say, "Amanda" or "John," "Tatiana" or "Usagi," "Pok" or "Paolo," your mind immediately conjures up a visual image of someone with that name and a corresponding list of memories and characteristics associated with that person. These names are more than just words; they're symbols that represent who we are.

Humans have understood the symbolic value of names since the beginnings of civilization. In some traditions, such as that of the ancient Egyptians, names were considered so powerful that an individual's "true" name was kept secret. In other cultures, people receive a series of names throughout their life. In these situations, a person"s name changes at various milestones in their life to reflect their new identity and status within the community.

These days, I help to name businesses and non-profits rather than teenagers, but I have never forgotten just how important a word or two can be. Branding is more than a matter of coming up with a title or a catchy slogan; it's about creating an identity and culture that represents what's interesting or unique about that organization. It's not only about identifying what makes a luxury hotel or NGO or even a country strong, but also about finding what they want to be and how they want to be perceived.

QUO Launches as First Global Tourism Communications and Representation Agency

Press Office — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:17:27 GMT

QUO Global offices announced in Thailand, India, Vietnam, UK and Germany

BANGKOK, 11 October 2011 – QUO Global launches this week as the world's first tourism brand creation, communication and representation specialists. Five offices officially launch as QUO Global this week in Bangkok, London, Munich, New Delhi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).


David Keen

QUO's expansion strategy is being built on the rebranding of current specialist tourism consultancies and the creation of new ones. Asia's leading brand consultancy in the tourism and hospitality industry, Keen Media, is re-branding as QUO Keen. Hills Balfour in London will become QUO Hills Balfour.

"Through acquisition and organic growth QUO aims to open additional offices in Paris, Milan, Moscow, Singapore, Shanghai and North and South America before the end of 2012," said QUO Global co-founder, Amanda Hills, who created Hills Balfour in London in 1999.


	Amanda Hills

QUO Global currently works with world-renowned tourism brands such as New York City, Las Vegas, Kenya, the Maldives, Bhutan and Queensland, as well as hotels brands Anantara, Jetwing and Sofitel. Other acclaimed names on the QUO roster include Air Asia in the UK, the HICAP hotel trade show in Hong Kong, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, and two specialist hospitality management companies, Onyx and Per Aquum.

"Eighty percent of QUO's DNA is built on experience. Twenty percent is built around QUO's unique holistic approach to multiple disciplines rendered with an avant-garde twist," said David Keen, QUO Global co-founder. "Our aim is to keep travel industry clients on the cusp of marketing, branding and technology trends wherever they are in the world."

##

About QUO
QUO Global is a new global brand creation, communications and representation specialist for the tourism and hospitality sectors. Its client portfolios cover most of the globe and embrace small and large destinations and multiple hospitality companies. QUO leaders bring with them decades of experience. QUO Global is a new entity launched in October 2011. Further information: www.quo-global.com.

Media contact, Asia
Ken Scott
ScottAsia Communications
Mobile: (+66) 81 931 2753
Email: ken@scottasia.net

Jutaporn 'Van' Kanokkangsadan
Mobile: (+66) 86 337 9765
Email: jutaporn@scottasia.net

What makes a logo iconic?

Pierre Vermeir — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:52:16 GMT

To name a few, Apple, Nike or Coca-Cola logos are iconic logos.

What does make them so recognizable in the global jungle of logos? The logo examples above have only reached the top of the tree because these brands have become irresistible to the consumer in the first place, not just because the logos are aesthetically pleasing, smart or different.

A desired brand makes a logo iconic, not the other way round.

However, a well-designed logo can contribute to the creation of brand recognition as well as forming an emotional bond with the consumer. The iconic Apple logo or the Nike swoosh bring together all the unique characteristics found in their products in one distinctive, stand out brand mark.

_{The Coca-Cola logo is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company}

Thank you for the inspiration to design for a better tomorrow.

David Keen — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:29:41 GMT

Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

Evolution

David Keen — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:21:51 GMT

I am very proud to announce that KEEN has now evolved to QUO Keen.

QUO is a new entity focusing on tourism and hospitality. KEEN is merging its 15 years of history with the London-based, destination marketing and communications agency, Hills Balfour. We are converging our skills and adding the expertise of industry leaders from around the world in the creation of QUO.

QUO realizes both my professional and personal ambitions. The creation of a global brand specialising in the development, harnessing and communication of hospitality brands and destinations is the culmination of a lifetime’s work.

In partnership with Amanda Hills, the founder of Hills Balfour, we are creating the world’s first specialized agency serving both the tourism and hospitality industries. We are doing this by regionalizing our offer with centres of excellence following branded strategic goals.

Amanda and I have brought together a team of some of the most experienced professionals in our global industry. It is their collective wisdom that we are harnessing as we grow the QUO brand.

In Asia over the next two weeks we will incorporate offices in New Delhi to serve South Asia and Ho Chi Minh City for the Indochina market. In Europe, our offices in Munich and London are already open.

Why QUO? Why lose KEEN?

There are some cliches I could play out: if you don't progress you go backwards, or, brands have to evolve.

These statements bear some truth.

The name KEEN works. It is literal, lateral, short, memorable and has a ton of equity within our niche – but if we are to scale and create more offices and, more importantly, create partnerships, we have to evolve KEEN and become something else.

My partners and confidantes encouraged me to keep the name – 'It has so much equity', 'Are you crazy? Everyone knows KEEN’ – were only a couple of the refrains. In the end, we have decided to keep KEEN for the time being as a suffix to QUO.

We understood a long time ago that being specialists in the hotel business brings exponential advantage to our offer. We get hospitality. We have real knowledge of its mores, development trends, brands, positioning, the way hotels work and the way consumers behave. As a clear consequence, over many years’ experience, we learned destinations, and the whims of the tourism industry.

Of equal importance is my personal desire to get more involved in tourism and its development. Throughout my 22 years in Asia I have always been intimately involved in travel to little known places. In 1991 I was lucky enough to be invited to Bhutan to write about the Kingdom and its then nascent tourism industry. I traveled throughout the Kingdom, falling in love at once with a group of small children in a far Eastern village and again with a culture that honoured the truth of its people. I learned then that garnering the trust of a people and bringing pride to families brings with it a future and very often much needed hope.

As we grow QUO, we want to bring truth and resonance to companies and destinations, large and small. And to share the pride that we, as a group, have fostered over multiple decades in this industry.

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:52:46 GMT

In the take-off of AirAsia X, there are no limits

AirAsia X decided to relocate their UK airport base from London Stansted to London Gatwick, and needed to make an announcement that made a lasting impact. QUO Hills Balfour managed the launch event, coordinating every detail from the invitation list to glamorous rooftop venue to the packed interview schedule for Azran Osman-Rani, AirAsia X's CEO. The launch achieved widespread publicity via broadcast, digital and print channels.

Stirring the online conversation

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:52:08 GMT

Online attraction: creating new appeal for the entertainment capital of the world

QUO Hills Balfour highlighted the dynamic offerings of America’s fastest growing city through an integrated sales and marketing entertainment campaign featuring an interactive flash micro-site and media portal (www.virtual-las-vegas.com), extensive online promotions, as well as print, email and outdoor travel marketing promotions.

Great Barrier Reef

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:50:58 GMT

The buzz of a generation: stirring the global conversation

To place the Great Barrier Reef Islands on the tourism radar and make it the talk of Generation Y, QUO Hills Balfour launched "The Best Job in the World", a worldwide search for a "caretaker" to feed the fish and regularly blog about Queensland. The contest was highly lauded for its strategic use of innovative media outlets, and received numerous awards and recognitions.

A path to rejuvenation

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:49:25 GMT

In the wake of disaster, a path to rejuvenation

Bringing Queensland back into the tourist consciousness after the 2011 floods and cyclone, QUO Hills Balfour organised a last-minute mega-media fam trip. Eleven journalists from the UK's most prominent publications witnessed the astonishing resiliency of Queensland and sent waves of positive coverage around the globe.

Building a MICE presence

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:48:42 GMT

From one big city to another – a MICE proposition

NYC & Company, the official tourism industry for a thriving metropolis, was on a bold mission to amplify its presence in the meetings industry. QUO Hills Balfour transported the city of bright lights and big dreams to London and Manchester for the first ever MICE roadshow, attended by over 90 high quality buyers and media representatives.

UK roadshow

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:46:41 GMT

One small island, one big tour: bringing Menorca to the masses

A haven of sandy coves and idyllic views. Menorca is often overshadowed in the tourism landscape by its sister island, Mellorca. In order to entice new and repeat visitors to this idyllic island, QUO Hills Balfour designed the “Warm at Heart” roadshow – with a branded Menorca bus taking in key UK cities across a 14-day period in February 2011.

Pierre Vermeir

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:05:02 GMT

QUO’s design team is led by Creative Director Pierre Vermeir, who brings over 20 years of design experience as well as previously serving as the Creative Director of London-based design firm HGV. Before joining QUO in 2009, Pierre developed the new identity for Roast restaurant in London, branding for Conqueror and the 2005 G8 Summit, and the design of ten stamps celebrating British design icons for the Royal Mail.

Suki Dixon

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:10:39 GMT

All advocacy communications work is guided by QUO co-founder and Managing Director Suki Dixon, who holds a BA from Princeton University in East Asian Studies and an MA in Architecture from Yale University. Her architectural experience, along with her commitment and knowledge of world issues, contribute design balance and intelligence to the studio’s team.

Julian Mills

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:11:22 GMT

With more than 35 years experience in sales, marketing and international destinations, Julian is a highly regarded travel industry professional. He is on the board of QUO Hills Balfour as Operations Director and is Managing Director of HB Portfolio, the hotel division of QUO Hills Balfour. His board duties also span QUO Hills Balfour’s JV partners, The Golf Marketing Company and Marketing Distribution Services.

As Director of Special Projects for a UK multi-national company, Julian worked across Europe, the Far East and Australia. He has also advised on new business start-ups and polar expeditions.

Jonathan Sloan

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:07:42 GMT

Jonathan has been listed in the Top 100 most influential people in the PR for the past three years. His in-depth knowledge of the travel industry and where it’s heading has led him to being dubbed ‘a travel PR guru’. Jonathan has more than 15 years of PR and marketing experience in the travel, hotel and restaurant sectors. He brings experience with all types of media in the UK, USA, Australasia and European markets and extensive product knowledge.

Jonathan’s role includes planning the overall strategic direction of QUO Hills Balfour, client requirements and budgetary control.

Amanda Hills

QUO Global — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:01:00 GMT

Amanda is one of the best known and well respected faces of the UK travel industry, with more than 25 years experience in the business. She was a founder member of SunWorld Holidays, before leaving to head up the global marketing team at Eurotunnel during its high profile launch phase.

Amanda founded Hills Balfour in 1998. Her leadership, vision for the future and passion for travel and tourism have helped the company grow and thrive. Amanda works on the agency’s key accounts managing destination strategy, brand positioning and aviation.

Anthony Green

QUO Global — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:09:06 GMT

QUO's top tech geek. Managing the Digital team - including video, web, and music, Anthony's years of experience in software development and managment, specialising in the hospitality field, give QUO its digital edge.

Originally from Nottingham in the UK, Anthony has lived in Asia for 16 years.

David Keen

QUO Global — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:55:56 GMT

Successful entrepreneur and forward-thinking strategist with a passion for branding, for the region and for the travel and tourism industry. Two plus decades in the industry. Published and interviewed in dozens of publications. Featured speaker at conferences, tradeshows and professional events.

Born in London and educated in New York at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. After embarking on his career in London and the United States, David Keen ventured to Hong Kong as a travel writer and editor, travelling widely in the region as well as globally, and developing a network of close contacts with the world’s most talented photographers, writers and travel professionals.

Leveraging this network and continuing to grow it, both within the agency’s team as well as in partnerships, Keen channels this collected expertise into visionary work for a portfolio of distinguished clients.

Naomi and TED

David Robinson — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:27:48 GMT

If you live part of your life in Twitterville, as I do, you may have noticed the increasing volume of tweets regarding women, climate change and the economy.

UN Women executive director Michelle Bachelet, at a high-level gathering of women political leaders at UN General Assembly this month said "Women’s full participation and engagement is not only the right thing to do; it is also smart economics."

Less recent but equally relevant, is the presentation journalist Naomi Klein gave at TED Women back in December last year titled "Addicted to risk".

In her 20 minutes, Klein looks at the reckless handling of the environment and the economy, and suggests the causes: greed, hubris and men.

Reflecting on the Gulf of Mexico oilrig disaster and processing of Alberta tar sands, the number one source of imported oil to the United States, Klein thinks Mother Nature would find women far kinder than men.

Insightful, articulate and passionate: Naomi Klein is well worth 20 minutes of your time. It speaks to the influence of a good presentation, the power of Internet and the pervasiveness digital advocacy - 281,843 views and counting.

As a man, I admit a certain fascination with risk, but I also know a good argument when I see it.

http://www.quo-advocacy.com

_{Thumbnail image and video are properties of TED}

Branding the self

Supatra Bromilow — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:21:04 GMT

If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?

As the team relentlessly brainstorms a tagline for a nation, I have started to turn this process inwards and wonder, ‘What would my tagline be?’

Nations, companies and brands have to live with their taglines after they choose one, while people can re-brand themselves overnight. After reading an article about an unfortunate tourism slogan, I realised how privileged we are to have the freedom to change on a daily basis (excluding bad haircuts – they take a while to grow back).

I suppose we are branding ourselves all the time – we just don’t have one bold tagline, like ‘Amazing Thailand’ or ‘Incredible India’. I could never be seen walking down the street wearing a ‘World’s Greatest Person’ badge, or go to a job interview with ‘Full of potential, always reliable’ pinned to my button-down shirt.

We take on many taglines that are subtle, like the new clothes we buy or the haircuts we get in an attempt to change our ‘look’. While we purchase these things or change our appearance, we are not consciously thinking about these actions as self-branding – as a brand must. When we try on a yellow, flower-print top in the dressing room, rarely do we have a four-hour brainstorm, debating if it adds to our fun-loving essence. But if the lady at the store remarks, ‘That is so you!’ we automatically think, ‘lady, you don’t even know me!’ We certainly have a sense of self, even if at times we are unaware of our effort to brand and re-brand ourselves as we grow, change, and adapt to new situations. Unlike a brand, our taglines are more flexible and we can bend them to our whim.

So what would my tagline be? I suppose right now on a mid-week afternoon it is ‘Supatra: Brand Strategist (hard at work!)’

What’s your tagline today?

Getting the most out of QR codes

Than Rassadanukul — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:02:51 GMT

What are they?

QR code, short for "Quick Response code", is equivalent to a two-dimensional barcode. One-dimensional barcodes are the ones you find at the shops which they scan at the checkout and only translate into a few numbers, but QR codes can store a lot more data than that.

QR code was invented for inventory management by a subsidiary of Toyota back in 1994, it became ubiquitous in Japan in the early 2000s, and now it is enjoying more worldwide mainstream popularity since various Smartphone operating systems include QR code scanning features to their phones.

Where are they used?

You can use QR codes virtually everywhere (except behind reflective surfaces) – on websites, on magazine ads, on brochures, on business cards – anywhere that you want people to pick up their phones and browse from the mobile.

There are unsuitable placements for QR code - think about roadside billboards, they are usually too far away to scan, even if drivers could stop to scan them (it takes time for the camera to focus, etc).

How can you make one?

You can generate your own QR codes through various online tools, such as Zebra-Crossing or RACO. If you are creating QR codes for a web address, consider including a tracking code (to count how many people scanned it), and use URL shorteners like bit.ly or goo.gl before encoding it into a QR form, usually the code will look cleaner.

When should you use it?

One has to plan well before launching a campaign that includes QR code scanning and I don't think a campaign that revolves solely around QR codes will fly. It alienates everybody who can't scan QR codes, which at this time are a substantial proportion of any audience.

Using QR codes as a supporting part of a campaign is more suitable. For example, if we are promoting a mobile campaign that is on a page with a deep URL like "http://mobile.testurl.com/mobcampaign/entry.php?source=QRcode&location=magads", we could encode the page with a friendly short URL, say http://bit.ly/testmobile, and print the QR code and the short URL alongside each other on flyers.

Don't forget to include a call for action, "scan this QR to find out more about QUO". That is unless it is on a format that makes it intuitive, such as on business cards or next to a social media logo like Facebook or Foursquare.

What else can they do?

The best thing about QR codes is the fact that they were designed to be robust (it was meant to be used in dusty warehouses) so they have up to 30% error correction rates. This means that there is a good chance that you can scan a QR code where up to one-third of the code was obstructed or distorted and still get a proper reading.

Because of this, you can get creative with your QR codes. Even though they were for machines to read, they can look nice for human eyes too! Put your logo in it, round-off the sharp edge in the code, change some colours (QR codes are binary, meaning they are colour-blind). Although there are still limitations to what you can do with it – for example, you can’t get too colourful or it won’t be read as one code and you can’t cover up the corners which are used for orientation.

Balancing form and function, these are scan-able and are aesthetically pleasing

But remember not to go too far

The key to getting the most out of the code is to test it vigorously, using a variety of phones and applications to test – some phones have worse cameras, some applications are not as smart as others. Move things around, change the colours, test it, tweak, test again until it looks nice and works on all phones.

Lastly, don’t forget to think about the user experience. At the end of the day, the use of a QR code should support the flow of the experience, not interrupt it.

3 easy ways for businesses to maximise the use of Foursquare

Than Rassadanukul — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:50:06 GMT

The social media user war is far from over, but it is clear that the current champion in the location-based services field is Foursquare.

Facebook is pushing "Places" and "Deals" less and less, Gowalla is restructuring into a travellers app, and other small platforms never really picked up enough users and simply died out.

What should you be doing on Foursquare?

1.) Claim your venue

Whether you are managing a single property, a chain property, or the whole chain brand, Foursquare gives you different options to claim control of your property.

Ownership verification is straightforward. If you’re in the US you can verify by phone, and by snail-mail elsewhere.

Not only can you accurately complete the contact information for your venue (location, address, phone numbers, twitter, etc.), you also gain access to the merchant dashboard, which shows you a statistical breakdown of people who checked into your property – so you can plan your campaigns or marketing communications strategies to cater to the right audiences.

2) Add venue specials

After you have claimed your venue, another great feature allows you to run "Specials" campaigns on your Foursquare venue.

The feature is pretty flexible – you can choose to attract new visitors by providing incentives for check-ins (then you can upsell more to them), you can choose to attract loyal customers by gifting them when they have visit you a certain number of times, or there are many other conditions you can customise for specials.

3) Add a business page

Recently launched, business pages are Foursquare’s version of Facebook pages. Relatively easy to set up, you can add multiple lists of tips for your visitors, for example “Must-sees attractions of Singapore”, “Dining at The Sukhothai”.

Users can “follow” pages, so they get updates when the page admin leaves Tips or checks-in at venues.

Engagements will probably be slow at first, since the feature is relatively new, but it is great to showcase awesome things that you have at your properties, and also to create a solid presence on Foursquare.

Carmen's mouse deer for Knowing Children

Amarin Vejcharoen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:40:02 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, we were asked by Knowing Children to be a partner for a competition to design the mascot for children’s rights in Malaysia. The purpose of this competition is to provide children throughout Malaysia with the means to communicate with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child about their experience of children's rights.

The animal chosen to be this mascot is the mouse deer, which has special significance in Malaysia. The mouse deer in Malaysia is a symbol of the strength and wisdom of a small creature that can defeat larger animals through ingenuity and non-violence. The mouse deer stories depict a small, clever and strong animal and are often told to children.

The winner of this project was Ms. Carmen Tan, a 20-year-old college student at Saito College in Kuala Lampur who did a brilliant job on her mascot. Her design reflected the message "small is powerful, small is wise" wonderfully.

Part of the prize included spending a week at the QUO Keen office to create an animation from her illustration to push the concept further. Our video team worked with her to create a short animation based on her design:

It was a pleasure for us all to work with Carmen and everyone was very pleased with the result.

Good job, Carmen!

QUO

QUO Calls for Change in Perception of Brand Thailand

What social media can and cannot do for non-profits

What ever happened to Khao Lak, Thailand?

GetUp!

QUO launches in India

Google+ Business pages

Senior Copywriter

Hungry for video

Flooded with mistakes

Creating paradise

QUO Keen creates a new nation brand for the Maldives

A series of books apart

Strong roots, bold growth

Colouring the soul of a brand

It’s all in the curve

It’s all in the curve – a modern twist for an industry stalwart

Pioneering discoveries

A travel legend, a fresh direction

Caroline Rowe

Kamal Oberoi

A flutter in Hong Kong

Crowdsourcing the flood

A propensity to give

Sorry, I'm afraid you've timed out

Urban acupuncture: skateboarding in Kabul

Not just a name

QUO Launches as First Global Tourism Communications and Representation Agency

What makes a logo iconic?

Thank you for the inspiration to design for a better tomorrow.

Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

Evolution

QUO India

Contact

QUO Indochina

Contact

QUO Mangum Hills Balfour

Contact

QUO Hills Balfour

Contact

QUO Keen

Contact

Enquiries

Careers

Media

An event that soars

In the take-off of AirAsia X, there are no limits

Stirring the online conversation

Online attraction: creating new appeal for the entertainment capital of the world

Great Barrier Reef

The buzz of a generation: stirring the global conversation

A path to rejuvenation

In the wake of disaster, a path to rejuvenation

Building a MICE presence

From one big city to another – a MICE proposition

UK roadshow

One small island, one big tour: bringing Menorca to the masses

Pierre Vermeir

Suki Dixon

Julian Mills

Jonathan Sloan

Amanda Hills

Anthony Green

David Keen

Naomi and TED

Branding the self

Getting the most out of QR codes

What are they?

Where are they used?

How can you make one?

When should you use it?

What else can they do?

3 easy ways for businesses to maximise the use of Foursquare

1.) Claim your venue

2) Add venue specials

3) Add a business page

Carmen's mouse deer for Knowing Children