Views from a Corner Suite - Latest Comments

Re: Measuring and Monetizing Social Networking and Mobile Media | Views from a Corner Suite

Bali Villa Holidays — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:59:34 -0000

Tracking mobile media lead is quite complicated with those all kinds of generic to branded "exclusive" browsers having it's own tracking system or caching and cookie set up.

Re: The Yin and Yang of Social Media

Bali Villa Holidays — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:41:42 -0000

One of my favorite topic in our line of job. So much to learn but so little time and opportunity.

Re: 2011 PhoCusWright Travel Innovation Summit Predictions

Ashley Raiteri⚛ — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:10:21 -0000

Honestly I think the predictions turned out better than the actual Awards. Of course : A) I wasn't there,
they've got me locked away in a server closet coding up features. B) I may be saying that because I just recently joined Flextrip (as CTO), C) because I'm annoyed that Adam & Crew from Hipmunk are in the contest (same category) 2 years in a row. And Won 2 years in a row!, that seems weird to me but makes me jealous of their fanatical fan-base :) - or all of the Above?Either way, it's nice to know that the Wisdom of the Crowd favoured Incremental improvements to the Travel Industry Sector with realistic but innovate approaches:Yes Hipmunk does something cool with UX,And Reardon is trying to build Siri without the Annoying voice-overWhile we @ Flextrip are just trying to do that thing: Data Driven Decision making so we can helptravel companies increase conversion and target traveller's to actually relevant products in their trip planning and shopping phase.Thanks for running the Poll.(I'll be sending checks to all the remote workers who agreed to vote for us...I mean, no thank you notes, not checks!)

Re: Travel Industry Blog Fountain

Bhupendra Rathore — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:59:56 -0000

Thank you for posting the great content…I was looking for
something like this…I found it quiet interesting, hopefully you will keep posting
such blogs…

Re: Leading Hotels of the World – Marketing Conference Presentation

Albergo Francalancia — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:31:40 -0000

Thank You!

Re: A Faster Way to Search Google Flights – Cut and Paste

RobertKCole — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:21:50 -0000

I doubt Google will ever step into the role of an online travel agency. They make too much money from the advertising business model and don't have to be concerned with customer service issues like weather delays, schedule changes, etc.

That said, it will be easier for travelers to book trips themselves due to improved technology and transparency, so it will be interesting to see how the OTAs plan to position themselves as providing unique benefits.

Re: A Faster Way to Search Google Flights – Cut and Paste

RobertKCole — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:17:01 -0000

The real-time update capability is faster than the command line interface. Nice to see speed enhancements developed every 40 years or so...

Re: What are Most Trusted Sources for Hotel Reviews and Ratings?

RobertKCole — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:14:04 -0000

Agreed - I am writing a series of blog posts on the subject - look for them within the next couple weeks.

Re: A Faster Way to Search Google Flights – Cut and Paste

Wholesale Suppliers — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:23:10 -0000

This means that online travel agencies will have a giant to beat in order to secure a position as number one. Google first acquired Zagat and now has landed in giving services on traveling as a trusted company. As businesses might be crunched travelers can now sigh a breath of relief as they would be sure they are in safe hands.

Re: A Faster Way to Search Google Flights – Cut and Paste

LongTimeObserver — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:46:48 -0000

Love the green screen command line interface...

Re: What are Most Trusted Sources for Hotel Reviews and Ratings?

Wholesale Suppliers — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:26:25 -0000

I think I would trust more if someone in person tells me rather than reviews on websites as I know many of the negative reviews are posted by competitors to devalue a business. I think the internet is less trust worthy when it comes to options, whether Google or not all websites are not totally trust worthy.

Re: What are Most Trusted Sources for Hotel Reviews and Ratings?

RobertKCole — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:11:58 -0000

Good point Linda - I almost added Andrew Harper as a separate category - really a newsletter, but thought it might get too confusing. I think Travelfish & Luxury Latin America would both qualify as destination specialist sites.

Re: What are Most Trusted Sources for Hotel Reviews and Ratings?

Lindamarcus — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:12:05 -0000

The sites I trust the most are ones that employ professionals to review hotels with a keen eye for quality, with no booking agreement in place: Luxury Latin America, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, and at the lower end---Travelfish.org.

Re: SuperShuttle in New York – Make that Super Shittle

Wholesale Suppliers — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:00:19 -0000

This whole episode looks so unreal as no one could believe a company serving in 33 airports could create such drama. Services of many companies nowadays can be experienced to be going downhill as the management losing interest results in such happenings. The driver lied without any fear of dropping the passenger while it was the opposite, this shows his lack of fear of facing an inquiry. The whole story is a picture of ignorance of duties. This is really depressing.

Re: How Google Can Help Facilitate Travel Inspiration

ravdibarbosa — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:23:11 -0000

This is a terrific resource for our clients. So many small business
people are trying to learn how to leverage social media. Kudos! The
travel business is ALL visual and experiential; a perfect match for SMM.
Antique Furniture

Re: SuperShuttle in New York – Make that Super Shittle

OBY — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:44:47 -0000

Hey Robert, Just my $0.02...

I read your story with great interest because - as you may recall - aside from the GoScopia project I also have a small travel consulting business which specializes in personalized travel itineraries. Obviously, airport transportation is an important factor in all air travel and what can we do? S-it happens. It's a people business - by people, for people and no matter how much everything is planned in advance, there is always a rather good chance that things will go wrong.

You (or actually, your daughter) were very lucky this took place in New York, where alternative options are plentiful, there's good mobile reception for communications, etc. What if, instead of a Sunday afternoon in New York, this scenario would have played out at 2:00 AM in Bangkok or Cairo?

When I work with my clients on the final stages of their private tours, my advice to them is to remember that stuff happens and the first step is not to panic and call the local shuttle company or tour operator to try and resolve the matter. If the matter is not resolved by the time promised (as was the case with Super Shuttle that left your daughter hanging for 80 minutes), then my advice is to just find another solution, even at an extra cost and, once they are safely at their destination, to figure out the rest.

Imagine the same situation for departure instead of arrival. Is the objective to get to the airport in time for the flight or is the objective to stay with Super Shuttle? I presume the first option probably makes more sense so, again, I advise my clients that if the driver is not there on time and they are unable to resolve the problem with the shuttle company, to simply solve it any other way (taxi, limo) and then deal with the refund or complaints once they are safely back home or at the airport.

I hope all is well otherwise. Happy travels to you and the family.

Re: White Paper: Bridging Hotel Business and Technology Priorities

Wholesale Suppliers — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 07:16:15 -0000

Interesting though quite lengthy. No business can flourish without an IT staff to support, with ever increasing competition technology can never be compromised to reach the top level. Living in the present century life is getting busier every day bringing more to knowledge. Hoteliers have to be really efficient to sense the changes as customers would not like staying in a rock. You need to give all kinds of information on the internet and attract visitors to opt your hotel for their stay. Very informative and enlighting to make the bosses realize that saving on IT costs will not add revenue in the current era.

Re: Recommendations: Best Things To Do in San Juan, Puerto Rico?

Fly Link — Wed, 25 May 2011 02:11:34 -0000

Your post is a great help to those who are looking forward to it.. I will definitely share it out with my friends who are visiting there this year.. cheap flight

Re: Online Travel Companies in Hotel Tax Squeeze Play

RobertKCole — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:50:07 -0000

Emmi, unfortunately for the consumer, these taxes have no bearing on the retail price paid by the traveler as most hotel companies require best available rate parity from the Online Travel Agencies. More unfortunately for the hotel companies, the hotel suffers a comparatively higher tax burden, and Online Travel Agencies, lacking that tax liability, are able to bank the savings as profit.

Re: Online Travel Companies in Hotel Tax Squeeze Play

Emmi Bances — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:51:51 -0000

Tourist always hope for a good trip which fits their budgets......if travel companies can lower the taxes and expenses than a normal family man can afford the amazing things like good hotels to eat and live, good place to visit and all.

Lewes Delaware

Re: How Google Can Help Facilitate Travel Inspiration

hotellolanyc — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:56:02 -0000

Enabling suppliers and distributors to speak the same interoperability language, trading partner to trading partner.

NYC Special Offers

Re: Recommendations: Best Things To Do in Philipsburg, St. Maarten?

Anguilla — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:17:16 -0000

Anguilla is a very unique place to stay, it is located north of St. Martin and is just 45 mins away by ferry boat. http://anguillaaccess.com

Re: HITEC Presentation – Web 2.0 & 3.0 Impact on Hospitality Technology

Nursing College Utah — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 02:59:08 -0000

this is a good technology..that i know.

Re: Online Travel Companies and Travel Technology Innovation

Nursing College Utah — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 02:57:43 -0000

i am agree with you.cause of if u want to go some where just contact him and go.

Re: What is the World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brand?

Hotel promocao — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:08:21 -0000

Hey, this one is really the best of post regarding World's best luxuries hotels. According to me, Taj is really the best option for those where you can really achieve your intoxication goal, and the superior services of Taj Hotel is really mind blowing.