As a new white paper from HSMAI’s Travel Internet Marketing Special Interest Group explains, “Not only are consumers overwhelmingly choosing the Internet as their source for travel information, but the Web often provides the most cost-effective solutions for travel marketers. By mounting an ROI-centric online marketing strategy, fueled by industry best practices, travel suppliers can successfully boost revenues despite a dire economic landscape.”

This session will help you set up the appropriate strategies and tactics to insure that you maximize your return in CRM, Digital Marketing, Distribution, eCommerce and Revenue Management programs. You will leave this program with several tactics you can deploy right away as well as key thoughts for your 2010 and beyond business planning.

Maximizing Your Video Assets | HSMAI Podcast
Emily Smith, YouTube Specialist for the Travel Vertical, Google, interviewed by David Atkins, Principal, Digital DNA Infusion, and leader of HSMAI’s Digital Strategy For Travel Marketing and Distribution Workshop.

Preview the workshop:

Preliminary Agenda: Noon - 5:00 PM

Section 1: What is Digital? What is eCommerce? What does it all mean for our industry in 2010 and beyond?
In this section we will discuss the building blocks to a successful digital strategy, how to plan for eCommerce, offsite commerce, marketing, sales, revenue management, and customer service. What can you do today in your business to make yourselves competitive in "Digital?" How can you get all the various parties aligned?

Section 2: Blocking and Tackling in Digital – OTAs, SEM, SEO, Online Marketing (non-Social Media)
In this section we will discuss what is considered the basics to a digital strategy, how to use OTAs and GDS' as more than a distribution channel. What are the key elements to drive SEM and SEO? What are the highlights to successful online marketing (non-Social Media)? Note that each of these topics can be a full week seminar so it will really be highlights/trends and key aspects that can drive incremental value now.

Section 3: How to use Social Media? What is it all about? What can you do with Social Media? Who are the players that might matter?
In this section we will begin the discussion on Social Media and what it is today, and what it might be in the near future. Who are the players that matter, what can you do.

Section 4: The Up and Comers You Need to Know About
Who is on the rise that you might not have thought about as valuable, in a digital sales, marketing, distribution, or commerce way to a hospitality company? We will discuss a collection of companies/businesses and models that are of interest to various segments of our industry.

Section 5: Distribution, Marketing, Sales, Revenue Management, and Digital – Putting it all together
How do you assemble the pieces of the day into building a meaningful and usable strategy for your business that will have an impact on the right metrics for you.

Section 6: Wrap-up and Q&A

Registration:

HSMAI Member Registration

• Early (through 11/06/09) = $245
• Regular (after 11/06/09) = $295

Non-Member Registration

• Early (through 11/06/09) = $345, which includes 1-year of HSMAI membership
• Regular (after 11/06/09) = $395, which includes 1-year of HSMAI membership