Posts Tagged ‘tourism’

Online Lodging Reservations through VisitNebraska.gov

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Nebraska Tourism Set to Launch Online Lodging
Reservation System at VisitNebraska.gov

Lodging facilities across Nebraska are encouraged to sign up
before the July 1 public launch of BookDirect

The Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism is set to integrate BookDirect™ online lodging search and reservation functionality into its VisitNebraska.gov website. The new technology—to be launched to the public July 1—will put a greater range of tools at the fingertips of travelers interested in scheduling a Nebraska vacation. It also provides lodging facilities of all sizes with an elegant, feature-rich online booking option.

Designed to work well for hoteliers of virtually any size or type, BookDirect offers options for facilities currently using an online reservation system as well as hoteliers just getting started with electronic reservations. Its direct interface with a number of top online reservation systems streamlines inventory management. For facilities without a current online reservation management system, BookDirect offers a standard online reservation system to subscribers free of charge.

A benefit of the BookDirect technology is the capability for travelers to search for available lodging statewide and then seamlessly book lodging online directly with the lodging sites, as opposed to making a reservation through a third-party vendor. This is an arrangement that has proved to produce a higher rate of completed online reservations.

The Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism has developed a BookDirect FAQ document with additional information and answers to a number of common questions about the BookDirect application, its implementation on VisitNebraska.gov and costs of participation. The BookDirect FAQ, which is included following this release, is also available on the VisitNebraska.gov Industry Site. Nebraska Tourism industry partners can view it and the BookDirect widget at http://industry.VisitNebraska.org/bookdirect.

Lodging facilities may also learn more about BookDirect during a free Webinar hosted by the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism and BookDirect parent company, JackRabbit Systems. The Webinar will be held Tuesday, June 29, at 10 a.m. CDT. A link to online registration is available at http://industry.VisitNebraska.org/bookdirect.

The Division is asking facilities interested in participating to register their businesses before the July 1, 2010, public launch of BookDirect on VisitNebraska.gov to ensure their sites will be represented when promotion of the site begins and travelers start searching for accommodations for their next great Nebraska road trip.

Thanks for your participation. We’ll see you down the road.

Christian Hornbaker
Director, Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism

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Nebraska Tourism – BookDirect™ FAQ
June 2010
What is BookDirect™?
BookDirect™ from JackRabbit Systems is a functional, useful online lodging reservation tool that gives travelers the ability to view immediate lodging availability and pricing information for destinations throughout the state with real-time results. JackRabbit Systems is a partner with tourism organizations worldwide.
How does BookDirect work?
The BookDirect technology works much like an online travel agent’s third-party booking engine (such as Hotwire.com, Travelocity.com and others) in that it allows visitors to enter their desired travel dates and displays immediate results for available lodging along with pricing information for the destination. While BookDirect gives travelers the ability to search statewide, they are able to book their stay directly with the lodging sites rather than with a third-party vendor. This arrangement has proved to deliver a higher rate of online reservation completions.
Why has Nebraska Tourism incorporated the BookDirect functionality into its website and made it available to Nebraska lodging facilities?
Nebraska Tourism has integrated BookDirect functionality into the home page of the VisitNebraska.gov website as a way to provide a greater range of travel tools to site visitors interested in scheduling a Nebraska vacation. The Division also wanted to offer Nebraska accommodations that currently don’t have an online reservation system a low-cost, high-quality online booking alternative.
Why is Book Direct better? What is the unique value to an independent lodging operator?
A level playing field for lodging facilities of all sizes – BookDirect allows lodging facilities of all sizes to offer visitors a way to reserve accommodations online. Even if a lodging facility does not currently use an online reservation system, BookDirect offers a reservation application that can quickly get accommodations up and available online.
Available standard online reservation system – Lodging facilities without an existing online reservation system can utilize a standard online reservation application BookDirect offers its partners free of charge. This makes BookDirect as universal as possible for a variety of different types of accommodations and reservation systems.
Direct interface with lodging reservation systems/no additional inventory management – For lodging facilities that have an existing online reservation system, the BookDirect technology pulls rates and availability from the reservation system on a daily basis, so there is no need to manage or feed additional inventory into the BookDirect engine.
Lower commission fees – Based on the BookDirect pricing model, commissions or fees charged by BookDirect for room reservations are 25–50 percent less on average than other third-party booking engines.
Proven results – BookDirect has proved to increase qualified referrals (clicks) to the lodging websites of its members. Because lodging properties receive more qualified referrals from BookDirect, this allows them to directly convert the visitors from VistNebraska.gov into bookings. It’s been shown that more qualified referrals combined with direct reservations increases the number of room nights!
How does a traveler book an accommodation through BookDirect?
Using the BookDirect application at VisitNebraska.gov, travelers use the search tools to find the location and accommodation they are interested in. Then they click the BookDirect link next to the accommodation listing, which takes them to the accommodation website to complete the transaction. It’s a great experience for travelers because they actually book directly with the accommodation instead of with a third party. For accommodations without a website, travelers are directed to the BookDirect booking engine. How to set up a BookDirect booking engine is outlined below.
What if my lodging facility doesn’t have an existing online reservation system?
For those lodging properties without an online reservation system, BookDirect provides a reservation system (also called a BookDirect booking engine) that can be set up and utilized at no cost. Lodging properties interested in utilizing the BookDirect booking engine can click on this link to sign up for this self-service system – http://www.jackrabbitreservations.com/hotels/new. After the sign-up process, instructions will be emailed outlining the setup and ongoing inventory management to receive online reservations.
How do Nebraska Tourism lodging partners participate in BookDirect?
For accommodations that are a part of the following listed chains, BookDirect has established corporate agreements with each, and all lodging properties will automatically be participating: IHG, La Quinta, Hilton Hotels, Carlson Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resort, Drury, Best Western, Motel 6, Wyndham, Marriott, Choice, Magnuson Hotels, and Red Lion.
Accommodations that are not part of a chain listed above, but that are listed with Nebraska Tourism will appear in the BookDirect search functionality through July 15. However, travelers will not be able to book an accommodation with a lodging property until the property has signed up with BookDirect using one of the following methods:
Independent (non-chain) properties that currently utilize an online reservation system and wish to participate should use the following link, which takes them to the lodging sign-up form – http://jackrabbitsystems.com/signup/. All details regarding pricing and the process are outlined in detail on this page.
For independent (non-chain) properties that currently do not utilize online reservations, please refer to the previous question.
Any properties that have not signed up with BookDirect by July 15 will be removed from the search database. They will still be welcome to sign up with BookDirect at a later date, at which time they will receive the full BookDirect functionality.
What are the costs of participation in BookDirect?
Independent Lodging Properties (non-chain) – Each independent lodging property signs up individually and pays either 12% for each reservation through BookDirect or a pay-per-click fee of $0.45. Lodging properties can choose which pricing model they prefer to use on the lodging sign-up form at http://jackrabbitsystems.com/signup/.
Hotel Chain Properties – BookDirect has a corporate agreement with each chain listed in number 14 on the lodging sign-up form at http://jackrabbitsystems.com/signup/. All lodging properties associated with each chain automatically participate in the BookDirect network, and payments for reservations are paid by the corporate parent chain.
How are payments to lodging facilities handled for accommodations booked through BookDirect?
The BookDirect engine will redirect travelers from VisitNebraska.gov to the individual lodging properties (either their website or their BookDirect booking engine) for the purpose of making reservations. Because of this, all payments are handled directly between the consumer and the lodging property.
If a visitor has issues using BookDirect, how is it handled?
Because visitors book directly with each lodging property, all customer service issues are with the lodging property. If lodging operators learn that the BookDirect link is broken or is not functioning properly, they should contact BookDirect customer service at customerservice@jackrabbitsystems.com.
If a lodging facility has an issue or needs to update photos or database information with BookDirect, who is the point of contact?
Questions regarding sign-up or updates to photos or information on the BookDirect site, and resolution of issues after sign-up can be directed to Dee Lang at BookDirect, 505-982-2521 or customerservice@jackrabbitsystems.com.
Please note: BookDirect information is not automatically updated when database updates are sent to Nebraska Tourism. While there will be regular updates between BookDirect and Nebraska Tourism, they will occur on an annual basis, so to ensure your information is as current as possible, be sure to send updates to Dee at BookDirect at the same time they are sent to Heather at Nebraska Tourism.
Can Nebraska lodging facilities add the BookDirect functionality to their own websites, or is it accessible only through VisitNebraska.gov?
For lodging entities that have their own online reservation system, including a link to BookDirect on their site would be redundant, as it essentially provides the same service. However, if a lodging entity is using the booking engine provided by BookDirect as its reservation system, a link to the BookDirect site is necessary.

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“Tourism Is Export” By Dr. Peter Tarlow

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

TOURISM & MORE’S “TOURISM TIDBITS” for June 2010
Tourism is Export

The recent Icelandic volcanic eruption that closed down much of the world’s transportation system and the fighting in Greece should serve once again as a reminder not only of the importance of tourism as an economic generating tool but also that tourism is a major export commodity. One of the mistakes that economic developers and business experts make is ignoring tourism as a major export industry. In fact tourism is often a renewable export that if used properly can also be a major economic development too.

Tourism is not only big business but also tourism should be seen and protected as perhaps one of the world’s premier export products. The fact that tourism is an export industry is noted in a Jamaican study which stated: “An export industry is one that sells a significant share of its goods or services outside of the country, thus bringing new money into the local economy. Tourism appears to meet these two tenets as the Jamaica Tourist Board reports that over 90 per cent of our tourists are international and the Bank of Jamaica reports that the industry contributed some US$1,975,519,000 to foreign exchange earnings in 2008″ (Jamaica WI Gleaner, June 21, 2008). If we, then, assume that exports refer to money going from place X to place Y due to the sale of product W, then tourism easily meets this standard.
What especially makes tourism a valuable export product is that, if cared for properly, it is a sustainable and renewable resource. Unlike primary resources, such as petroleum or minerals, tourism is not finite. No matter how many people visit the ocean, the ocean is still the ocean, and no matter how many people view a mountain, the mountain remains in place. In fact, in places that have lost manufacturing jobs, tourism offers an alternative advantage in that unlike manufacturing jobs, visits to a specific locale cannot be shipped offshore. Tourism’s sustainability does not mean, however, that a tourism product must not be protected. Tourism, like any commodity, can be overused, exploited poorly or allowed to decline. Tourism also needs the support of the local community. Without this support, tourism often becomes an unsustainable product. In order then to use your tourism industry as an export product Tourism & More suggests the following.

_ Educate your community about the fact that tourism is the world’s largest peacetime industry, and of its economic benefits. For those people who like facts and figures, according to the World Tourism Council in 2006 tourism produced over US$6 trillion. It is estimated that the world’s tourism industries provided around the world 221 million jobs, with an expectation that by 2015 tourism will be providing some 269 million jobs. Even with the world’s economic problems it is hoped that by 2015, tourism’s growth rate is expected to average 4.6% per year. The Organization for Economic and Operational Development reports on its web site that: “TourismŠis a key component of the service economy (30% of international trade in services in the OECD area). Tourism, which has expanded dramatically over the past 30 years, looks set to continue growing as societies become more mobile and prosperous.” In the USA the US Bureau of Labor Statistics measures changes in the prices of goods bought in the USA by foreign visitors. These goods plus services are a US export.

_Demonstrate to your community how tourism adds to your local economy in a variety of ways. Included are hotel and restaurant expenditures and taxes, conventions and meetings, taxes paid on transportation, attractions of foreign capital, especially in hotel construction, creation of additional jobs in such areas as public services and infrastructure renewal.

_Make sure that people understand that tourism not only generates employment but also may be a major renewable export source. The tourism industry is all about the selling of memories. The industry helps to bring foreign money to a particular locale where visitors buy local goods and services. Visitors take home the memory of the good time. Tourism professionals understand that the vacation memory is an abstract export commodity. Furthermore, tourism attractions rarely get depleted or disappear; thousands/millions of people can see the same attraction. Foreign visitors also become a major source of foreign exchange, and helping a nation’s balance of payment. It must be noted however that for tourism to be a renewable resource it must be developed in a sustainable/responsible manner. That means that where ecologies are fragile, numbers and activities must be tightly controlled, pollution must be prevented, and local cultures protected.

_Tourism can be an export product even in rural areas. Tourism is about seeing what is different. Rural areas that may be losing population or industry can become tourism centers and create need job opportunities for their younger people. Visitations by foreign tourists also can result in cross-national networking opportunities.

_Do not be afraid to use creative marketing to attract new money to your area. For example, according to the Travel Association of America, in the United States the tourism industry produces over $600 billion dollars in revenue and over $100 billion in taxes paid to local, state and federal governments. Much of this money comes from visitors from overseas, who earn their money in their home nation and then bring it to another nation. Tap into this market with creative marketing and do not be afraid to flaunt your region, what may seem common place to you may become an international attraction to others.
_Market in as many languages as possible. Turning your tourism product into an export market means being open to the world. Develop foreign language brochures, encourage the teaching of foreign languages in your school system, and teach your own culture. Tourism does best when it represents the best of who you are to others. Ironically when you celebrate your own culture you become an export market for visitors from other cultures.
_Emphasize that tourism is an important economic development tool for emerging and minority communities around the world. Because tourism is based on the appreciation of the other, tourism industries have been especially open to giving disadvantaged groups around the world opportunities that have often been denied to them by other economic sectors. In this respect tourism should not been viewed only at the surface level. Tourism produces not only income from foreign guests but also provides large numbers of entry level jobs, and often means the difference between a smaller community’s business success and failure.. In nations where there is a decline in manufacturing, the tourism industry can be an essential method to reinvigorate local economies. The bottom line is that tourism is an export commodity that can also become an economic and educational development tool bringing wealth to the local economy while protecting its cultural ecology.tourism industry,

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Sustainability

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Great article here on sustainability in nature, agriculture, culture, etc… http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/5502/

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Red Cloud, Ord and Ogallala to Host Tourism Workshops

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Want to learn more about one of the fastest growing segments of the world’s largest business? If so, take the opportunity to attend one of the Watchable Wildlife/Nature Tourism Workshops coming to an area near you. Jim Mallman of Watchable Wildlife Inc. will be hosting several workshops to share insights into how entrepreneurs, outfitters, businesses, individuals, and municipalities can build sustainable nature-based tourism programs. Workshops will be held in:

* Red Cloud on May 18
* Ord on May 19
* Ogallala on May 20

“I am really excited about the three workshops we have scheduled for Nebraska. This offers Watchable Wildlife Inc. the opportunity to demonstrate the real power potential of Wildlife/Nature Tourism,” Jim says. “There are certainly benefits to be gained in any community by implementing a Wildlife/Nature Tourism Program. However our key interest is to work with communities where tourism is not the first thing they think of when wrestling with the challenges of promoting economic development. We hope to provide regional planners, business owners and residents with some ideas on how this can be done while preserving and enhancing the area’s natural treasures, historical sites and quality of life.” Jim hopes “to see you at one of these three workshops and have the opportunity to learn more about the real ‘Heartland’ of our country.”
The Workshops will begin at 8:30am and will run until 4:00pm with lunch and refreshments included. Fee is $25. Be sure to register before May 10th. After this date, the registration fee increases to $40.
For registration forms, please visit the Nebraska Development Network—Central Region website at www.ndncr.com, or if you have any questions, please contact Sharon or Jodi at (308) 995-3190.
The workshops are sponsored by the Nebraska Development Network – Central Region. This network is comprised of numerous local, regional and state economic and community development organizations. Several federal agencies such as USDA Rural Development and NRCS – Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils also provide assistance to Network projects.

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Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week
and See Nebraska Week May 8-16, 2010

LINCOLN, NEB. (May 6, 2010)—Load up the car, pack some snacks and get ready to rediscover the road trip this summer in Nebraska. Whether it’s a drive across the state or just an hour or two away from home, Nebraska is a state where road trips are meant to be taken. Take the family to see one of the state’s many famous historic monuments, tube down a lazy river or visit one of the country’s best zoos: there’s something here for just about anyone, and at an affordable price to boot.

During See Nebraska Week and National Travel & Tourism Week, beginning May 8, show us your Nebraska vacation memories. Submit your vintage vacation photos to mynebraskavacation@nebraska.gov and tell us your memories. We’ll post them online and at the end of See Nebraska Week will choose three winners to receive a special “Rediscover the Road Trip” gift bag filled with things perfect to use on the road this summer during a Nebraska vacation.

Nebraska remains one of the most affordable states in the nation for travelers. AAA consistently named Nebraska one of the top five most affordable vacation destinations in the United States, with average daily vacation costs for a family of four well below the national average.

color_verticalThe Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Division offers loads of information and planning tools to help you plan your perfect trip. Take advantage of Nebraska Tourism’s Group Travel Planner or Road Trip planners online. Find a day trip near your home and get there and back on one tank of gas. Find an event in a small community near your home and mark the calendar now.

If you don’t have your free 2010 Nebraska Travel Guide, now’s the time to order or download your copy from Nebraska’s one-stop tourism shop, www.VisitNebraska.gov, where you can find road trip planners, photo galleries and fun activities to keep kids busy while you rediscover the road trip this summer in Nebraska.

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