28 August 2009

Travel guides website adds video and mapping

Video is being introduced to travel guides website www.simonseeks.com

The video footage can either be the work of the guide author, or videos they feel are appropriate to illustrate the location, hotel, beaches and activities mentioned in their guide.

YouTube videos can be added to each travel guide.

A mapping function is being added next month to enable users to see the locations of hotels, restaurants and activities mentioned in each guide.

There are already 1,500 travel guides live covering worldwide locations as the site enters its third month since being launched.

Site founder Simon Nixon said: "Video content is a powerful reassurance when people are researching holidays and we know this will further increase their propensity to make a booking.

"This is good news for our authors and Simonseeks due to our revenue share model."

He added: "Mapping is an invaluable tool for trip planning and something our visitors expect to have access to when booking their travel experiences.

"Our strategy is to bring together a raft of these functions under one easy to use platform.

"Interest from writers has been overwhelming and this has helped us build our content quickly.

"Our next focus is to ensure people recognise Simonseeks one of the most comprehensive travel resources available to them, both for research and booking."

Simonseeks offers a 50:50 revenue share model with its authors. It aims to establish itself as one of the top 10 travel websites in the UK within its first year.

by Phil Davies