Accor, Amazon and apps
With the Agitos now adorning Tower Bridge and Wednesday’s stunning Opening Ceremony firmly re-igniting the Paralympic spirit, we’re waving our ParalympicsGB flags and getting very excited about the sporting times ahead. So on your marks, get set, go for this week’s Siren Social Media roundup…
Accor, one of the world’s largest hotel groups, has scrapped wifi charges in up to 500 properties after research showed that the availability of free wifi was a major deciding factor when consumers book hotel rooms.
Going head to head with Groupon, Amazon has launched a daily deal website. Operating initially in London, AmazonLocal will email geographically-relevant offers to subscribers each morning, with extra reward points for those who book using their Amazon credit card.
Researchers in the US have just announced the country’s top travel Apps. Interestingly, iOS and Android users spent 95% of their time accessing travel information from travel apps, versus only 5% from the mobile web.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season