Pour yourself a virtual Guiness…
Travel intelligence company, Skift has revealed the 11 tourism boards that use Twitter like a real-time concierge. Of the more than 450 destinations listed on Skift’s social data dashboard only 11 destination marketing organisations reply to travellers’ tweets in less than two hours, with only one UK board making the list. Of course, two hours isn’t fast enough for a tourist looking for real-time information, but it’s a step toward providing same-day information to people traveling to or already in a city.
Tourism Ireland is bringing St. Patrick’s Day to the masses with an animated online parade. Facebook users are being encouraged to design their own floats – complete with leaping leprechauns, shamrocks and rainbows leading of pots of gold – which will be posted on the tourist board’s Facebook page. The 20 float designs that get the most likes will go into a draw to win one of two holidays to the Emerald Isle. #PasstheGuinness
The Egyptian Tourist Authority has created an official UK Facebook page, designed to provide travel information as well as hosting polls and competitions to encourage engagement on the social community following recent instability. Facebook.com/LoveEgyptUK will also be used as a platformfor the authority to provide travel and safety updates and to highlight Egypt as a safe and popular holiday destination for Brits.
For those addicted to Social Media, Coca Cola has come up with the ultimate solution… welcome the "Social Media Guard", modelled on a cone that is used by vets to prevent dogs from getting to their wounds. In this scenario, the guard prevents us from looking at our phones, and hold our heads up to acknowledge what happens around us when we are not on social media… the beauty that is life.
Celebrities have come out in force this week in a bid to save BBC three from being pushed to an ‘online only’ channel. Jack Whitehall, Greg James and Richard Bacon are just a few of the entertainment industry ‘big names’ to get behind the campaign. The official #saveBBC3 has been popular across Twitter – Bacon tweeted "If the rumours of it being cut are true, we might need to retool that 6Music Campaign", Whitehall added "I really hope reports that the BBC may kill BBC3 arejust rumours…their support of new comedy in particular is vital!". With the backing of some well-known faces in the industry, we’re pretty confident the message will be heard loud and clear around the BBC boardroom table – the big question, will they sit up and take notice of the collective social media voice? Watch this space…
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026