Social media round up
Tourism Ireland has brought the online and offline world together this week by creating the ‘Culture Wall’ – a mosaic created from images supplied via a Facebook application. The mural can be seen in Derry-Londonderry to commemorate its role as the City of Culture 2013. Whenever an photo was submitted via the app, it was added to a digital image of the mosaic in real-time. The 18-metre piece of art was then printed on a city wall, displaying the 27,000 images submitted. A great example of engaging a wider community and bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds.
Following on from last week’s hugely popular WestJet airlines’ "Christmas miracle" video, Virgin Atlantic has joined the festive bandwagon and is running its ‘Taste of Virgin Atlantic’ #WishWeek on Twitter. The Twitter campaign sees the airline granting wishes to its followers in the U.S. and offering a taste of the Virgin experience with a series of prizes throughout the week including beauty kits, hampers, a Samsung tablet, one year gold flying club membership and two economy round-trip flights from the US to London. Merry Christmas!
After a long wait, Facebook has finally introduced a ‘dislike’ button. The new addition is currently only available via private messaging alongside other emoticons including a peace sign and a heart. Users who want share their disapproval of friends’ public cryptic statuses or soppy posts will have to wait a little longer.
If you are travelling this festive season, remember to enjoy your holiday and don’t let your social media obsession takeover… A tourist in Australia was so engrossed by her Facebook feed this week, that she walked straight off a pier and into the ocean. Take note of this traumatic tourist’s tale and switch off for a bit!
Unfortunately, when a lonely teddy bear finds itself lost on a busy train travelling from the north to London, there is no friendly policeman looking to return it home. On this occasion the story has a happy ending thanks to Twitter and a kind hearted station worker, who after seeing the #lostbear campaign returned the soft toy to his owner.
Finally, as 2013 comes to an end, the internet has started sharing its collection of the year’s most powerful moments. As hard as we tried, we simply could not choose between these emotional overviews so have decided to include both this video and gallery recapping the incredible year that has just been.
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists