Travel company to launch emoji-based search engine
AccorHotels.com is to roll out a new holiday search feature using the ‘universal language’ of emojis – the little messaging icons that started out as fun but are increasingly being employed as marketing tools.
The Pope has a series of emojis, as does TV star Kim Kardashian, who launched her set of mood icons on the App store this week. Fans of pizza company Domino’s can order their favourite by sending an emoji by SMS.
Marketing companies specialising in emojis are now big business and statistics show 85% of the little icons are sent by those aged 29 and under.
AccorHotels.com is remaining tight-lipped (there must be an emoji for that) about exact details until the search engine goes live on January 11, 2016.
What we do know is that it will run live in seven countries on social media including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
"People will post their emojis and a holiday will be recommended based on what they included," a spokesman said.
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.
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