Innovation lives! Signature Travel Network has announced the official launch of its MyTravelSite and plans for a mobile travel application for iPhones, iPads and Androids as well as new technology tools. The new tools help Signature in serving clients with mobile devices, e-marketing and social media marketing, and has won strong support from member agents.
Signature’s MyTravelSite s a personalized, customizable webpage that clients can access for logic-based recommendations on travel, based on travel preferences, past travel history, demographic and psychographic information (i.e. mytravelsite.com/JohnDoe). Clients will have the ability to use Facebook Connect to link their MyTravelSite account with their Facebook profile, as well as create and publish travel blogs that push them to Facebook.
Signature also announced its plans to launch a mobile application for iPhone, iPad, and Androids devices to provide a "Pocket Travel Consultant." The application will focus on destination-themed content, taking advantage of "location" knowledge and will be complemented by value-added features.
This includes destination guides, immediate planning/booking of activities, hotels booking, local restaurant and transportation information, as well as destination navigation. The application also provides the ability to research cultures and historical sites, filtered by interest, and provides direct access to Facebook and Twitter users in order to share real-time experiences. The application will also provide clients with notifications of specials for destination/product interests within the destination.
Signature’s expectation is that the mobile applications will benefit both leisure and corporate customers, alike. The application will be available for branding and customization by Signature members.
"As the adoption of the mobile web and mobile devices is skyrocketing, Signature is developing technology to master the opportunity," said Karen Yeates, vice president of Internet business solutions. "As leisure travelers are increasingly roaming with mobile devices, Signature has committed to the development of a set of mobile applications and mobile websites to encompass features most desired by leisure travelers."
In addition to the new advancements in mobile and social marketing, Signature is placing major emphasis on e-marketing programs. As e-marketing continues to grow and advance, Signature said it is taking major steps to modify its robust e-marketing tools to work seamlessly in the mobile arena.
Signature cited a recent study by ExactTarget with results that showed that 93 percent of consumers register for at east one e-mail marketing program, and more than 50 percent of consumers make purchases as a direct result of email. The study confirmed that email marketing drives more conversions than any other marketing channel, making it an imperative part of any business today, Signature said. As mobile technology continues to grow, Signature is also enhancing its e-marketing to be used through mobile devices.
Signature's e-marketing technology allows members to track e-marketing efforts across the member-base. The consortia's open rate with mobile devices in particular is as high as 15 percent, outpacing the average by more than 6 percent. Signature said it will soon implement email campaigns designed for the best experience on the most popular mobile devices (iPhone, Android devices and Blackberry).
Signature will also allow customers to subscribe to receive SMS (text) messages rather than e-mails. Additionally, all supporting content is being redesigned to be "mobile ready" including cruise and tour offers, destination information, cruise descriptions/product reviews and more. Signature's technology will auto-detect if an email is being viewed on a mobile device and the user will be automatically re-directed to the newly implemented mobile website content.
Additional technology advancements are in the works, Signature reports including:
* Web status updates through Facebook and Twitter available to Signature Members with trackable reporting features
* Online, interactive, page-flipping publications for tablet devices customizable to each Signature member
* News feeds for agent/owners that will push content to travel consultant desktops or mobile devices with breaking news and customizable to each consultant's area of expertise
* Consolidated search engine for Signature's Intranet site as well as a river cruising microsite.
Visit www.SignatureTravelNetwork.com.