Comments on: Is there a place for a destination based Social Network?

By: edu william

edu william — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:32:07 +0000

Hi William,
the problem is the “offline managers”, as say Claude. They are the true “digital divide”.
We are developing in Canary Islands a system like you say to can build this social networks of enterprises to destinations and SMEs and boost a more flexible and adaptative tourism system (http://www.eduwilliam.com/?p=70).
As say Vicky, the problem is the critical mass. It is absolutely true, but as you say, the mashups and opensocial can to fix it. i think in a web destinations, you must create a close local enterprises network, but an open social network (visitors and residents). The visitors are vistors of every destinations and residents are visitors the other destinations too. So, the networks would to interoperate and conect with other, run like ASP (opportunities to bigs and small destinations, local, regionals or national,…)and work with mashups. They must been aggregators with add value, not hosting!
Regards,
edu

By: edu william

edu william — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:32:00 +0000

By: Vicky

Vicky — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:54:42 +0000

Hi William,
Interesting post. I was also recently pondering this subject in a post and concluded that critical mass was one of the bigest barriers to destination level social networks. (So many niche local networks that are inactive or insufficiently integrated with other content).
At least in this market, these destination sites and networks often have a point of reference that is based on a political/geographic view of the destination, rather than one shared by the visitor.
I think what you have achieved with HelloBC is to achieve a critical mass by obtaining this incredible reach and depth of user content.
I think your model is one of the better ones out there and the ambitions you descibe can work somewhere like here in Scotland at a national level – not by a top down big build that local destinations are expected to participate in, but by a bottom up approach using commin platform and technology.
The would allow the destinations to scale outwards (and inwards as you have) and connect to each other. The visitor would benefit by having a cohenrent, navigable experience but with rich, authentic and locally flavoursome content.
That was a bit of an essay! At least I didn’t add a graph. Bye

By: Vicky

Vicky — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:54:00 +0000

By: Marty Weintraub

Marty Weintraub — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:58:17 +0000

Fabulous perspective…there is certainly a place for destination based social networks. From a technical outlook your idea is interesting and could yield fruit on a number of fronts including link building for a node of the mother site.

By: Marty Weintraub

Marty Weintraub — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:58:00 +0000

By: Claude / Les Explorers

Claude / Les Explorers — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:57:51 +0000

William,
Great post but don’t forget some points about other DMO’s around the World
- some don’t even know what’s Travel 2.0 is about (exemple for the managing director for the second city in France, I know the guy,I live here)
- many DMO’s have administrative process and peoples without etourism skills (specialy in France)
- Did you see french DMO’s or other in PhoCusWright. I guess you where only few leaders (Jens, You, some others)
You are atypic William and you lead the way.
Ask Karin about their presentation for Web 2.0 Open Berlin, it was about Travel 2.0 and I give here some slides about the french market.
I have a good feeling about Community of Sweden, they have passion and can boost the community. We will see…
All the best for your social network mashup
Best regards from France
Claude

By: Claude / Les Explorers

Claude / Les Explorers — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:57:00 +0000