Tag Archives: Thomson

Thomson brochures to use augmented reality

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Thomson brochures to use augmented reality

Cruise operator introduces new technology to its traditional brochure

New brochures introduced by Thomson Cruises for its 2014 and 2015 programme of cruises will utilise new augmented reality technology to allow potential passengers to get a better idea of what their holiday will be like.

According to the company, the augmented reality will be accessible on any handheld device and can be used in conjunction with the traditional paper brochure sent out to interested parties on an annual basis.

The development represents a first for the line, and will allow users to view additional content by holding their smartphone or tablet over a specific page in the brochure.

Fraser Ellacott, Thomson Cruises customer operations director, commented: “Showcasing the true experience of life on a cruise ship will … go a long way in helping customers considering a cruise make their decision.”

He added that first-time cruisers will also have a better idea of what to expect thanks to the new technology.

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Adopting an omnichannel strategy is critical, says Cook’s Green

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Adopting an omnichannel strategy is critical, says Cook’s Green

By Travolution
By Travolution

Implementing an omnichannel strategy is critical for success in today’s market, according to Thomas Cook chief executive Harriet Green.Speaking at a Travel Weekly Business Breakfast, Green said one of her first priorities when she started at the business in July last year was to integrate the websites with the rest of the business.

She said: “For reasons best known to this environment the web part of Thomas Cook and other major tour operators was completely separate.

“It had separate targets and none of the rest of the organisation worked with them – why would they, they had absolutely conflicting interests.

“The only time Thomas Cook sold anything effectively on the web was when no-one else wanted to. It was the most dysfunctional thing.

“On week 14 we said we’re going to emancipate all of you guys from the OTA and we’re going to develop the web channels in region then have this centre of excellence.”

Green said the high street was still important, despite the company’s plans to close 195 shops, but had to be used effectively with other channels.

She told delegates: “There has to be change and agility within an omnichannel environment. The web is important, but an omnichannel environment is critical.

“Retail as it was isn’t going to be with us any longer. In the UK the high street has a very important role, perhaps not to the level that Thomas Cook had penetration but on that we’ve made our plans very clear.

“It is staggering to me that Thomas Cook was the first company in the UK travel environment to put all products through all channels at the same price on the web last November. Other industries did that ten years ago.”

– See more at: http://www.travolution.co.uk/articles/2013/07/05/6875/adopting-an-omnichannel-strategy-is-critical-says-cooks-green.html#sthash.hzR8drS8.dpuf

Thomas Cook wins battle of the big guns for ‘holiday’ searches

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Thomas Cook wins battle of the big guns for ‘holiday’ searches

By Travolution
By Travolution

 Thomas Cook won the battle of the big guns for holiday searches on Google in May, beating its main rival Thomson and its all-inclusive brand First Choice, a greenlightdigital.com/gossip/sector-reports-holidays/”>Greenlight report has revealed.

But all three were beaten to the top spot for natural search by travelsupermarket.com which achieved a 53% share of voice for the 4.4 million ‘holidays’ search term queries.

The breakdown for search activity on desktops/laptops and mobile saw travelrepublic.co.uk claim top spot for mobile, although the leading OTA did not feature in the top 20 for desktops.

In the paid media sector, however, Travel Republic claimed top spot bidding on 2,864 keywords at an average position of five, ahead of rival OTA On The Beach and deals aggregator holidaydiscountcentre.co.uk.

Rival deals sites icelolly.com, trivago.co.uk and teletextholidays.co.uk were fifth, eighth and ninth respectively.

On mobile in May icelolly.com was the most visible paid search advertiser ahead of secretescapes.com, teletextyholidays.co.uk and onthebeach.co.uk.

The number of holiday-related keyword searches stood at 881,536 on mobile devices, still some way short of the 3.5 million generated on desktops.

The 12-month trend for search activity in this sector sees mobile remaining relatively flat while desktop saw a marked slump between June and November followed by a shallow recovery after January.

In the overall integrated search Thomas Cook was top both on mobile and desktops, followed by travelsupermarket.com and First Choice on both categories of devices.

Greenlight’s social media top 15 chart saw Thomson turn the table on Thomas Cook, coming out on top thanks to a market-leading number of Facebook fans and Youtube subscribers and a Klout score of 84.

Thomas Cook has the most Twitter followers among the top 15 (43,933) but a low number of Google+ followers (1,537).

Travel Republic, in 12th in the social media chart has approaching ten times the Google+ followers of its nearest rivals with 1.5 million.

Trivago.co.uk in 15th has the most Facebook fans (1.4 million) well ahead of Thomson (400,629), lowcostholidays.com (252,266) and Thomas Cook (221,402).

– See more at: http://www.travolution.co.uk/articles/2013/07/05/6871/thomas-cook-wins-battle-of-the-big-guns-for-%e2%80%98holiday%e2%80%99-searches.html#sthash.Y71oaHXg.dpuf