That's GREAT! » Travel http://blog.greattv.com a Blog by GREAT! CEO & IDEAologist Dan Smigrod [@smigrod, @uSCANme] Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:12:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Summer TOUR WRIST: Seamlessly Shoot, Upload, View, Search and Share 360-Degree Spherical Virtual Tour Photos and Videos via Searchable Map of the World; Facebook; Twitter; and Email – Free! http://blog.greattv.com/2011/04/summer-tour-wrist-seamless-shoot-upload-view-search-and-share-360-degree-spherical-virtual-tour-photos-and-videos-via-searchable-map-of-the-world-facebook-twitter-and-email-%e2%80%93-free/ http://blog.greattv.com/2011/04/summer-tour-wrist-seamless-shoot-upload-view-search-and-share-360-degree-spherical-virtual-tour-photos-and-videos-via-searchable-map-of-the-world-facebook-twitter-and-email-%e2%80%93-free/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:41:40 +0000 Dan Smigrod http://blog.greattv.com/?p=3961

April 27, 2011 Atlanta, GA USA – I have seen the future. It arrives this summer.

Using your Apple iPhone, you will be able to easily – and seamlessly – shoot, upload, view, search and share 360-degree immersive, spherical virtual tour photos (and in the near future videos) from your summer vacation via a a searchable map of the world; and then also share your images via Facebook, Twitter and email.

Did I mention Free? You will be able to shoot, upload, view, search and share your virtual tours for free?

Wait. It gets better.

When you plan your summer vacation, you can (already) “teleport in” to 18,600+ virtual tour images from around the globe shot by thousands of professional photographers. These pros likely paid $3,000 or more for the gear and software to shoot, upload, view, search and share their images with you.

Going from $3,000 to free – to share 360-degree spherical virtual tour photos – and going from $3,000 to a one-time purchase of an $80 add-on lens for your iPhone to shoot 360-degree virtual tour video is (way-cool) disruptive innovation.

Soon, millions of iPhone owners will be visually mapping the world with their GeoTagged-images – one 360-degree spherical virtual tour photo and video at a time – so that they can tour remotely virtually any place in the world to help them decide on their travel destination. Virtual tour images will include: hotels and resorts; restaurants; attractions; points of interest; arts and entertainment; retail shopping; and more.

And, while you probably have viewed 360-degree panoramic virtual tour images before – on a hotel website or for the sale of real estate – the next generation of virtual tour viewing is magical when combined with:

Wait. It gets better.

Now imagine that all app developers, software developers – and even camera manufacturers – have the ability to create a seamless shoot, upload, host, view, search and share 360-degree  spherical virtual tour experience for you. Starting in June 2011, this will be possible because of an announcement made today by GREAT! client, Tour Wrist.

Video: How to TOUR WRIST (90 Seconds)

As a GREAT! IDEAologist in the television, entertainment and travel spaces – I constantly looks at emerging technologies in other spaces that can be mashed up and leveraged in ways that the inventor may not have ever imagined in behalf of GREAT! clients. If Prometheus was alive today, he would tell you that – the announcement today (4/27/11) by Tour Wrist – is as significant to television, entertainment, travel and real estate marketers as the day Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals.

So, even if your eyes glaze over at the thought of reading this geeky media release (below) about – API meets imaging apps meets camera hardware meets hosting platform – get some Visineand read on: it’s like experiencing the early days of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – and recognizing the power of these then emerging media, communications and community technologies.

Was your company – or client – late to leverage the web, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube?  This time you have a “heads up” that the future of User Generated Content (UGC) meets location-based marketing arrives the summer of 2011. (And, you’re invited to the party!)

The free Tour Wrist API is the “secret sauce” that will make easy and seamless shooting, uploading, searching and sharing 360-degree spherical virtual tour photos and videos possible for millions of us rather than for thousands of professional photographers. Tour Wrist CEO and Founder Charles Armstrong told me, “The Tour Wrist AmaTour API will  truly democratize panoramic photography – enabling virtually anyone with a smartphone to create and share 360-degree images for free.”

“We anticipate great uses of the Tour Wrist AmaTour API will be mashups that we haven’t even imagined; just as developers built amazing apps for the Twitter API,” says Armstrong. “Our vision is to create the very best virtual tour authoring experience by enabling pano developers and manufacturers to do what they do best while leveraging our robust hosting, searching and sharing infrastructure.”

So, as Tour Wrist says in its promotional video says … Go anywhere: Without Going Anywhere. Tour Cities. Tour Homes. Tour Hotels. Tour Cars. Tour Cafes. Tour Shops. Tour Wrist.

Will your cable TV channel; hotel or resort; entertainment and attraction; real estate firm; or restaurant – or other placed-based business – leverage this Prometheus moment for first-movers advance; or wait for your competitors to light the path for leveraging disruptive innovation in your space?

PostScript

TOUR WRIST CEO & Founder Charles Armstrong is one of 12 Digital Summit 2011 (TechMedia) digerati invited to speak during the Demo Showcase session to an audience of 700 digital, online, new media marketers, web strategists and entrepreneurs. Digital Summit is Monday, May 16th and Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at Cobb Galleria, Atlanta, GA USA $50 conference registration fee discount off of the $245 registration with the TOUR WRIST Digital Summit 2011 Promo Code: DEMOFRIEND at www.digitalsummit.com. TOUR WRIST will also be featured in the Digital Summit Demo Showcase during the two-day conference. [Look for GREAT! CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dan Smigrod at the TOUR WRIST booth in the Digital Summit Demo Showcase.] “We feel the Demo companies selected for Digital Summit represent some of the most exciting rising stars in the internet space,” said Eric Gregg, Executive Director of TechMedia, the producer of the conference. “We’re thrilled to be able to have [Digital Summit 2011] attendees interact with each of them.” #dsum11

PostScript (5/19/11)

PostScript

____________________________________

TOUR WRIST 360-Degree Panoramic Virtual Tour Hosting Company To Make Its TOUR WRIST AmaTour API Available in June 2011

Silicon Valley, CA – April 27, 2011 – TOUR WRIST®, a mobile and web-based virtual tour hosting company, will make its Application Programming Interface (API) available in June 2011.

Tour Wrist

The powerful API will enable panoramic image apps, software, and even some hardware to upload and host images on the TOUR WRIST platform, free of charge.

TOUR WRIST – already the destination for 18,000 virtual tour images since the platform launched in September 2010 – will enable consumers to easily shoot, upload, host, search, view and share 360-degree virtual tours using third-party smartphone apps, desktop software, and panoramic cameras.

“We anticipate third-party panoramic photography developers will also leverage affordable smartphone accessories to allow 360-degree video uploads in the near future,” says TOUR WRIST CEO and Founder Charles Armstrong. “We’re embracing developers and manufacturers that specialize in 360-degree imaging to offer consumers a seamless shoot and share virtual tour experience.”

TOUR WRIST will soon contact the growing list of 360-degree panoramic app developers and panoramic camera equipment manufacturers; a list that includes:

Scan This QR Code to Download the Free TOUR WRIST iPhone App • Text SCAN to 43588 to get a Free Scanner App

App Developers

  1. 360 Panorama (Occipital)
  2. Bubbli (Bubbli Co)
  3. AutoStitch Panorama (Cloudburst Research)
  4. Pano (Debacle Software)
  5. PanoLab and PanoLab Pro (Originate Labs)
  6. PanoMinute (Denis Martin)
  7. Panorama (Airshed)
  8. Panorama Free (Free the Apps!)
  9. Panorama Mosaicker (Intpel)
  10. Panoramatic 360 (Andrea Esposito)
  11. Video to Panorama (Haiqun Deng)

Software Developers

  1. AutoPano Pro (Kolor)
  2. Hugin (Open Source)
  3. Photosynth (Microsoft Corp.)
  4. PTgui (New House Internet Services B.V.)

Hardware Manufacturers

  1. 0-360 Panoramic Optic lens accessory (0-360.com)
  2. Giroptic 360 Degree Camera (Giroptic) – 360-degree panoramic video camera
  3. GoPano Micro (EyeSee360) – 360-degree iPhone 4 video accessory
  4. Sony iSweep–Enabled Cameras (Sony) — consumer cameras (Watch Sony TX7 Cyber-shot Camera ‘Taylor Swift’ Commercial Video) (View Sony Cyber-Shot Digital Camera with iSweep in Amazon Store)
  5. Pano Pro MkII one-shot lens (Pano Pro USA)

“Developers and manufacturers will be able to focus on their core competencies; including image capture; stitching; and processing from computers; smartphones; and other devices, Says Armstrong. “TOUR WRIST will then pick up where they leave off, providing a seamless consumer experience that extends to uploading; hosting; searching; viewing; and sharing the resulting images through our best–in–class virtual tour platform.

Tour Wrist on an iPad

“While TOUR WRIST’s Panoguide photographer online site has 5,700 registered pros and semi-pros,” releasing the TOUR WRIST AmaTour® API will truly democratize panoramic photography – enabling virtually anyone with a smartphone to create and share 360-degree images for free.

“Businesses – such as travel and tourism destinations (hotels, bed and breakfasts), restaurants, and real estate professionals – will embrace digital panoramic image solutions that enable them to shoot, share and promote their business at little or no cost. Until recently, shooting and sharing panoramic images often required $3,000 or more in camera gear and software, plus hosting – not to mention an expertise in using them all.”

Plus, with its free–to–paid “freemium” pricing model, TOUR WRIST will offer enhanced tour hosting with services that include:

  1. Links to companies’ branding/marketing documents
  2. No watermarks
  3. Turn–key micro–sites
  4. Premium image tagging options
  5. Premium geo-location options
  6. No banner advertising
  7. Featured in industry specific sales categories (e.g. Real Estate for Sale)

“For businesses that require professional virtual tour shoots, TOUR WRIST offers a world–wide, professional ‘pano’ photographer community,” says industry veteran and Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Handley.

“We anticipate great uses of the TOUR WRIST AmaTour API will be mashups that we haven’t even imagined; just as developers built amazing apps for the Twitter API,” says Armstrong. “Our vision is to create the very best virtual tour authoring experience by enabling pano developers and manufacturers to do what they do best while leveraging our robust hosting, searching and sharing infrastructure.”

“By enabling consumers to have a seamless shoot and share experience from their choice of multiple apps, programs, and cameras, TOUR WRIST will continue to be the new ‘go to’ critical mass repository for geo-searching, viewing and sharing virtual tours — just as YouTube is for video,” said Chief Strategy Officer Tony Miller. “Plus, when appropriate, tours will be syndicated to our other private label apps, supporting individual businesses such as real estate brokers.” Notably, TOUR WRIST is currently the only RE/MAX® Approved Supplier for virtual tours.

Developers and manufacturers who would like to be notified as soon as the free TOUR WRIST AmaTour API is available, can email their contact info to: API@TourWrist.com.

About TOUR WRIST

Spark Mobile, LLC has been doing business as TOUR WRIST since September 2010. The free TOUR WRIST viewing app (for iDevices) is available from the Apple iTunes App Store and has been downloaded over 150,000 times since its launch. The highly acclaimed TOUR WRIST app allows user to control what they see. On iDevices, it appears as a window to each space. So, for example, pointing upward may reveal the ceiling within a room and looking down, the floor.

TOUR WRIST was among the Apple Picks for Great Free Apps, Hot Apps, and New and Noteworthy for much of April 2011 in the iTunes App Store. Also in April, TOUR WRIST was among the Top 10 Free Entertainment iPad Apps in the App Store. The current version of the TOUR WRIST app is rated 4.5 stars from 275+ reviews; and four-stars among all versions of the app from 730+ reviewers. A mobile–optimized web app for Android devices is also being developed.

The TOUR WRIST company (private) is headquartered in Tampa, FL with satellite offices around the country. TOUR WRIST® and AmaTour® are registered trademarks of Spark Mobile, LLC. For more information about TOUR WRIST, please visit:

# # # 20110427-1 # # # #

Related Tour Wrist Stories

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]]> http://blog.greattv.com/2011/04/summer-tour-wrist-seamless-shoot-upload-view-search-and-share-360-degree-spherical-virtual-tour-photos-and-videos-via-searchable-map-of-the-world-facebook-twitter-and-email-%e2%80%93-free/feed/ 1 TOUR WRIST 360-Degree Panoramic Virtual Tour Hosting Company Engages GREAT! Agency for Strategic Alliance and Business Development http://blog.greattv.com/2011/04/tour-wrist-360-degree-panoramic-virtual-tour-hosting-company-engages-great-agency-for-strategic-alliance-and-business-development/ http://blog.greattv.com/2011/04/tour-wrist-360-degree-panoramic-virtual-tour-hosting-company-engages-great-agency-for-strategic-alliance-and-business-development/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:22:04 +0000 Dan Smigrod http://blog.greattv.com/?p=4081

May 9, 2011 – Atlanta, GA USA – TOUR WRIST®, a mobile and web-based virtual tour hosting company, has engaged GREAT! agency for strategic alliance and business development in the television, entertainment and travel spaces; ideation; and additional marketing services.

Video - Tour Wrist: Virtual Tours of Hotels & Real Estate

TOUR WRIST – already the destination for 19,000 virtual tour images since the platform launched commercially January 1, 2011 – will soon enable millions of consumers to easily shoot, upload, host, search, view and share 360-degree virtual tours using third-party smartphone apps, desktop software, and panoramic cameras when it makes its AmaTour®Application Programming Interface (API) available in June 2011.

“As YouTube is for video, TOUR WRIST will soon be for 360-degree virtual tours,” says TOUR WRIST CEO and Founder Charles Armstrong. “GREAT! CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dan Smigrod shares our vision and passion for the TOUR WRIST platform. We’re thrilled to be working with GREAT! to develop strategic alliances and large-scale business opportunities for TOUR WRIST in television, entertainment and travel.”

“As exciting as millions of iPhone users visually mapping the world with their geo-tagged-virtual tour images – coming soon are 360-degree video virtual tours – also created with an iPhone using an iPhone lens accessory scheduled to ship this summer,” says Smigrod. “Television, entertainment and travel companies that get started now with TOUR WRIST will be ready to leverage user generated content.”

“We’re honored that TOUR WRIST selected GREAT! to help share TOUR WRIST large-scale opportunities such as: private label solutions; re-purposing libraries of existing 360-degree virtual tours; and mashups of TOUR WRIST in ways not even anticipated when the platform (mobile, web and social) was developed for the travel-tourism-destination and real estate sale spaces,” says Smigrod.

About TOUR WRIST®

Spark Mobile, LLC has been doing business as TOUR WRIST® since September 2010. The free TOUR WRIST viewing app (for iDevices) is available from the Apple iTunes App Store and has been downloaded over 150,000 times since its launch. The highly acclaimed TOUR WRIST app allows user to control what they see. On iDevices, it appears as a window to each space. So, for example, pointing upward may reveal the ceiling within a room and looking down, the floor.

Scan This QR Code to Download the Free TOUR WRIST iPhone App (http://lite.tw/) • Text SCAN to 43588 to get a Free Scanner App

TOUR WRIST was among the Apple Picks for Great Free Apps, Hot Apps, and New and Noteworthy for much of April 2011 in the iTunes App Store. Also in April, TOUR WRIST was among the Top 10 Free Entertainment iPad apps in the App Store. The current version of the app (2.1.5) is rated 4.5 stars from 275+ reviews; and four-stars among all versions of the app from 730+ reviewers. A mobile–optimized web app for Android devices is also being developed.

The TOUR WRIST company (private) is headquartered in Tampa, FL with satellite offices around the country. TOUR WRIST® and AmaTour® are registered trademarks of Spark Mobile, LLC. For more information about TOUR WRIST, please visit:

About GREAT!

GREAT! creates, sells and delivers value for TV and other entertainment brands by conceiving fun; innovative; brand activating; creative and multi-platform: strategic alliances; imaginative integrated marketing campaigns, and ground-breaking buzz marketing campaigns that often include innovative new digital media technologies. The Atlanta-based agency was founded in 1987 by IDEAologist Dan Smigrod.

Related Tour Wrist Stories by GREAT! CEO & IDEAologist Dan Smigrod

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TOUR WRIST 360-Degree Virtual Tour Scene of Mountain Junction General Store in Scaly, NC by Photographer Dan Smigrod

]]> http://blog.greattv.com/2011/04/tour-wrist-360-degree-panoramic-virtual-tour-hosting-company-engages-great-agency-for-strategic-alliance-and-business-development/feed/ 4 Ideation: ‘Zambia – Feel Like Royalty in the Animal Kingdom’ (Plus, 5 More Re-Branding Zambia Ideas) http://blog.greattv.com/2011/02/ideation-zambia-%e2%80%93-feel-like-royalty-in-the-animal-kingdom-plus-5-more-re-branding-zambia-ideas/ http://blog.greattv.com/2011/02/ideation-zambia-%e2%80%93-feel-like-royalty-in-the-animal-kingdom-plus-5-more-re-branding-zambia-ideas/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:07:05 +0000 Dan Smigrod http://blog.greattv.com/?p=3626

February 25, 2011 – Atlanta, GA USA – The GREAT! team is helping Zambia re-brand the country.

While the Zambia Tourism Board has not engaged GREAT!, they did run an awesome world-wide contest seeking the best slogan – tag line – to replace, Zambia, the Real Africa. The prize: an over-the-top 15-day eco-adventure of a lifetime for two including: safaris to three wildlife parks; and a visit to one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls.

Count me in!

Victoria Falls – the Smoke that Thunders – Livingstone, Zambia

While you may know me as a creative CEO and IDEAologist of Atlanta-based GREAT! agency for 23+ years who has helped GREAT! clients give away (and fulfill) millions of dollars in prizes – including two houses; cars; thousands of trips; and a $100,000 dream-job to watch TV – you may not know that I love international travel (35 countries). My wife and I have never been to Africa. (“Not Yet”)

Plus, my agency conceived and implemented the AMC Planet of the Apes: Adopt an Ape Month that included 50 gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees adopted at 50 zoos across America – and apes watching Planet of the Apes movies – to call attention to the threatened and endangered apes (and to promotion Planet of the Apes on AMC.)

And, I am a passionate and prolific semi-pro photographer who has photographed natural wonders including the Niagara Falls; Iguazu Falls (including under the falls); glaciers and Mount Rainier in Alaska; and the Grand Canyon.

Add to this, I have always wanted to do photo safaris and visit Victoria Falls. I grew up on Daktari, Tarzan and the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom television series and animal expert Jack Hanna “hands on” segments on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Wow! That’s a Prize!

So, you can imagine my excitement reading about the Zambia Tourism Department re-branding contest with a $30,000 prize package that also includes: international airline tickets; flights within Zambia; ground transfers; and all accommodations and meals.

While I will photograph and videotape the bungi jumping at Victoria Falls instead of taking the (big) leap of faith, I’m there … for walking with elephants and a canoe and fly fishing experience on the Zambezi river. While not included in the prize, I will add a bush microlight flight experience for some aerial images ”over the game in the Zambezi National Park without disturbing them.” Plus, a float plane that flies over Victoria Falls and lands on the Zambezi river near a pod of hippos.

Plus, I’ll shoot some 360 degree panoramic images while on Safari and from Livingston Island of Victoria Falls – with “its largest sheet of falling water in the world” – that will look amazing on the travel remotely/’teleport in’ Tour Wrist app (iPhone, iPad).

The official rules allowed three (3) tag line entries per person, so here are the six (6) tag lines that my wife and I entered between us:

  1. Zambia - Feel Like Royalty in the Animal Kingdom
  2. Zambia – Quench Your Thirst for Adventure
  3. Zambia – Adventure Powered by Victoria Falls
  4. Zambia – Victoria Falls For You
  5. Zambia – Adventure In
  6. Zambia – Victoria Falls For Us

To help us with ideation – short of flying to Zambia – the GREAT! team did a “deep dive” to immerse ourselves in all things Zambia tourism, including:

Our four key take-aways about driving Zambia tourism that we integrated into our tag line ideation:

  1. Victoria Falls –  named after (royalty) Queen Victoria by Explorer Dr. David Livingston – is the unique and compelling selling proposition for Zambia.
  2. Safaris – experiencing all kinds of wildlife of Zambia is an important driver of tourism; though safaris are not unique to Zambia
  3. Adventure – Zambia appeals to adventure travel enthusiasts; Livingston – the home of Victoria Falls – is known as ‘Adventure Centre’ of Southern Africa
  4. Differentiator – As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls differentiates Zambia from other African adventure destinations that offer safaris and water falls. Victoria Falls is the “anchor mall tenant” tourist traffic generator that draws you to Zambia; once there, there are other great places; adventure and historic places to visit.

'Sanctuary Retreats' in Zambia

Plus we drew on some ideation process inspiration from Thinking for a Living by Joey Reiman. While there was no word count limit, we honored the request for “short and snappy” and we mashed up aspirational, personal tone and play on words in our tag lines.

For example Victoria Falls For You allows you to imagine that the Queen of England – royalty – has fallen in love with you; you will experience her misty-eye tears of happiness; that the Falls (For You) are uniquely special – personal – for your visit; and it’s a “short and snappy” tag line that leverages the unique differentiator of Zambia among other African countries in a positive way. [Do you have a favorite? Please comment below (and share why). Or, add your tag line ideas to promote Zambia Tourism.]

Photo Safari in Zambia

Now that the month-long deadline for entries has passed, the Zambia Tourism Board will post their short list of the top five – for voting – on the official Zambia Tourism Board re-branding competition website on March 14, 2011 and announce the winner on March 21, 2011. If one of our six ideas makes the cut, may I count on you for your vote?

While we can’t take you with us, you’ll get to Quench Your Thirst for Adventure at Victoria Falls – while we Feel Like Royalty in the Animal Kingdom – through my Zambia, Adventure In images that I will post here (if we’re lucky enough – with your help – to win the Zambia, Adventure Powered by Victoria Falls experience of a lifetime). Check out these – feel like royalty – prize sponsors to see the Royal Treatment that awaits the winner:

Plus, check out the Zambia Tourism Re-branding Competition Sponsors:

If my wife or I wins the adventure experience of a lifetime, I will also post a Zambia, Victoria Falls For You travel log here – including Flip UltraHD Video and 360 degree panoramic virtual tour images – ’cause I know … in, Zambia, Victoria Falls For Us!

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Click here to view the embedded video.

Video: Sausage Tree Camp on the banks of the Zambezi River in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia

PostScript (3/14/11)

  • Of the 4,445 tag lines submitted – from 2,017 individuals – here are the five (5) tag lines that made the Zambia Tourism short list: 1) Zambia – Beyond Imagination; 2) Zambia – Let’s Explore; 3) Zambia – Big heart, Big smile, Big adventure; 4) Zambia – Africa’s Smile; 5) Discover Zambia, Experience Africa. The Winner will be announced March 21, 2011.
  • Looks like our adventure experience of a lifetime in Zambia is on hold until either GREAT! handles a VIP incentive travel experience to Zambia; or Zambia Tourism invites bloggers/photographers for an expense-paid exploration of Zambia to share our experience.
]]> http://blog.greattv.com/2011/02/ideation-zambia-%e2%80%93-feel-like-royalty-in-the-animal-kingdom-plus-5-more-re-branding-zambia-ideas/feed/ 0 Out-Of-The-Silo Big Idea Leverages Social Media To Produce Integrated Marketing Success Story For AirTran Airways: Congrats Aspen Marketing http://blog.greattv.com/2010/03/out-of-the-silo-big-idea-leverages-social-media-to-produce-integrated-marketing-success-story-for-airtran-airways-congrats-aspen-marketing/ http://blog.greattv.com/2010/03/out-of-the-silo-big-idea-leverages-social-media-to-produce-integrated-marketing-success-story-for-airtran-airways-congrats-aspen-marketing/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:50:03 +0000 Dan Smigrod http://blog.greattv.com/?p=481

ATLANTA, GA USA – March 31, 2010 – When you hear a great, big idea, do you know it immediately? Can you visualize success? Can you get buy-in from all your silos (and fast)?

AirTran Airways did  … when its Agency, Aspen Marketing Services, proposed their (brilliant) “Mark on AirTran” buzz marketing campaign featuring Comedian Mark Malkoff living aboard AirTran aircraft for 30 days to call attention to wi-fi on all AirTran flights.  And, while the campaign was completed nearly a year ago (June 2009), its social media websites (YouTube, Facebook, Micro-Site, Flickr, Twitter, etc.) are still delivering results for AirTran (and Gogo inflight internet). It’s a terrific integrated marketing case study. [Mark also lived in an Ikea store.]

The “Mark on AirTran” campaign was presented Tuesday (3/30/10) at the Integrated Marketing Summit in Atlanta by Aspen’s Director of Digital Analytics and Social Media Greg Asman and Senior Public Relations and Social Media Strategist Heather Dueitt. You can learn more about the Aspen Marketing Services campaign for AirTran by clicking here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Beyond the measurable success of the campaign (with all its multi-silo “moving” parts and “legs”), here’s what I love:

  • When AirTran was presented with a big idea (way beyond the scope of the request), they figured out how to say yes (even though it probably required participation by all of its business units).
  • Never mind out-of-the-box; Aspen Marketing Services thought out-of-the silo to present their Client with an opportunity to have a huge success: even if the resources required far exceeded the original request.
  • Social Media was leveraged to create extraordinary value in traditional media.
  • Social Media was monitored in real-time to fine-tune tactics. (She just posted to our Facebook page that she was afraid of flying too, but Mark gave her the confidence she needed to fly. Let’s get Mark seated next to her for her flight home.)
  • Aspen Marketing Services and AirTran were already working shoulder-to-shoulder with trust and respect so that together they could create magic. 1 + 1 can equal 58.
  • It’s unlikely there was ever a conversation about: Return On Investment (ROI), estimated reach, frequency, gross impressions, how many Twitter followers we will get, etc. (And, there are plenty of after-the-fact metrics to show the success of this campaign.) It takes a Client with vision to say yes without a guarantee. These days, the risk of playing it safe can be the riskiest decision.
  • The value AirTran received far exceeded the cost of implementation (including internal people resources). Way to go!
  • AirTran employees could rally around the spirit and excitement of this fun campaign. (That added user generated social media content from the aircraft crew.) Way to go activating the team!
  • Aspen recommended – and AirTran agreed – to initially launch the campaign organically (with embargoed media on the first few flights: USA Today, AP, New York Post and WABC-TV.)
  • Mark’s AirTran frequent flier miles – A+ Rewards from 135 flights – were turned into a sweepstakes.
  • The campaign had “legs” for seven key AirTran Airways markets.

Congratulations to Aspen Marketing Services and AirTran Airways. Together, you demonstrated that a brilliant idea + social media + shoulder-to-shoulder Client/Agency teamwork = priceless promotion.

Note: GREAT! is not affiliated with Aspen Marketing Services or AirTran Airways. We just want to acknowledge Aspen Marketing Services for a brilliant idea, their Agency-Client relationship and their super-fast implementation.

]]> http://blog.greattv.com/2010/03/out-of-the-silo-big-idea-leverages-social-media-to-produce-integrated-marketing-success-story-for-airtran-airways-congrats-aspen-marketing/feed/ 2 Add Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico To Your Short List For Group Travel http://blog.greattv.com/2009/12/add-grand-velas-all-suites-spa-resort-in-riviera-maya-mexico-to-your-short-list/ http://blog.greattv.com/2009/12/add-grand-velas-all-suites-spa-resort-in-riviera-maya-mexico-to-your-short-list/#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:41:17 +0000 Dan Smigrod http://blog.greattv.com/?p=6

If you are planning an incentive travel experience or corporate meeting in Mexico, add the all inclusive Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico to your short list for your consideration. There are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe the over-the-top Grand Velas guest experience at the pool, ocean, seven world-class restaurants and Spa. Grand Velas is a world-class luxury guest experience. And, as a travel planner, I love both the service of the Grand Velas team and our Destination Management Company (DMC) that handles our excursions and ground transportation. (More on both the hotel team and DMC below.)

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico

For context, I’ve been lucky enough to travel to 36 countries: experiencing the best of the best hotels and destinations. Hotel Schloss Fuschi near Salzburg, Austria where they sent a Rolls Royce to pick us up after we hiked in the snow to the other side of Lake Fuschi. The Vedema Resort on the Island of Santorini, Greece in the charming Megalochori Village, Santa Marina Resort & Villas, Mykonos, Greece and The Rome Cavalieri overlooking the Vatican.

So, in the context of many amazing, over-the-top travel experiences, Grand Velas has an extremely high, “wow factor” for me.

I agree with a guest review posted on the Grand Velas Resort’s website describing the stay as, “We can’t even put into words how fabulous the hotel, staff and location are at this resort.” That said, I’ll give you some flavor of our Grand Velas incentive travel experience for one of our GREAT! television and entertainment clients.

I love great travel experiences. And, Grand Velas lives up to my expectations.

Everything at Grand Velas is on a grand scale; including the four-story tall open air lobby (in the section of the hotel I stayed), the grand infinity pool steps from the pristine fine white sand beach to the ocean.

The description of nearly every moment at Grand Velas is a delight. Here are some examples (and some experiences that that could use some improvement).

Private Lush Jungle View Suite

To help keep our Client’s cost down, we opted for the open-yet-private lush jungle view suites for our GREAT! team (instead of the pool and ocean view Ambassador suites). Think five-diamond suite in the midst of a jungle overlooking a lily pad filled creek. I loved the bird watching (and listening) during the room service breakfast; graciously set up on the large beautiful private patio. Order the fruit plate served on exquisite china (on beautiful linens). The fruit is presented as art (and all at its peek flavor and presentation). The coffee had a nice, deep rich flavor. I savored every bite of the warm-soft-buttery croissants. Delicious. The definition of perfection. Perhaps only the chocolate Danish can trump the croissant (or biscuits).

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort • Ambassador Pool Suite

The earth tone decorated suite (with native artwork) was among the largest I have stayed in (except the Presidential Suite at a hotel in New York City which I got upgraded to when my room was not available for a guaranteed late check-in). The marble-floor bathroom features a rain shower and huge Jacuzzi tub with doors that open to the bedroom/living room space with an extra-high ceiling. I enjoyed the Molton Brown London “seamoss stress relieving hydosoak” bath salts (even though Grand Velas is a stress free experience). Plus, the Phillips iPod friendly DVD/CD/MP3 player alarm clock let me fill the room with my favorite Argentine tango music while luxuriating in the Jacuzzi tub. The Grand Velas website lives up to its promise of luxurious suite accommodations with premier amenities. Grand Velas has 491 suites.

I only turned on the 42” flat plasma screen TV briefly. A nice digital picture; though not HD. If you’re working an event, as I was, high-speed internet (extra charge) is essential. The Ethernet wired connection was rock-sold reliable. Unfortunately, the wireless connection was spotty in my room. A nuisance; not a deal breaker for a group travel planner. All the power outlets are the same as the U.S.

As I understand it, the Resort generates its own power. The power failed for a split second once or twice a day; which means I did have to re-set the in-room temperature control to the 68 degrees I prefer for sleeping. (Ironically, I was telling friends in their fabulous luxury high-rise Atlanta condo about the flickering power when the power went out for hours! At least the fire exit lights worked!)

For subtle Client branding opportunity, the multi-line phone displayed our Client’s logo and schedule of activities. Sweet. The mini-bar (included in the room charge) was stocked with my choice of beverages. (I drink a lot of sparkling water that can otherwise cost a small fortune when staying at a tropical resort.) Careful not to fill-up on candy bars. Amazing meals await! As nice as my suite was, our guests experienced even larger, ocean-front suites. Many of our Client’s guests said they were happy to spend much of the day in their suites. [Some suites in the jungle each feature a private plunge pool. All suites are at least 1,000 sq. ft.]

The Spa

The Grand Velas Spa includes a huge indoor pool with concrete beds contoured to your body just inches underwater for a relaxing pool experience. If you plan to go to the Spa for a treatment, plan to go 2-3 hours before your appointment to enjoy the Riviera Maya Water Journey (included with the cost of your treatment).

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort • Spa

It’s everything that you would expect in an over-the-top relaxing and rejuvenating spa experience. I went twice to the Spa during our five nights at Grand Velas. Unfortunately, the whirlpool was not working on one of those visits. The Spa is huge; yet cozy. And, the service team is attentive.

The Restaurants

I am a foodie. I love great presentation. Food as art. And, I love great service. If you only have two nights for dinner at one of the six restaurants, make dinner reservations at Sen Lin Restaurant & Bar and Piaf; the romantic, low light French restaurant. At Piaf, I recommend the roasted rack of lamb with the mushroom Bourdreaux reduction (to die for). When the plate was presented, I told the waiter that I would not eat it (pause) I couldn’t imagine eating the work of art (I did). Needless to say, Piaf Chef Michel Mustiere came out of the kitchen beaming to visit with a guest that appreciated his design, presentation and contrasting flavors, cooking techniques, colors, elevations and textures (thank you Chef D at my five-day CIA Boot Camp Basic Training experience in Hyde Park, NY).

Cancun All Inclusive Resort - Sen Lin Restaurant & Bar

Sen Lin Asian Restaurant & Bar

At Sen Lin, I recommend the seven course sampler (may not be on the menu) and let the wait staff present their recommendation for wine pairings. Once again, food meets art meets: extraordinary. Our waiter (outstanding), added a Crocodile dish (“Crocodile marinated in a vacuum with sesame seed oil, lay soy, ajinomoto, natural yogurt, fresh basil, vegetables  and rice noodles fried with spicy peanut sauce.”) We had dinner here twice during our five nights even though we had a choice of six restaurants. I wish I had the chance to tell Sen Lin Chef Antonio Cortaza, “an outstanding dining experience in every way; down to the shape of the plates each course was presented, the linens, glasses, wait staff … everything!”

Unfortunately, the night we had a reservation at the Frida mexican restaurant, a large rambunctious wedding party had taken over the near-by Sky Bar (and the decibels spilled into the restaurant. I (happily) switched to the Lucca Italian-Mediterranean restaurant.

It’s a bit disconcerting to sign a check for lunch or dinner or drinks, even though it’s all included in the room charge: particularly since the checks are in pesos; the the bill is six times what I expect. My guess is that non-Grand Velas guests dine at the restaurants too, plus Grand Velas needs to track expenses. No matter; it’s all included in the room charge: just let your incentive travel or corporate meeting guests know ahead of time to sign the check and not to worry. [Our dinner for three at Sen Lin was $7,285 (pesos) if that’s possible: which could give your guests anxiety if they did not know the check they just signed is included in their experience.]

Cancun All Inclusive Resort - Piaf Restaurant

Piaf French Restaurant

From the suite to the restaurants to the Spa, it feels like no expense was spared in the design and creation of the Resort. [It may be a Cliché, and that's how you'll feel about your Grand Velas stay.] Plus, the resort sparkles: clean, clean and clean. [Nothing third-world about staying at the Grand Velas.]

At all (but one) of the restaurants, dishes disappeared as soon as I was finished; without any sense that anyone was watching me eat. The only exception during my five-night stay was at the Bistro where many staffers passed our table without clearing an obviously empty plate. I even slid (aghast) the dish to the side to help make it obvious. (Eventually, I asked for the plate to be removed.)

Grand Velas Team

Special thanks to the (very) dedicated Grand Velas Group Coordinator Maria Teresa Banales Vazquez, International Sales Account Executive Bacha Gurgendze and audio visual specialist Hayde Ramos and the rest of the Grand Velas team that work with us tirelessly and graciously behind the scenes to help create magic for our Client’s guest experience. [Including moving one of our Client’s private Welcome Dinner from the beach to inside the beach-front casual Azul restaurant on short notice due to the threat of rain.]

My high school Spanish is sufficient to order a sparking water without ice and with a lime. No need to be concerned about communicating. Virtually all the staff is bilingual; language is never a challenge.

Destination Management Company Team

We were thrilled to work with Global Incentive Management (GIM) destination management company (DMC) General Manager Jorge Torio, Operations Director Enrique Carrillo and Louise for all our transportation needs and guest excursions. For our TV Client, GIM handled both our Deep Sea Fishing charter and Xcaret (an eco theme park meets cultural experience meets aquarium built on the site of ancient Maya ruins in the midst of  the Yucatan jungle on the edge of the ocean.) [If Disney built a theme park in the middle of a jungle on an ocean lagoon, this is how they might do it!]

If you book Xcaret for a group excursion, add the snorkel gear, La Isle gourmet lunch option and drink tickets for your guests. If our Client’s guests had stayed more than three nights, we probably would have offered a Zip line jungle experience at Selvatica or an excursion to the ancient Tulum Mayan coastal ruins: within 90 minutes of Grand Velas. Golf packages are available too.

The GIM team obviously love what they do, are completely focused on a great guest experience and all had a delightful sense of humor.

If  You Go

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa in Riviera Maya delivers on its promises of:

  • offering the ultimate all-inclusive
  • dramatic architecture
  • world class hospitality
  • artistically designed accommodations
  • discover a world of lavish beauty and luxury in magnificent Riviera Maya
  • all the imaginable comforts
  • truly an experience that seduces the senses
  • offering the ultimate all-inclusive
  • serving mouthwatering gourmet cuisine
  • unrivaled award winning spa

And, at just 35 minutes from the Cancun International Airport (CUN), it’s an easy destination for guests coming from the U.S. (Plus, the Cancun airport is modern, clean and pleasant for last minute shopping and meals. In International Terminal C, order the made-at-your table-with-a-smile guacamole at Air Margaritaville.)

Now that I am hooked on my Grand Velas experience, my only regret is that there is just one sister property: Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort in Riviera Maya (5 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen shopping) is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Awards include: 2009 Commitment Quality Award Winner for all Latin America by Leading Hotels of the World. Grand Velas was also awarded 2010 ultimate all-inclusive by Island Destinations luxury tour operator over all other all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Caribbean, Costa Richa, Fiji and Seychelles.

GREAT! Contacts In Riviera Maya, Mexico

Grand Velas All Suite & Spa Resort

Global Incentive Management (GIM) (DMC)

Source Of Photos: Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico

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Dan Smigrod is GREAT! Chief Executive Officer & Chief Creative Officer.

Dan Smigrod

He founded his GREAT! Agency in 1988. His passions include international travel, Argentine Tango dancing, fashion and glamour photography and all things social media. Dan implements the social media and fan engagement strategies and tactics for GREAT! Client, ZOOZ Mobile, Inc. (ZOOZbeat), including ZOOZbeat Tweets, ZOOZbeat Blog, ZOOZbeat Update eNewsletter for the new ZOOZbeat Music reCreation Studio app for iPhone and iPod Touch.

A highlight of his 22+ years of  his GREAT! Agency implementing turn-key travel experiences includes chartering eight jet helicopters to fly a Client’s VIP guests from Las Vegas – in formation – to the Grand Canyon. Land. And, then have a champaign bunch with a former Miss America. Dan’s favorite travel/food/experience TV show is Anthony Bourdain No Reservations on the Travel Channel. Dan lives in Atlanta with his wife, Ann. Email: Dan Smigrod

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