Destination Marketing is a very complex task as
Tourism and Visitor Bureaus have to find a balance between acquiring
funding, identifying markets and maximizing exposure— all
while being accountable to constituents within the destination.
Most importantly, Bureaus need to develop alternative funding sources
in order to stay competitive with other destinations that are aggressively
trying to lure the same visitor. ReserveDirect offers a revenue
sharing solution for DMOs to capture reservations through their
marketing efforts in order to increase available spending and overall
accountability.
Travel Trends
The growing need to expose your destination to the traveling consumer
via the web in a real time booking environment becomes more urgent
by the day. U.S. online travel sales are projected to reach a year-end
total of $54 billion in 2004, comprising just under a quarter (23
percent) of all domestic travel sales. That figure marks a 20 percent
year-over-year increase above the 2003 total. These trends show
significant increases over the next few years and by 2009 over 33%
of all travel purchases are expected to occur online.
Destination Marketing Partner
A partner in the true sense of the term, ReserveDirect becomes a
part of the destination community through the development of regional
welcome centers, supporting call centers and the integration of
its own marketing efforts to fit the needs of the destination itself.
Working in-market with DMOs and regional Travel Suppliers, ReserveDirect
will market the destination-booking engine to the travel customer
and travel agent through print, web and other distribution channels.
Private Brand
Building brand identity goes hand-in-hand with marketing a destination,
and nowhere is that more evident than within the contents of a destination
website. Offering a reservation portal shouldn’t take away
from that effort, which is why ReserveDirect has developed a private
label platform to enable DMOs to present the booking engine as if
it were their own. This insures a seamless transition into the reservation
portal, as well as building consumer loyalty, destination product
control and overall brand awareness.
Member Benefit
Offering a point of sale mechanism through a DMO’s destination
website can enhance member benefits through a multitude of programs.
Providing distribution through a DMO website boosts membership value
and creates measurable accountability justifying membership fees
and support. Additionally, DMOs that offer tiered membership based
upon marketing alliances and partnerships can feature those members
in an equally-tiered process through the booking engine.
Revenue Sharing
Revenue sharing programs are the driving factor behind DMO partnerships
and ReserveDirect offers an aggressive program to insure long-term
relationships and continued destination development. Our booking
engine offers the highest possible conversion rate through complete
destination planning and booking of multiple product types, increasing
overall yield for higher returns per visit. Additionally, consumer
purchases captured through a DMO website are identified on future
purchases for ongoing marketing potential.
Distribution Channels
Through a virtual network of distribution, ReserveDirect enables
Travel Suppliers the ability to have their products displayed and
sold through a DMO website as well as ReserveDirect’s own
branded sites, national travel portals, Global Distribution Systems
and an array of private label and affiliated services further enhancing
member benefits. Reaching the travel customer when they are ready
to plan and book a destination makes the destination an accessible
and favorable travel product which leads directly to increased conversion.
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