PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands – April 14, 2008 – Wired Island, the leading full-service marketing agency in the Turks & Caicos Islands, and its partner POWERi Technologies, an interactive and digital public relations firm specializing in travel and tourism, are offering a comprehensive one-day workshop on Internet-based marketing for the Turks & Caicos tourism and hotel industry. The workshop, which features helpful hints and proven techniques for increasing web exposure, traffic and revenue, will be held May 29 from 1PM-5PM and will be hosted at the Regent Palms in Grace Bay, Providenciales.
The complete agenda is contained below. The seminar is offered to all members of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) for a $50 fee, which includes refreshments and cocktail reception.
The workshop is divided into three modules:
- Increasing Web site traffic
- Outbound Internet marketing programs
- Managing your business through the web
The workshop will provide in-depth insight and practical suggestions on topics such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), key word selection, internet advertising, email marketing, targeting global markets, on-line reservation systems and inventory management, and customer retention techniques.
“The days of just putting up a web site and hoping customers will find you are long gone. This workshop is ideal for anyone who recognizes that the power and reach of the Internet as a critical way to build awareness and drive business. Whether you have a web site already or are just beginning to implement an on-line strategy, this event will provide helpful, real-world ideas and approaches for making the Internet a more valuable and measurable, high-ROI marketing tool for your tourism-based business,” said Mike Sottak, president of Wired Island.
Travel and tourism has been transformed by the Internet. Today, more than 80% of travel is researched and/or booked on-line. Research has shown that travelers, particularly higher end tourists, are influenced by, prefer, and use the Internet more than any other promotional or sales channel combined – this includes traditional travel agents, print advertising, trade shows, TV, radio, or video. In addition, on-line marketing provides a much more cost effective and measurable medium for advertisers. Most sophisticated properties and DMOs invest the majority of their marketing budget in on-line marketing, where they can see tangible results and a much higher ROI than other methods.
“It is critical that we leverage the power of the Internet to remain competitive as a destination in a global market for tourism spending, and to enhance our individual businesses,” said Butch Clare, president of the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association. “As an association, the TCHTA is happy to support such educational initiatives for our members and I encourage all of them to invest the time to better equip themselves in the digital age. I believe the teams from Wired Island and POWERi can offer great insights and ideas on best practices for Internet marketing.”
About Wired Island
Wired Island is the leading full-service marketing agency in the Turks & Caicos Islands, offering award-winning graphic design, advertising, public relations, Web/interactive and event marketing services. Wired Island’s background is steeped in innovation, creativity, and high technology - experience it uses to effectively target customers and drive sales on a worldwide basis. The firm takes a strategic, results-focused approach to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Turks & Caicos-based businesses. It leverages its local knowledge and presence to deliver effective programs and world class customer support to a broad range of clients in the tourism, travel, hospitality, real estate, retail, non-profit and government sectors. Wired Island’s clients include the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, as well as many other public and private sector businesses and organizations. More information can be found at www.wiredislandtci.com.
About POWERi Technologies
POWERi Technologies is an interactive marketing and digital public relations firm offering clients an integrated set of strategy, technology, and creative services. The agency combines interactive rich media technologies with captivating creative design to deliver dynamic solutions that help clients build and maintain high-value relationships with their customers. The firm also specializes in new media, servicing clients with innovative technologies in the field of social media, blogging, podcasting and online media relations. Learn more at www.POWERi.com.
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AGENDA
May 29, 2008 at The Regent Palms
SESSION I : If You Build It, Will They Come?
1:00 – 2:15PM
Websites and Search Engine Optimization & Marketing
Now that you’ve built your website, how will you ensure that your customers will find you on the Internet?
- Build Effective Website Content
- Search Engine Barriers
- Website Structure
- Content Layout Strategies
- International Search
- Develop Keyword Plans
- How the Keyword Game Works
- What NOT to do
- What TO do
- Measure Where Your Website Visitors Are Coming From
- Easy to Use Tools
- What To Look For
- What The Data Means
- Enjoy Your success!
SESSION II : ONLINE MARKETING: Getting clients through your digital door
2:30 – 3:30PM
Email Marketing and E-Postcards
Learn how to create and implement an effective permission-based email marketing campaign. Develop high resolution online marketing collateral that drive your brand and visibility. Create memorable interactive campaigns that create buzz and grows your reputation with the click of a mouse.
Digital Public Relations
What is the difference between social media and an SEO Press Release? Greater visibility and improved reputation to a global customer base. Discover how a well placed media story online can elevate your company’s profile to a world wide base of unique visitors. Learn how to leverage online tools such as web 2.0, SEO press releases, E-pitch pages, E-press kits and online press rooms to your advantage.
Paid Internet Advertising
The Internet offers a variety of paid adverting opportunities that are more cost effective and measurable than other media. Pay per Click (PPC) programs such as Google Ad Sense can be highly effective in increasing web site traffic. We’ll explore the pros and cons of banners ads, sponsorships, travel sites and newsletters such as TravelZoo and Sherman’s, and other ways you can pay to increase your visibility on-line.
Reaching Global Clients
Tap into foreign markets via online strategies. The emergence of the Chinese Outbound Tourism market is expected to top 280 billion dollars in the next decade. Where does your company and business stand in this new market reality? Learn how to attract this new target audience by catering to their tastes and cultural demands.
Filled with real life case studies, our workshop explains step-by step how to succeed in the virtual marketplace and how to improve you're online bottom line. Our informative and interactive workshops cover everything you'll ever need to know to be highly competitive on the internet by utilizing search engines, travel sites, global marketing, email marketing and digital public relations campaigns.
SESSION III : Increasing Revenue with a "Click"
3:45 – 5.00PM
Distribution Channel Revenue Management and Reservations Systems
Revenue management is quickly becoming the determining factor between maximizing healthy business profits and anemic sales in the hotel & tourism industry. Find out how leveraging web-based applications can boost your sales beyond your dreams.
- Developing an Effective Revenue Management Strategy
- Predicting demand
- Impact Calculator of new hotel product on your demand
- Incorporating user based content web sites into the revenue management strategy
- Aligning Sales and Revenue Management
- Increasing your online visibility to small groups that book online
- Displacement analyses that consider revenue to all profit centers
- Maximizing presence on online RFP sites and instant RFPs
- Developing an Effective Distribution Strategy
- Using RSS feeds and other Web 2.0 based tools
- Building communities of clients and potential clients into an effective CRM strategy
- Managing the online presence of the property
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