Trending at TwoSix: Videos, TripAdvisor, and Airbnb

This week we bring you the latest news on TripAdvisor and Airbnb, along with some great video examples to inspire your next piece of content. Let’s get started.

Tip of the Week: Don’t overthink it! A 15 second video filmed on your smartphone can drive major engagement.

We see a lot of DMOs place heavy investments in high-quality video. Although we definitely encourage this tactic as a part of a long-term video strategy, we love seeing short, in-the-moment clips…and so does your audience. We have seen quite a few short videos drive serious engagement. What could you film for 15 seconds? Audiences love water, planes, trains, and food, just to name a few things. Your destination is totally capable of producing short videos that excite the world of social media.

Here are some of our favorite examples:
Grand Hotel: https://goo.gl/YcbrhG
Traverse City Tourism: https://goo.gl/hbsyBM
Visit Lake Charles: https://goo.gl/98iLJS

Visit South Bend: https://goo.gl/XgdV7H

Fact of the Week: TripAdvisor users believe a hotel cares about guests when they see Management Responses.

This was one of many staggering statistics we found in a recent TripAdvisor study. In addition to the impact of hotel responses, 83% of TripAdvisor global users will “usually” or “always” reference TripAdvisor reviews before making a booking decision on a hotel. These are two of some of the most noteworthy findings, but there are many more. We encourage you to read the study, because you may gain some insight on ways to leverage this powerful tool. Consequently, you MAY see more “Facts of the Week” from TwoSix Digital regarding this study in the future!

Noteworthy Article: Airbnb’s Tax Deal With Kansas May Be Model for Midwest

Kansas is the 15th state in which Airbnb has statewide tax deals. It seems like these taxes will be treated very similar to hotels’ short-stay bed tax. This statewide model could be used for other Midwest areas. As a result, we may see larger budgets, and the opportunity to market some unique visiting experiences in your destination! Is your DMO prepared for this potential change? Because it could be coming your way next!

TwoSix Client Pic of the Week: Visit Baton Rouge

This week’s TwoSix Client Pic of the Week features Visit Baton Rouge as they prepare for Mardi Gras!

Behind the Scenes at TwoSix: MSU and MPI Kentucky

This week the TwoSix team covered some serious ground between East Lansing and Frankfort, Kentucky! Dave Serino visited Michigan State University to speak to future leaders in tourism about digital marketing plans. Additionally, Brian Matson spoke at the MPI Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter to inspire meeting planners to step up their social media strategies. Learn more about our educational programs if you are interested in TwoSix attending your event!

Thanks for reading! We are always looking for success stories to share with our clients. Are you crushing it with TripAdvisor? Are you one of the 15 states with the Airbnb tax? Has one of your 15 second videos gone viral? Leave a comment on our Facebook, or Tweet us your success story. We would love to hear it.