Its nearly time for the launch of our new project. So here are a few screen shots to wet the appetite ;-)

The new site will use the latest AJAX to provide the richest experience available on the Internet today.

Users will be able to fine tune their search criteria and see the results in REAL TIME.

Operators will be able to showcase their services.

Customers will be able to join in on a dedicated social network especially for the motorcoach industry.

iPhone and Google Android applications are coming shortly

If you want to find out more – come and speak to me at the ABA or the UMA conferences over the next couple of weeks.
Eamonn

We will be announcing our new website on the 11st January 2010 – so watch this space

Click on the image to zoom in.

The “Conversations Among Consumers” survey, which drew on the responses of 1,000 online shoppers, found that while 46 percent of e-shoppers find value in product recommendations from their friends, 47 percent look to onsite customer reviews when making a decision.

-Manage Smarter, September 2009

So consumers are now looking farther afield for their product / service reviews.

What are your customers saying about you online?  On you on top of it?  Do you have a properly thought out online strategy which covers Social Networking etc..

Eamonn is going to be at the UMA Motor Coach Expo in Las Vegas during February 2010.  If your at the expo and want to talk – contact Eamonn and arrange to meet up.

Eamonn Hughes

Eamonn from Travelmanager will be at the American Bus Marketplace in January 2010.

If you want to speak to him then come visit at our Booth (39) between Jan 15th and Jan 19th

We have an important update to the profile buider within TravelManager currently under development.

(click on the image to expand)

As you can see from the screenshot above. We have a new fleet tab and a rates tab. All of this data will be available through our API so Operators will be able to enter in all of their information into the solution to promote their fleet rates across the internet. Imagine being able to control your pricing across multiple websites through 1 simple to use interface.

You will be able to choose who and where your information is used – so you will be in full control of YOUR data.

You will also be able to use this data to generate real-time pricing both internally and online.

More information and screenshots over the coming weeks….

Any good businessman already knows the power of word of mouth but do they really understand how valuable it is and how more valuable it becomes in the Internet age?

Friends still play an really important role in influencing consumers. Eighty-three percent of online shoppers said they are interested in sharing information about their purchases with people they know, while 74 percent are influenced by the opinions of others in their decision to buy the product in the first place.

- Manage Smarter, September 2009

and

A March 2009 study by Knowledge Networks, for example, found that between 10% and 24% of US social media users turned to social networks when making purchase decisions about various categories of products and services.

- eMarketer, October 2009

So in the age of Social Network – your customers are already talking about it – even if you cant see it.  You need to get out there are talk to them.  Build your brand. Build your network. Build your circle of influence.

After all – are we not all consumers? Don’t we ask our friends for advice on products / services that we are looking at purchasing? Why should your customers be any different?

We believe you should be able to get your products and services out to the widest audience possible. Thats why TravelManager has launched the first of many niche websites servicing the local community. Bus Charter New York ( http://www.buscharter-new-york.com/ ) provides the richest set of information on bus and motor coach operators in the New York area.

Searching for a reputable motor coach company becomes childs play:

Rich multimedia results mean the best companies can really shine and the customer can appreciate what makes that company stand out from the crowd. Motorcoach operators can upload photographs, videos and detailed information about their business.

We think this and the other members of the Bus Charter America Network will prove a hit with customers and provide operators with a valuable resource in which to display their wares.

Imagine being able to cross sell your tours with other operators! Or being able to have affiliates and resellers selling tours on your behalf.

We’ll you wont need to imagine for long as we are currently working on a tours aggregator where you can pick and mix tours from your network of friends and sell tours on their behalf.

So selling tours to France from the USA will be quick and easy, likewise selling pan-european tours through Asia wil be a click or two away.

More information on this coming soon!