Do you have something you think we’d be interested in knowing about? Add #TBEX to your tweets or Facebook posts and we’ll take a look. We’ll share the best of what we find each week here on the blog.
Here’s what we’re reading this week:
About PR, Sales & Marketing
- U.S. hotel industry’s occupancy was up 4.8 percent to 52.6 percent in y-o-y results – U.S. Hotel occupancy is on the rise. Read original article here: U.S. hotel industry’s occupancy was up 4.8 percent to 52.6 percent in y-o-y results
- As lines between advertising and news blur, what’s a PR pro to do? – The lines between advertising and PR continue to blur, and it’s not just on blogs. Read original article here: As lines between advertising and news blur, what’s a PR pro to do?
- Finding Eureka: The Inspiration Behind America’s Best Travel Campaigns – The inspiration behind “I Love New York,” “Pure Michigan,” and “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas.” Read original article here: Finding Eureka: The Inspiration Behind America’s Best Travel Campaigns
- Hack Your Email Growth Rate with This List-Building Tool – Working on building your emai list was an item on many New Year’s resolution lists. Here’s some good info to help you reach your list goals. Read original article here: Hack Your Email Growth Rate with This List-Building Tool
- Hooray! A small but nimble UK chain plays the OTAs at their own game – Read how one UK hotel chain is upping its conversion rate and increasing revenue. Read original article here: Hooray! A small but nimble UK chain plays the OTAs at their own game
- Inside South Korea’s Big Tourism Pitch – South Korea has launched a maor push to develop infrastructure and attract more tourism. Can blogger trips be far behind? Read original article here: Inside South Korea’s Big Tourism Pitch
About Social Media
- Shocase aims to be a social network for PR and marketing pros – A new social network launches for PR and marketing professionals. Do you think this niche network will get traction? Read original article here: Shocase aims to be a social network for PR and marketing pros
- The Definitive List of Social Media Acronyms and Abbreviations, Defined – Business acronyms, social media abbreviations, and urban slang can all get confusing. You may find this searchble list helpful when you come across some letters that you don’t recognize. There’s a fun quiz, too. We missed one. Read original article here: The Definitive List of Social Media Acronyms and Abbreviations, Defined
- Data Insights from Top Travel Brands’ Twitter Contests – Data that talks about the return on travel contests, helping to establish that often elusive ROI. Read original article here: Data Insights from Top Travel Brands’ Twitter Contests
- 20 Social Media Books Website Owners Should Be Reading In 2015 – A nice listing of books to read, suitable for anyone running a website, online businesses, or business using social media to support it. Read original article here: 20 Social Media Books Website Owners Should Be Reading In 2015
- 7 Reasons to Use Emoticons in Your Writing and Social Media, According to Science – Turns out there is science that backs up the effect of using emoticons in your w!riting and on social media. Who knew? Read original article here: 7 Reasons to Use Emoticons in Your Writing and Social Media, According to Science
About Technology
- How to Use Slack and Why Your Business Needs It – Slack recently debuted as a simplified project management and communication tool for teams. Are you using it? We’d love to know what you think. Here’s one example of how a small team is using it. Read original article here: How to Use Slack and Why Your Business Needs It
- The 12 Best New Travel Products From CES 2015 – For the gadget lovers in our community, here’s a review of travel product from CES. Is there anything you are looking at longingly? Read original article here: The 12 Best New Travel Products From CES 2015
About Travel
- Traveling to Europe is about to get a whole lot cheaper – Travel to Europe is looking a whole lot cheaper than it was last year. This is great news (for Americans) about the US dollar to Euro valuation. Read original article here: Traveling to Europe is about to get a whole lot cheaper
- NatGeoTravel Staff Bucket List: 2015 – If you’re looking for travel inspiration, you can find some here. Read original article here: @NatGeoTravel Staff Bucket List: 2015
- How to Score the Best Airfare – Turns out those recommendations about the best time to buy airline tickets are an urban myth. So when is the best time to buy? Read original article here: How to Score the Best Airfare
- The Town of Castellfollit de la Roca in Girona, Catalonia – Gary gives us a peek at one of the many small towns in the Costa Brava area of Catalunya, Spain. Read original article here: The Town of Castellfollit de la Roca in Girona, Catalonia
- 20 Reasons to Never Leave Home Without Duct Tape – Duct tape can make a Macgyver of out any traveler? Do you travel with it? What other uses have you found? Read original article here: 20 Reasons to Never Leave Home Without Duct Tape
- Life’s a Trip, then you have a Double Mastectomy – Our thoughts and good wishes go our to our community member Leah, as she follows through on a tough medical decision. Read original article here: Life’s a Trip, then you have a Double Mastectomy