Travel marketing refers to the strategies that hotels, airlines, and other hospitality-oriented enterprises use to advertise their brands. This methodology is used to promote the business by increasing reservations and other forms of the portfolio. However, due to the trend of carrying out this aspect online, many establishments have been accused of exaggerating their levels by having low-standard products and services contrary to what they post online (Vidal, 2019). For example, while a guest is reviewing hotels near a given tourist attraction in TripAdvisor, they may see photos of a nice hotel with appealing ambiance in terms of banqueting, conferencing, and food and beverage service. However, on the ground, it may be different and end up frustrating the client and make the tourism experience a disappointment.
This project proposal covers the travel marketing issues such as the rationale for the theme, the core angles and questions that the project intends to answer, and the media outline in regards to the research done by the study. Through the project, the audience will know what is travel marketing, the effects and trends associated with the issue, and contemporary issues in regards to travel marketing in the tourism industry.
Rationale
This topic is necessary to cover because it enables the audience to have an understanding of elements that comprise travel marketing. It enables the reader to be aware of the challenges associated with the matter and the major trends that contribute to the adoption of the idea in major hospitality destinations in Canada. After the project, anyone willing to travel around the world will be enlightened about how to avoid being overambitious before visiting a place, and the significance of travel marketing in Canada.
Questions/Angles
1. What involves travel marketing?
2. Why travel marketing has been a key challenge in the tourism industry in Canada?
3. Can travel marketing be changed to better the experience at major hospitality destinations in Canada?
Core angles
1. The adoption of travel marketing in social media in Canada.
2. Travel marketing as a key advertising element for major tourist attractions in Canada.
Media Outline
Figure 1: Illustration on marketing hotel accommodation services using travel websites
This project derives its major premises from articles that have been written online in regards to hotel travel marketing insights. In 2018, ASA was critical about the nature of advertising for services and products that may not exactly exist for given hospitality outlets. Some of the issues that the text has involved marketers misleading photos as shown in figure 1 above, quoting inaccurate prices to lure customers among other issues (ASA, 2018). This text is important as it enables the proposal to have a foundation of issues associated with travel marketing. For instance, many hotels and airlines have conspired to have inadequate availability of facilities as shown in the online platforms.
While interviewing Mr. Rodgers Albert, a conferencing manager at Costal Hotel in British Columbia, the project proposal learned that many online adverts and images uploaded may be incorrect because facilities may have lower standard amenities or outdated levels of service. Thus, through listening and holding information by Mr. Albert, the piece is important as a guide towards presenting information on how travel marketing has been surrounded by deceptive controversial issues.
An editor’s review on travel industry issues by Jesse Ashlock on May 19, 2021 talks about the resilience of travel marketing that is evident in modern-day hospitality sections. The editor notes that one way to entice guests is to advertise through online posting of the hotel portfolio. This shows travel marketing through social media as an issue that may spike reactions especially on the authenticity of the content (Ashlock, 2021). An investigative video about the destination traveling by CBS News Agency highlights instances where hospitality outlets may use appealing photos to draw attention for more reservations by guests (CBS, 2021). Thus, it shows the audience that travels marketing may be a subject that may be technical and that needs to be thoroughly explored to make a sustainable tourism business.