So – we are short before launching iAlps – a summer-iPhone-app for Austria. It will be less succesful because winter-holiday is still more popular in Austria, but it will be worth the (little) money we invest in it.

But another question occurs: is it really the job of an DMO to develop mobile apps? Like Reinhard Lanner posted: For iPhone Users it is much more convenient to use apps user already know, have used and know the interface instead of download an app for each country/DMO I am visiting with different way of information and navigation.

The same question already occured in running travel communities of a destination like Austria. We tried (www.coolaustria.com) – and failed. Some others still go on (www.communityofsweden.com , http://reisetips.visitnorway.com) but up to my opinion there is no future for DMO’s to step into tripadvisors or wayns biz modell.

And I have a similar opinion about dmo-applications: most of them wont work. Yes, DMO’s will fail and misinvest a lot of time and money in developing mobile activities! The only way to avoid this is if the mobile activities focus consequently to support the user’s needs during the travel planning process. I mean it is necessary to clearly focus on potential guests and online(iphone)user who already made the decision of a destination, who already are in detail-planning of their trip. Here there is a chance for DMO’s to succeed. Why? Because a lot of people don’t want to rely an commercial sites and prefer and trust “official” ones.

Conclusion: It is a DMO job to edit current and relevant content of a destination AND to aggregate relevant content of a DMO from other content providers like online media, hotels, travel guides, UGC and so on. The way to syndicate the content is the next step. Propably it is also via mobile apps. But first this relevant content of a destination has to be aggregated on the DMO-website, then it has to be shared via own communication channels like newsletters, twitter, FB-fanpages, Digg or del.icio.us bookmarks, then via distribution partners (f.e. tripadvisor, holiday check and so on offers DMO’s to place their content on their sites – for free!)and “not least but last (!)” it is the mobile sector which is a channel for distribution of DMO-content.

Yes, I agree totally that innovation should be encouraged. The App Store is full of mediocre or worse travel Apps, and the sooner the quality improves the sooner consumers will benefit and the sooner developers will be able to make more dosh.

After reading the comments on the other post I went and downloaded the Amsterdam Mobile Guide — it’s an excellent product and excels in many of the points where the above failed. It’s probably one of the best destination apps I’ve come across so far.

Cheers

Do you really want to scroll through 400 restaurants to find somewhere to eat? Or through 200 sights to find a funpark? It doesn’t even appear to have the facility to categorise by foodtype or sight. There’s a lot to be said for the role of a filter. I don’t want a list of everything — I want a list of the best of everything.

Secondly, the app is useless without a network connection. I assume tourists from other countries are one of the target markets — they can look forward to some Hefty roaming bills.

Thirdly, boring lists and thumbnail pics do not get me inspired — at all.

Lastly, it is very slow — though that could be down to my internet connection.

Frankly this is a very mediocre app. Surely there are better ones out there to illustrate what a good DMO app can provide?

Likewise it is in the mobile space. With further innovations such as (my company) Discover Anywhere Mobile’s social media extensions – allowing the visitor to directly communicate with DMO, DMO partners and perhaps even other visitors – we can now have DMO-apps provide function that can’t be by generic apps. I expect there’ll be a lot more similar and surprising innovation over the next 2 to 3 years in the space.

I’ll note that that’s not to preclude repurposing the data onto other mobile apps, though there may be a host of issues involved with this too (Layar pulled from App Store).

First of all full disclosure: our company QuickMobile specializes in mobile in particular iPhone application design and delivery.

Most mobile app developers fail to capitalize on the real power of mobile and over-simplify the context of mobile. The classic mistake – “it’s the web in the palm of your hand” the first approach we often experience.

The web is fundamentally different – it is a vast conglomeration of content and ideas – the mobile is a private personal communications channel. Hence personalization and relevance is a key driver in mobile as the constrained UI necessitates efficiency of design, navigation and content.

In the early days of the web the websites were “Brochure ware” – this is also typical of in these early days of mobile applications – where is the interactivity or transactions or user-generated content.

Our 2010 Sundance Film Festival iPhone app (just launched today!) includes connections to social networks and user-generated content to engage visitors – this feature among others is very applicable for DMOs looking to connect with their visitors.

2) If a traveller uses mobile devices when he goes to Vancouver, Seattle, Vienna, Paris “some might even visit our Lammertal Valley ” why should she/he learn how to use 4,5 and more different Applications?
Would they not rather stay on 2-3 preferred Applications like Tripwolf, Qype or similar and use them for information?

If so, should DMOs rather invest in managing the content on the existing plattforms than investing resources in a Destination Apps?

It’s a marketing game where we undressed Peter to dressed John or it’s a game were we developp globaly the travel market share or new market share with this new channels?

Does anybody have some data about it?

best

Claude

I think the key to designing a successful mobile solution for travel and tourism is put yourself in the shoes of visitor at 3 distinct stages: Before, During, After the visit to the given destination.

To insure the application is “sticky” and actually used by the visitor it needs to specific value at each stage:

Before: Where should I stay with respect to the destination’s hot spots? What’s the contact information for places that need far in advance reservations?

During: What events are going on this week? Where can I find a specific product or service (e.g., sushi, coffee, playground, train station, dry cleaner, winery tour) What deals & special offers are available? What’s around me right now? What will be around me after I finish with my activity this afternoon on the other side of town? What’s the weather, traffic, snow report?

After: I want to share my favorite spots with others who are going to same destination or write a review, What events are coming up so should I return?

It is also important to ensure your mobile solution has something in it for all 3 stakeholders:

1) Keeping the visitor happy with fresh, quick, and useful information

2) Helping industry partners get the visibility they need to drive real-time business

3) Enabling the DMO meet their mission of promoting the destination, yet ensuring cost sustainability of the solution with revenue opportunities through optional advertising.

When developing these types of applications, we have the opportunity to market a product, an experience and an intangible feeling; we should always keep in mind that the visual experience and feedback are at the heart of it all.

To my colleagues in B.C., at least you guys have jumped in and developed an app – I wish we could say the same! Congrats on being one of the first. Maybe we should talk about a phase 2 and work conjointly on a more experiential app?

Emmanuelle Legault (emmanuelleMTL)
Tourisme Montréal

Great topic Stephen

Jonah

1) The right mix of content, including UGC / reviews
2) social tools to share it all
3) booking functionality to reserve accommodation, restaurants and local services

What I’m seeing today is the situation you describe, a growing number of solutions all done separate from each other with the resulting drawbacks you describe using the Tripwolf vs. Near Me BC app. This situation is not making it easier for the customer but rather just more complex. What is required in my opinion is – at the risk of sounding like a broken record – more cooperation between the start-up innovators and DMOs at all levels. Unless that happens, I’m afraid we’ll just get more and more apps, all solving part of the problem rather than offering truly useful and relevant overall solutions.

Jonah

Broadly speaking, I agree with Stephen’s comments (especially with regards to “look”), adding additionally

You shouldn’t need to “choose a location” to get to topics/categories – “I want to eat” is a more fundamental visitor activity that “I plan to be in Kamloops someday”. In fact, I believe that the whole concept of “named places as a method of organization” is a holdover from printed material thinking. With an iPhone app, the information you’re presented should be entirely fluid, based on either where you are or an attraction you’re interested in.

There needs to be an events calendar – visitors want to do stuff!

There has to be some consideration to the fact that not only do US visitors actually have to pay for data (making live data downloading potentially expensive), but requiring a network connection may not be idea for tourists outside of major centres. Put your iPhone in Airplane Mode and try to use the app.

And in the nitpicking category, once you’ve chosen a location, you can’t get back to the top level to choose a different place without leaving the app!

You shouldn’t have to leave the app to go the “Hello BC” site, and if they really do have to make you leave it, they should bring you back to the page you were at.

Despite the negatives, mobile applications are exactly what DMOs should be doing and this is a good start. The question here – and I guess only a visitor can really answer this – is is this app compelling enough that they’ll click on it when they want to do something in BC.