SoMaFusion :: travelogue

Being at the World Travel Market these days we were quite surprised at not seeing any of the digital comms companies and social media consultants we know from Greece. Our portfolio is obviously very much geared towards hoteliers and tourism when it comes to the Greek market (we have a different concentration in the British market) and many of our clients were at the exhibition so we did have to be there. Obviously it’s not just a client – thing, we were there for a variety of reasons but I’ll let Sofia explain that in another post.

What left me a bit flabbergasted was not seeing some of the best Greek digital comms companies there or any social media consultants- especially since most of them have been planning to work under the National Strategic Reference Framework (the EU structural funds) which would allow agencies to work closely with development projects – like for example e-travel solutions projects and get funding from the EU.

Let me be clear – and a bit blunt. The money is quite a lot. The level of investment that will be made into these projects will be quite significant and we have been following with interest all through the summer what the various Greek agencies have been offering in terms of e-booking solutions, communications and digital development projects. We saw such a high level of interest and services descriptions that it’s a bit of a shame that they were not at the World Travel Market to explore their options and ideas both with Greek hoteliers and travel people and with other countries that partake in the EU programme and where present at the exhibition.

For SoMaFusion, being there and discussing new developments and projects with the people concerned shows an interest and a desire for engagement and learning that is quite valuable. Our aim has always been to understand the need and provide the relevant solution and we find that these events help our understanding. And not only that. Our presence at an event that is key to any travel professionals calendar – especially at a time when the financial crisis has everyone worried – offers an opportunity to discuss within a potential clients’ own context. So we went to them rather than waiting for them to step out of their own market to come to us.

And boy was it useful! It’s quite astounding to see people from all over the world sharing similar concerns about world travel and the new expectations out there when it comes to travel destinations. It’s quite uplifting to realise that it’s not just our existing clients who look ahead and want to plan for a more engaged comms model but a lot more people, seasoned hoteliers from Greece and abroad are interested in what more they can do and how they can adapt new ways of doing things to their existing models.

It all certainly gave me a sense that we are going in the right direction.

Sofia will be writing soon about our upcoming projects with two travel solutions outlets in Northern Crete – their businesses involving travel, accomodation, activities etc. – as well as details of the discussions we had with some travel professionals from various countries.

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