EyeforTravel ( www.eyefortravel.com/ ) research has found that 48 percent of hotel companies and 62 percent of airlines plan to increase their budget for mobile in 2012.
According to Google, the number of mobile users researching travel via their mobile device in the US is expected to grow 51 percent in 2012. It's, therefore, no wonder that many travel brands have decided to act fast to position themselves to take advantage of the ability to target customers on the move and not risk leaving them to find their competitors.
Deciding where to invest in mobile for maximum return is a major challenge right now for e-commerce and product development directors. It is a costly decision and there are numerous pitfalls to avoid.
"We're seeing numerous brands in the industry launch mobile apps without even considering to also offer a mobile-friendly website. It's important that travel brands understand the wider picture when it comes to mobile and that they realize just how important this channel will be in the near future," said Gina Baillie, GM, EyeforTravel Ltd.
EyeforTravel is seeking to reward those brands who are investing intelligently in mobile right now and paving the way for the rest of the industry to follow.
"As an industry, we are already falling behind in the mobile space. Those brands that are risking their valuable time and resources now, are helping to drive through mobile innovation across the industry, and in our view deserve to be rewarded," continued Baillie.
EyeforTravel's first Mobile Innovation in Travel Awards ( https://events.eyefortravel.com/mobile/awards.php ) will take place in San Francisco, March 5, and sees numerous travel brands put forward their mobile apps, websites, and overall mobile strategies.
The nomination stage is now closed. Online voting is now active until Monday February 20. The industry is invited to vote for their favorite initiative at: https://events.eyefortravel.com/mobile/vote.php . The awards will be held as part of EyeforTravel's Mobile Strategies for Travel conference, March 5-6, an event which is co-located with EyeforTravel's popular Social Media Strategies for Travel conference (now in its 5th successful year).
For all event inquiries please contact: Gina Baillie, GM, EyeforTravel Ltd., London, UK: +44 (0)207 375 7197, US Toll Free: 1 800 814 3459 ext. 7197, Email: gina@eyefortravel.com .
MEDIA CONTACT: Jamie Keenan, International Marketing Coordinator, EyeforTravel, t: +44 (0)207 3757163, e: jamie@eyefortravel.com , Linkedin: Jamie Keenan
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
