British holiday brand Thomson, one of the largest in the UK, is rolling out a new welcome program designed to acclimate holidaymakers prior to arriving at their destination resort.
Dubbed iAdvisors, Thomson will be using Google+ and Twitter to modernize the holiday experience for their guests. The iAdvisors will be using Google+ Hangouts to welcome guests prior to arriving, and will also be monitoring a dedicated Twitter hashtag in-resort to communicate with guests throughout their stay.
The iAdvisors will have iPads with them at all times while on-resort, allowing them to be available whenever needed.
First up for these "Holiday Hangouts?" Guests arriving at Sensatori Resort Crete in August.
Before they depart for Crete, guests will be invited to the Holiday Hangout to ask their on-site iAdvisor any questions prior to their trip. Anything is game: updates about the weather, what to bring, resort information, excursions and advice on the destination are all expected to be topics of interest.
They will also be able to use #SensatoriCrete to tweet questions to their iAdvisor.
Thomson decided to implement a trial of after research revealed that guests are using social networks pre-trip to meet other travelers and learn about the destination.
Ian Chapman, Director of Holiday Experiences for Thomson, said in a press release:
We’re always looking for innovative and unique ways to deliver the best experience for our customers. What better way to get excited about your holiday than to virtually meet with your Thomson holiday iAdvisor via a Google+ Hangout and have a friendly chat about where you’ll be staying and what you can do while you’re there? You’ll even be able to meet some of the other customers that will be on holiday at the same time as you.
Using Google+ Hangouts and Twitter hashtags is the perfect way to share our team’s outstanding local knowledge and experience, but in a way that appeals to our more tech savvy customers.
If successful, Thomson is planning to roll out the Holiday Hangouts and hashtags across its Sensatori Resorts later this year.