Part seven of “The Transformers: The Movie”, in which strange new worlds are explored, and horrific deeds are revealed.

* Hot Rod rescues Kup.
* Ultra Magnus’s shuttle crashes on Junk.
* First appearance of the Sharkticons and Wheelie.
* First appearance of the Quintessons.
* First appearance of Wreck-Gar.

Duration : 0:8:31

Technorati Tags: G1, Galvatron, hot, Magnus, matrix, Megatron, movie, Optimus, Prime, Rod, Rodimus, transformers, Ultra, Unicron

Discover Japan, culture and activities with this video brought to you by Best Destination Travel TV channel (www.BestDestination.com), travel guides and travel directory by Travelindex Network (www.travelindex.com).

Duration : 0:4:21

Technorati Tags: japan, narita, sumo, sun, Tokio, tokyo, Tourism, toyota, Travel

Iran – Travel and Tourism. Discover it with this video brought to you by Best Destination Travel TV channel (www.BestDestination.com), travel guides and travel directory by Travelindex Network (www.Travelindex.com).

Duration : 0:5:41

Technorati Tags: civilization, iran, persia, teheran, tehran, Tourism, Travel

Vintage Trailer Photos

Duration : 0:4:11

Technorati Tags: airstream, camper, midwest, owoso, rally, rv, scotty, shasta, spartan, teardrop, trailer, Travel, vintage

I interviewed Richard Maddrell, who works in the tourism industry. If someone has a day to spare in Sydney, Richard suggested taking a harbour cruise, and visiting the fish market.

Duration : 0:3:48

Technorati Tags: australia, fish, harbour, local, market, meet, overlandertv, sydney, Travel

When you schedule a vacation, you have two main options – booking everything yourself or working with a travel agent. Although many think that they can save money if they do the work solo, you can often get special deals if you work with a travel agent. However, keep in mind that your vacation can be much improved if you ask the right questions. Here are the top questions you should ask your travel agent while making vacation arrangements:

Question #1: Can I get a better deal if I travel on different dates?

If your vacation time is somewhat flexible, you might be able to get a better deal. Originally, your travel agent will put together a package based on the exact departure and return dates your give him or her. However, if that total price still seems a bit high to you, inquire about changing your dates of travel, even if it is only by a day or two. You can usually get a better deal on flights, for example, if you travel on off-peak days, which are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Hotels may have similar mid-week rates, and some tourist attractions even have different rates for weekdays rather than weekends. Before you cut your vacation short, ask about moving the entire schedule by a day or two – you might be pleasantly surprised at the recalculated price.

Question #2: Are the tickets refundable?

When you work with a Travel agent, you will probably be booking your vacation months in advance. In that time, circumstances in your life can change. But often your tickets are not refundable if you choose to cancel the trip, nor can they be exchanged if you want to alter some details of your vacation plans. Sometimes, even if the airlines, hotels, etc. allow you to change or cancel, your travel agent requires a cancellation fee for the time she put into planning your vacation. Make sure you discuss these potential charges before you begin working together. Also, if reservations can be exchanged, note whether deadlines are from the date of ticket issue or the date of travel. Policies vary from company to company.

Question #3: How much is your fee?

It is not impolite to ask about the surcharges. While you may feel weird asking upfront about money, this is the best way to find a travel agent who will stick to your budget while still getting you a great vacation. If Travel Agent A charges 10% while Travel Agent B charges just 5%, you will get a much nicer $5,000 vacation with the second agent because less of your total budget is being paid for fees. Also, it is important to review pricing policies before you start working together so that you are both clear on your overall budget. If you do not specify that your total budget amount includes the travel agent’s fee, you could find hundreds of dollars tacked onto the end when it is all said and done.

Question #4: Where can I find more information about my destination?

Travel agents will usually give you some brochures and other information about your vacation location. However, if you want to do even more research, ask your travel agent where you can get started. He or she might have some excellent books you can borrow or know other great websites chock full of travel information for people unfamiliar with a particular destination.

Question #5: Do I need a passport or visa?

Laws regarding travel documents are changing all of the time. If you are traveling anywhere outside of the United States, even if it is just through international waters, make sure that you understand what documents or permissions you need to travel legally. Although many travel agents will give you the information you need when you first begin working together, some assume that you are taking care of this yourself. “What do I need to travel to my destination?” should be one of the first questions out of your mouth when booking a vacation and it is a good idea to continuously double check this information, as laws may change. Remember, you should apply for travel documentation at least three months before leaving – and in some cases, even earlier. If you do not have the proper documentation, you will be stuck in the United States, and you likely will not be refunded for the vacation you missed.

Your travel agent should be willing to answer all of the above-listed questions and more. That is their job – making your vacation go as smoothly as possible. When choosing a travel agent, make sure that you find one who is friendly, knowledgeable, and able to answer whatever questions you might have about your vacation and travel plans.

Lisa Parker
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/ask-your-travel-agent-these-questions-626812.html

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The Development and Structure of a Marketing Plan: Towards the Development of Marketing Strategies

1. The Situation Analysis

In the planning process there are steps that must be taken prior to the development of the marketing strategies; the first one is conducting a situation analysis. A situation analysis is “the overall process of collecting and interpreting internal, competitive and environmental information.” It presents a summary of these environments and summarizes the company’s current marketing objectives and performance in the market. Through the situation analysis business is provided with a systematic way of viewing marketing activities by analysing the customer, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) in relation to the competition. The situation analysis according to Gartrell includes internal, external and customer analyses, also known as the product, position, and prospect analyses.

The product analysis includes a review of the current objectives, strategies, and company performance. Product capabilities are examined as well as the limitations of the tourist product. The whole destination and its facilities are examined to determine what is there to be offered to the potential traveller. This analysis eliminates poor performance since through this the marketing goals and objectives are reassessed in order to determine their effectiveness.

Second is the position analysis, which addresses issues such as how the destination is “perceived” by the market, an analysis of the strength and weakness and how these can be compared to the threats and opportunities in the external environment, as well as the previous success of the destination shown in statistical reports. Also, the position of the destination in relation to the marketplace, the competitors’ products, services and their position in the market are examined. Position is important, since marketing strategies are developed based on the kind of image that the company expects to maintain in the eyes of the customer.

Next is the prospect analysis also known as the customer analysis, which involves the selection of the best target markets, likely to increase the usage of the destination’s products and services. In this analysis factors like potential demand in certain markets, the criteria for selecting the competition, emerging markets, and what political, social and economical factor may influence the markets are examined.

It must be noted that one of the major steps for conducting the situation analysis is the collection of research. Research is pertinent because it is the tool that allows the organisation to become aware of the customer needs, wants and preferences. Marketing research “monitors and evaluates marketing actions and performance, and communicates the findings and implications to management”. Its importance is even more highlighted since it allows for the collection of the necessary data and information to conduct a thorough prospect analysis. In an effort to thoroughly collect accurate and up-to-date data and information from the external environment, an organisation should also have strong marketing intelligence. Marketing intelligence includes “everyday information about developments in the marketing environment that helps managers prepare and adjust marketing plans and short-run tactics.”

Besides, the product, position and prospect analyses, Gartrell speaks of a fourth, known as the promotional analysis, which examines the image of the destination in comparison to the competition and the allocation of resources of the two destinations. The bureau’s marketing budget, sales material and marketing programs are also compared to that of the competition.

On completion of the situation analysis, this information is fed into the SWOT analysis, which provides a framework for viewing the company’s actual strategic position and developing appropriate marketing strategies. When performed correctly, “it can be especially useful in uncovering strategic advantages that can be leveraged in the firm’s marketing strategy”.

2. Program Planning: Development of Marketing Objectives and Strategies

After analysing the information presented in the situation analysis, the next step is to develop effective marketing strategies and in order to do so, marketing objectives must be developed first. This step is a very vital part of marketing planning because without set objectives the marketer is unable to “measure their success in fulfilling the marketing strategy”.

Marketing objectives according to Malcolm H.B McDonald are generally concerned with the 4P’s. Therefore, marketing objectives should be set for each one of these variables of the 4P’s and then the most effective strategies or means of achieving the marketing objectives should be developed for each variable of the marketing mix.

The first variable, “product”, focuses on developing the right product and satisfying the needs of the target market. A product is “anything that can be offered to a market for attention, acquisition, use, or consumption that might satisfy a want or need. It includes physical objects, services, places, organisations, and ideas.” In the tourism industry, the product is “intangible, variable, inseparable and perishable”. The product is more of an experience put together in a package.

The “place” element on the other hand, refers to the channel distribution. It is imperative that a product be available to the customer and in order to do so there must be a channel of distribution that will bring the customer to the product as opposed to taking the product to the customer. This channel usually consists of “travel agents; tour wholesalers; specialists; hotel representatives; national, state and local tourist agencies; the global distribution systems; the internet; and concierges”. They must be very knowledgeable about the destination because they represent the main source of information for the tourists.

In order for a traveller to know of product offerings of a destination and make the decision to travel to that destination, continuous communication with present and potential travellers is necessary. On developing effective communication strategies, the target audience must be understood and the most important communication channels for this audience must be known. Secondly, communication objectives must be developed. The response sought from the target market must be identified through objectives.

It is believed that since the tourist product is intangible and cannot be tested beforehand, promotion “acts as the product as far as the potential tourist or leisure consumer is concerned” since through this, the customer receives a mental image of the destination, as its experiences are promoted. Images are portrayed through advertising and promotion as the only means of pushing the potential tourist to make a purchase decision. Therefore in tourism marketing heavy interest is placed on the promotional efforts of the bureau.

Ferrell & Hartline make reference to the classic AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) model, which sets the basis for the development of the communication or promotional objectives. The model holds that the first goal of the communication campaign is to attract the attention of the target audience. Interest in the product must then be built through telling the customer about the components of the product. If the product matches the needs of the customer, desire for the product is stimulated, which pushes the customer toward actually purchasing the package.

After setting the communication goals, the product must be shown to the target audience and the ways to do so are as follows:

1) Advertising – This refers to the use of information to “persuade consumers to take a desired action toward a particular product”. The main purpose of the advertising plan is to ultimately increase profits and sales for the company and also “to provide information that will change consumers’ mental and behavioral responses in a manner favored by the advertiser”. When setting advertising objectives, the overall marketing objectives must be used as a base.

2) Public Relations – This refers to “the process by which we create a positive image and customer preference through third party endorsements.” The major activities of public relations include, press relations, product publicity, corporate communications and counselling.

3) Sales Promotion – This concerns “short-term incentives to encourage the purchase or sales”

Other communication strategy options include travel, trade shows, presentations, non-print media advertising, familiarisation tours, event hosting, site inspections, cooperative advertising and direct sales. In sum, for each communication medium selected, measurable objectives and detailed strategies must be developed.

The final variable of the marketing mix is price. Price refers to that of the overall package that has been put together for the market and includes issues like Car Rentals, hotel rates, transportation rates and possibly air fare.

3. Implementation

After the marketing strategies have been developed the programmes must be coordinated in an effort to achieve the plan’s goals and meet its objectives. Timing is a vital factor of consideration during the implementation stage. It “affects the placement of advertising and the degree of impact the marketing effort will have on the targeted market”.

Evaluating Marketing Strategy Effectiveness

4. Evaluation

After careful planning and implementation of the marketing strategies, they must be evaluated in order to determine how successful they have been in achieving the expected or projected. The strategies must be thoroughly examined so that appropriate adjustments may be made. Should marketing strategies prove to be ineffective, the redevelopment of objectives and or new positioning strategies may be necessary.

During the evaluation process the firm “tracks results and monitors new developments in the environment”. Constant changes in the environment might also force the marketer to adjust the marketing strategies in order to better attract the traveller.

Gartrell states that in evaluating marketing strategies employed in a marketing plan, first results must be quantifiable. In addition, weekly, quarterly, or monthly results should be used as benchmarks for evaluating the plan’s effectiveness. Besides meeting the objectives of the plan, there are a set of measurement criteria that must be used in order to determine the effectiveness of the programs implemented. These include: “total number of visitors to area, average length of stay, room nights booked / used, total economic impact and the total room-nights”.

In addition, other measurements known as process variables like: “number of trade/Travel shows attended, number of prospects/leads, quantity of brochures distributed, consumer reaction to brochures, number of familiarisation tours, number of participants at familiarisation tourism, number of ads placed, number of travel agents contacted, total number of visitor inquiries, number of direct mail programs, distribution of visitor inquiries, number of media kits mailed, number of editorial inches in publications and total number of direct mail pieces distributed.

Undoubtedly, in order to make marketing programs a success, large funds must be invested into the communication strategies plan. This is why Gartrell highlights that for bureaus, “return on the investment” is yet another variable for measuring the success of marketing programs. The best way then to measure effectiveness is to examine the end result of the marketing campaign by using indicators of success generated by a plan, like “visitor expenditures, economic impact assessment and tourism employment”.

Simon Kirby and Mark Richardson from the University of Central England mention that measuring effectiveness in marketing, calls for an analysis of the effectiveness “of each element of the marketing communication mix…”

The communication mix as mentioned, involves communication vehicles such as advertising, public relations and sales promotion activities. In order to evaluate advertising effectiveness, since Nylen believes that advertising leads to sales, tourist arrivals in this case, then the more advertising done the more “sales” there should be. Therefore, increased tourist arrivals can be used as a measurement of advertising effectiveness. Since print or broadcast media can also be part of the advertising plan, Nylen adds that although the impact of this kind of advertising might be difficult, it is still pertinent to set “expected performance levels that can serve as evaluation standards”.

It is also believed that the effectiveness of the promotional tools in the communication mix also varies with the stages of the “Tourism Area Life Cycle” (TALC). In other words, at certain stages of the TALC certain communication strategies will naturally be ineffective. With the TALC, it is believed that the tourist destination, “moves from evolution through involvement, development, consolidation before reaching stagnation”. In other words, during the introduction stage, advertising and sales promotion are extremely pertinent in creating an extremely high level of awareness. In the growth stage on the other hand, advertising and public relations are to remain considerably high, while slightly decreasing personal selling. Next is the mature stage, during which sales promotion is again of great importance as compared with advertising. In the last stage, known as the decline stage, sales promotions must be kept strong and “advertising is kept at a remind level”. Managers and marketers must therefore be aware of which stage they are at in the tourism product life cycle when developing communication strategies, in order to be more competitive and improve the sustainability of the industry.

Clearly, companies have control over the development of effective marketing strategies, but as mentioned, in other instances, the external environment literally weakens this control. The external environment of marketing consists of the microenvironment and the macro-environment. The microenvironment is that part of the external environment which directly influences the organisation. The macro environment on the other hand, “refers to the broad environment outside an organization’s industry and market. It is generally beyond the influence of the individual organization” as it contains technological, economical, environmental and political influences that “affect the level and patterns of demand” for prodcuts.

Vicki L. Olton
http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/how-to-develop-an-effective-destination-marketing-plan-85464.html

Technorati Tags: blog, Travel, travel articles

Car rental in Rajasthan, the largest state of India, is must for those travellers who want to explore all the deserving destinations & attractions of the state. There are number of vehicle renting agencies, also termed as car rental Rajasthan or Rajasthan car rental, in the state offering large fleet of cars and vehicles on rent like luxury cars, standard cars, premium cars, deluxe cars, deluxe coaches, luxury coaches, Jeeps, semi-deluxe coaches, semi-luxury vehicles, etc. Travellers can choose on of vehicle of their own choice and make a delightful drive into the fascinating state of Rajasthan, India. Exploring deserving destinations and attractions of tourist interest in Rajasthan with a rent car in the state can be delightful experience of lifetime. Vehicle rental in the state provides travellers a comfortable and convenient ways to explore all the major fascinating destination of the state.

Almost all cites and places of tourist interest in the state are well connected by excellent road transportation network. And travellers can explore destinations of the state with a car drive in more and more convenient ways. A reputed vehicle rental agency in the state provides travellers wonderful opportunities to travel deserving destinations of the state with chauffeur driven cars or vehicles. Generally, chauffeurs from such agencies are well qualified and able to communicate in English with travellers. Such chauffeurs also work as guide for travellers because they have good understanding and knowledge about fascinating destinations and attractions of the state. It travellers are good drivers they can also enjoy car drive in the state by driving themselves. Making a drive into the picturesque landscapes of the state would be simply a delightful experience.

Car rental agencies in Rajasthan provide citywise vehicle rental services in the state. They provide vehicle hiring in almost all the major cities of the state. It is advisable for travellers if they want to hire a vehicle in the Rajasthan, they should hire a local vehicle rental agency. For example, travellers want to explore the attractions of Kota (in and around); they should hire a car from one of reputed Kota car rental agencies. Similarly, if travellers want to explore beautiful landscapes in and around Udaipur City, they should hire a vehicle from one of car rental Udaipur based agencies. Hiring a car from local vehicle rental agencies would be more convenient ways to explore the historic cities of the state.

There are several vehicle rental agencies in the state which also offer weekend tour packages, city tour packages, and hotel booking services in Rajasthan despite car rental services in Rajasthan, India.

So, need wheels on your next trip in Rajasthan, the royal state of India? Renting a car from anyone of Rajasthan car rental agencies can give you freedom and flexibility when you are travelling. It would be delightful experience of lifetime to explore the deserving destinations and attractions of the state with a car drive. But before hiring a car or vehicle from one of reputed vehicle rental agencies you should think carefully what kind of vehicle you will need.

Rajesh Kumar
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/car-rental-in-rajasthan-ensuring-travellers-wonderful-Travel-experience-755702.html

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With planning, foresight and a little bit of hard work, you can go ahead and have that dream vacation the economical way. Here’s how:

*Search the internet, call airline agencies and watch the news to keep yourself up to date on discounts. There are a lot of promotional fares offered by airline companies that are new in the industry.

*When you do Travel a lot, sign up for frequent flier miles.

*Ask about student fares or senior citizen discounts.

*Keep a flexible travel schedule. Go with the flow. If the promo states that they only give discounts every Tuesdays, then set your departure on Tuesday. Generally, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the days that have fewer reservations, so it in on these days that tickets are sold cheap. Monday is usually the busiest day of the week.

* Do not go ahead and make reservations to the first airline company you see with promotions. Take the time to source out a variety of options. Take the time to find out if the promotion is indeed the cheapest in your area. Ask the clerk about other offers available. When checking through the internet, make sure you check at least five sites before you decide where to buy your tickets.

*You can have the option of purchasing tickets trough consolidators. These are people who buy a whole block of tickets and resell them at certain discounts. This helps the airline fill up still available seats. The travel section of the newspaper is the place to check for ticket consolidators.

*Try flying on off peak hours schedule. Usually if you take the before seven in the morning flight or the after seven in the evening flight, tickets are at their cheapest. This too, will be a wise decision since it is at these times that airlines are not overcrowded, thus getting more space for yourself and your luggage.

*Be sure to inquire if the airline offers travel packages. Some airlines do offer packages such as car rental discount or a hotel room discount that comes with the travel ticket.

* When you are flying off season, be very sure to ask about certain standby fares.

*Have an early booking. Promotions are usually offered when one reserves a ticket three weeks beforehand. Remember that due to over crowding during the holidays, you may not use your frequent flier miles. So book in advance if you plan to travel during the holidays.

*Staying with only one airline on your entire trip may too, give you discounts. Airlines offer special rates to round trip tickets or connecting flights.

Have a safe trip and enjoy!

James Yee
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/how-to-get-cheap-travel-tickets-113611.html

Technorati Tags: blog, Travel, travel articles

Air Travel:  Why You Should Research Airlines and How to Do So

No matter when or why you need to book an airline flight, you’re going to need to know just what your options are.  Whether you’re flying to a vacation destination, a business meeting, a family gathering, or to move to a new city doesn’t really matter.  What does matter is finding the flight which will get you to your destination as safely, cheaply, and quickly as possible.  You may, however, feel somewhat overwhelmed when you realize how many airlines promise to do exactly that.

How can you sort through the different airlines, different departure and arrival times, and different fares to find the flight which is really the best option for you?  You’ll have to set your priorities.  For many of us our choice of flights is dictated by either their departure or arrival time, because we rely on other people to get us to or pick us up at the airports.  For a nervous flier, however, the most important detail may be to find the shortest possible flight.  A nervous flier may also be concerned about a certain airline’s safety record.  For many people, however, flight choices are simply a matter of economy, and the lowest fare will win

If you’re in the unique position of finding several airlines with flights which meet all your specification, then it’s time to put your research skills to work.  Adequately researching your airline is the first step to ensuring that your flight is merely the delightful opening act of a great trip.  Research is especially important it you’ll be flying with your kids, because traveling with small children can require a good deal of flexibility and a flight crew with extra patience.

Find out which of the airlines on your list of possible have reputations as family-friendly carriers.  How well prepared are they for assisting the elderly or disabled?  Flying is stressful enough without your having to deal with a flight crew who regards you and your family as problems instead of as valued customers!

Begin your research by asking your relatives and acquaintances about their experiences with different airlines.  Did they have problems with their baggage or seating?  If their flights were delayed, were the reasons explained?  If they missed connecting flights because of those delays, did the airline provide them with other connections or with overnight accommodations if necessary?  How did the crew get along with the kids on their flights? Most importantly, would they fly the same airline again?

You can also turn to the Internet in your search for information.  There are plenty of travel sites where the public is free to post their travel stories, and you’ll have no trouble finding their complaints and compliments regarding different air carriers.  You can also check travel and consumer review magazines for their airline ratings.  They are great places to get unbiased opinions on the pluses and minuses of traveling with different airlines.

Review consumer reporting agencies for complaints if you have doubts about a specific airline.  Simply run a Google search with the keyword complaint and the name of the airline and you’ll find links to whatever is out there.

There’s no reason why you should grab a ticket on the first airline you find which has service to your destination.  You’ve put lots of thought into your trip, and you deserve to put the same among of thought into the sort of experience you’ll have on the flight which gets you where you’re going and returns you home again!

Remember to book your flight at http://www.myroadtotravel.com

Tim Roseland
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/air-travel-why-you-should-research-airlines-and-how-to-do-so-738514.html

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