Travel web design company Netizen is the latest to join the travel industry’s enthusiasm for Google Earth and has developed a fully integrated system for its customers. The first client to snap up the tool is the First Choice-owned Adventurecompany.co.uk, which has incorporated a feed into Google Earth that allows users to browse its range…
Netizen builds Google Earth feed
Travel web design company Netizen is the latest to join the travel industry’s enthusiasm for Google Earth and has developed a fully integrated system for its customers.
The first client to snap up the tool is the First Choice-owned Adventurecompany.co.uk, which has incorporated a feed into Google Earth that allows users to browse its range of tours on the Google Earth map and access content and photographs.
Users can also choose from a list of the operator’s tours from within the existing Google Earth menus.
Netizen market development manager Fiona Canavan said: “Research has shown that consumers will leave a travel website very quickly if they do not find what they are looking for. So what better way to promote your products than through a useful and engaging, visual preview of your tour or holiday location?”
The drive to incorporate the massively popular Google Earth product has seen a string of travel-related companies launch similar tools.
Thomson.co.uk and more recently Cosmos both allow users to find destinations and products on Google Earth.
Meanwhile, Adventurecompany.co.uk has also unveiled what is believed to be one of the first live instant messaging systems installed on a UK travel agent’s website.
The system has been created to allow users to enter into a chat room-style function if questions arise while they are browsing the site.
The adventure holiday specialist’s sales team, which will field all user enquiries, will also have the ability the “take hold” of a user’s display in order to direct them to a specific part of the website.
Adventurecompany.co.uk marketing executive and webmaster Keith Lavender said: “We are getting better technology on the site, which means the more the functionality we have the easier it is for the consumer to make up their minds.”
