Copy the link to learn more on our site: http://www.mdgadvertising.com/blog/vacationing-the-social-media-way-infographic/ - Social media’s increasing influence on our daily lives has rapidly extended into the ways we get away. From planning a vacation with social media to posting reviews of our trips upon our return, there’s no denying social media’s impact on travel today. To demonstrate how more and more people are using social media and mobile technology throughout their vacations, MDG Advertising developed the following informative infographic. The infographic opens by showing how 52 percent of travelers use social media to find vacation inspiration, with 29 percent of respondents flocking to Facebook for travel planning ideas, followed by 14 percent getting inspired by TripAdvisor’s vacation- planning insight. People are also making mobile technology into virtual travel agents as approximately one-quarter of respondents used their smartphones and mobile devices for comparing airfare prices, as well as checking flight schedules, finding phone numbers for travel resources, and researching airport information. Once the trip has been booked, more than half of travelers jump on Facebook to announce their upcoming vacation status and “like” pages related to their getaways. Next, the infographic explains how an abundance of Americans take social media along on their vacations. In fact, research shows that 74 percent of social media users check their social sites and 72 percent of adults are likely to use their mobile devices during their trips. Travelers have multiple uses for their mobile devices throughout their getaways, with a full 68 percent using them to stay in contact and almost half of vacationers using them to take pictures and schedule wake-up times. They also use their mobile devices to make reservations, get directions, check online reviews, and translate languages. Once the vacation is over, many travelers return to social media to report on their experiences. The infographic indicates that 46 social media users post hotel reviews and 40 percent write restaurant and activity reviews on social sites. Forget scrapbooks and slideshows, today’s tech-savvy travelers share their memories online, with 76 percent of social media users posting their photos on social networks. It’s easy to see how digital technology has transformed the way we travel, from planning a trip with social media to taking mobile along for the stay and then using social to share vacation memories. To learn more about the power of social media marketing for travel and vacation planning, contact MDG Advertising today at 561-338-7797 or visit http://www.mdgadvertising.com.

1. by: @MDGadvertising
H E SO C IAL M E D IA WAY
VACATI O N I NG T
How Travelers Use Social Media and Mobile Technology Before, During, and After a Vacation
Social media and smartphones have disrupted a host of industries, and travel is no exception.
Social sites and mobile tech have changed the way the average American prepares for, participates
in, and recovers from a vacation. Here’s what today’s tech-optimized vacation looks like.
PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF
Finding Inspiration Through Social Media
Travelers can find vacation inspiration in most places, but social media is
growing to be a top source.
Top Sites for Vacation Inspiration
29%
14%
6%
4%
Percentages reflect portion of those taking a summer
use social media for
52% summer vacation inspiration.
vacation who plan to use each site for inspiration according
to a survey by Allianz Global.
Planning and Booking the Getaway on Mobile
Mobile devices are quickly becoming pocket travel agents. ComScore reports that
between December 2011 and February 2012, 51 percent of smartphone users
accessed flight and/or hotel content, with 4 in 5 users accessing both.
Top Mobile Flight-Related Activities while Planning a Trip Top Mobile Hotel-Related
Activities while Planning a Trip
Checked airfare prices. Looked up hotel address or directions.
26%
29%
Looked up a phone number (e.g., airline).
25% Researched things to do at the destination.
23%
Checked flight schedules.
25% Read a hotel review.
Researched airport information. 22%
24% Compared hotel prices and availability.
Received price alerts for flights. 21%
19%
Booked a hotel room.
Booked a flight. 18%
18%
Received price alerts for hotels.
18%
Building Excitement through Facebook
Once a trip is booked, social media users turn to Facebook to post about
their upcoming trip and find more information about their destination.
52% “liked” a page 59% posted a status
specific to an upcoming vacation. about an upcoming vacation.
BON VOYAGE!
Mobile Use Changing Flyers’ Habits
According to TripAdvisor, the percentage of travelers using their mobile
devices to check flight status or check in for a flight nearly doubled over
the last year.
Travelers Using a Mobile Device Travelers Using a Mobile Device
to Check Flight Status to Check In for a Flight
30% 50% 17% 30%
2011 2012 2011 2012
Americans Stay Social while on Vacation A Rising Tide of Mobile Use while Traveling
According to a Marriott survey of 1,000 consumers, American travelers According to a global Frommer’s Unlimited survey of 1,700 people, between
can’t seem to take a vacation from social media while they’re traveling. 2010 and 2011 the percentage of those likely to use their mobile devices
while traveling jumped from 27 percent to more than half of all adults.
Among traveling social media users Adults Likely to Use Mobile Devices while Traveling
18-to-34-Year-Old Adults 72%
All Adults 52%
74% use social media
while on vacation 27% use it the
same amount
A Variety of Mobile Travel Uses
Armed with a smartphone, tech-savvy travelers perform a number of tasks for
information, reference, or entertainment.
Top Ways Travelers Use Mobile Devices on Vacation
68% 48% 46% 30% 25%
Keep in touch. Take pictures Schedule wake-up Make reservations. Find directions
or video. times. to attractions.
Other Ways Travelers Use Mobile on Vacation
Look up reviews Translate languages Play games Calculate tips
for local businesses
BACK TO THE GRIND
Vacation in Review Sharing Vacation Memories
Once travelers are back from their trips and settling back into their daily Gone are the days of in-person vacation slide shows. Social
routines, Lab42 reports that many social media users take time to write media users post their vacation photos online for friends and
and post reviews about their experiences. family to see instantly.
After returning from a vacation … After returning from a vacation …
46% post hotel reviews.
55%
40% post activity
or attraction reviews.
“like” Facebook pages
specific to a vacation.
76%
post vacation photos to a
social network.
40% post restaurant reviews.
mdgadvertising.com
SOURCES: MARRIOTT, TRIPADVISOR, FROMMER’S UNLIMITED, COMSCORE, ALLIANZ GLOBAL ASSISTANCE USA twitter: @MDGadvertising