我希望支持任何一个网站的开通，除非他们与我竞争，在这种情况下，我会尊敬地认可他们，但可能不会帮助他们那么多（我不是一个慈善机构）。事实上我不会跟竞争对手讲那么多——最后一次是在旅行技术展（伦敦，2月），站在我附近的一个人认为，我正在破坏旅游经营商预订系统的底价。呃，是的，这是计划。对此非常抱歉。我们的系统在08年6月的前两天比整个07年12月的预订还多。我们正在做的工作也不是太差。
但是，嘿，你阅读此博客不是想听我唠叨自己的公司的（尽管我保留每月一次这样做的权利！）……所以，来谈谈其他人的公司吧。
Offbeat Guides
博客搜索引擎Technorati的创始人David Sifry成立了一间基于个性化旅游指南原理的新公司。
你知道的，我可以在这里写一个很棒的评审——这系统看起来不错。但坦白说，我看不到要点。Techcrunch曾写过概述（这里看概述），我讨厌只是换种说法重复别人写过的东西。
一句话，原理是，顾客在支付了25美元和提交一些有关他们即将进行的旅程的信息之后，通过联邦快递收到印刷册子，内容包含所有的目的地信息——如显示他们酒店的地图、活动、餐馆评论等。
我喜欢这主意，但随之而来有一个疑问：我不敢保证消费者会单独、直接购买这些东西——当然，有部分人会。但如果想获得广泛的覆盖率会很困难。旅游的差异性很大，某一个市场无法涵盖。
不过，如果这些构成了消费者与他们预订的旅游公司之间交易的一部分，消费者绝对会购买的——例如航空公司，空中下载技术，旅游经营商等。
我知道，个性化指南的概念是很受欢迎的——事实上，我管理着一对引导英国旅游公司的“机票预订”项目。这些动态印制的小册子包含临行信息、在机场使用的优惠券、航班信息、（在目的地）会见和迎接信息等……这些项目不便宜，无法实施，基本没有印刷厂能够印制手册上的个性化文档……。但它们的确为附带销售提供了惊人的机会。我有保密责任，如平常一样，这是我所能说的极限。
是的Alex，但你的观点是什么？
不管怎样，我想指出的一点是，当新的网站开始进入旅游行业，它们往往直奔消费者。
现在我相当确信，这是一个战略错误。像Offbeat Guides那样的即时收入市场是由已经存在的旅游公司带来的——而不是在建立直接对消费者销售之中。我知道这些“机票预订”项目价值几何。Offbeat Guides用小部分的成本就能基本上复制下来——这使它能够负担许多较小和中型的旅游公司。
我向David Sifry（Offbeat guides总裁）提出这一点，他回答说，他们对B2B很有兴趣。因此，如果你是一家旅游公司，并且曾研究创作了个性化的临行手册，但因为成本而搁置了——他可能是个交谈的好对象。
原文出处：Musings on travel ecommerce 作者：Alex Bainbridge
原文：
Offbeat Guides should go B2B2C rather than B2C
I have been watching a whole bunch of new web startups in the travel sector that are founded by people from outside the travel industry.
I wish to support any web startup, unless they compete with me, in which case I will respectfully acknowledge them - but probably not help them that much. (I am not a charity!) Actually I don’t talk to competitors that much - the last time was at the Travel Technology Show (London, February) where one who had a nearby stand suggested I was destroying the price point that tour operator reservation systems are sold at…. well yes - that is the plan. Sorry about that. We are not doing too bad a job either, with more bookings going through our system in the first 2 days of June 08 than the entire of December 07.
But, hey, you don’t read this blog to have me witter on about my own stuff (although I reserve the right to do so about once a month!)….. so lets talk about someone else’s company.
Offbeat Guides
David Sifry, founder of blog search engine Technorati, has founded a new company based around the principle of personalised travel guides.
You know what, I could write a great review here….. as it looks like a nice system - but frankly I can’t see the point - as Techcrunch have already written a summary - See Techcrunch summary - and I hate writing posts that just rehashes stuff other people have already written.
In a few words, the principle is that the customer, after handing over 25 USD and a bit of information about their forthcoming trip, receives, via FedEx, a printed book containing all the live destination information - such as maps showing their hotel, events, restaurant reviews etc.
I like the idea…… but there is a big but coming…… I am not sure consumers are going to buy into this as a separate, direct, purchase. Some will of course…. but it may be a struggle to get wide coverage. Travel is just too diverse a market to cover.
However, consumers will absolutely buy into this if it forms part of the transaction with the travel company they are booking through - for example airlines, OTAs, tour operators etc.
I know the concept of a personalised guide is popular - indeed I have project managed a couple of “Ticket book” projects for leading UK travel companies. These dynamically printed booklets contain pre-departure information, coupons to use at airports, flight information, meet & greet information (at the destination) etc… These projects haven’t been cheap to implement as there are few printers who can print personalised documents at volume…. but they do provide amazing opportunities for ancillary sales. That is about as much as I can say as I, as usual, am NDA’d to the hilt.
Yes Alex, but what point are you making?
Anyway, the point I am making, is that often when new web entrants come into the travel industry from outside, they tend to head straight for the consumer.
I am now fairly convinced that this is a strategic error. The market for immediate revenue for someone like Offbeat Guides is with existing travel companies - not in building up direct consumer sales. I know how much these “Ticket book” projects cost….. and Offbeat Guides could basically replicate that at a fraction of the cost - hence make it affordable to many smaller and medium sized travel companies.
I put this point to David Sifry (CEO of Offbeat guides) and he replied that they are very interested in B2B opportunities…….. so if you are a travel company and you have investigated creating personalised pre-departure booklets but discounted the concept as a result of cost….. he is probably a great person to talk to.
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