Jeffrey Yen

🛫🌍Betting against Google is probably not a good idea, but do you know how many companies have tried (and failed) to “solve” trip planning?  Someone much smarter than me once suggested that the reason companies have failed time and time again in this pursuit is because it is a problem that the end user does not want to solve.  Stated differently, people enjoy the “escapism” of trip planning. Nevertheless, Google Gemini now promises to make trip planning a breeze by organizing your travels more efficiently and reducing the stress of planning your next adventure.  For more, check out this article from CNET written by Bella Czajkowski. Let me know your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/e2MCcCXu #TravelSmart #GoogleGemini #TripPlanning #TravelTech #StressFreeTravel

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The unique attribute of San Francisco that resonates most with visitors is... Our paradoxical summer weather. Let me set the scene: It's August. The rest of the country is melting. In SF? We're bundled up in puffer jackets. Why it's pure SF magic: 1. Microclimates on steroids → Shorts weather just minutes outside the city → Layers are our love language 2. Fog as a cultural icon → We named him Karl. He's basically a celebrity. 3. Summer fashion, SF edition → Puffer jackets in July? Totally normal. 4. Natural air conditioning → Who needs AC when you have ocean breeze? 5. Conversation starter → "It's summer everywhere else, but..." We are leaning into this on social media. And people love it. The proof is in the posts. Since June, our "Only in SF" weather content has racked up: - 3.3M impressions - 2.5M video views - 23K average reach per post Lesson learned: Sometimes, your biggest quirk is your biggest asset. Remember, in SF, we don't tan. We layer. What's the biggest quirk of your destination or hometown? --- If this content resonates, repost ♻️ this to your network.

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Looks like Karl the Fog rolled in and temporarily obscured our first post. But hey, if our city can reinvent itself, so can we! Take 2, action! I'm incredibly proud to share the "Heart of the City" video series. 7 neighborhoods, 7 films, 1 love letter to San Francisco. This project wouldn't have been possible without our amazing team: - Lynn Bruni-Perkins, CDME: Unwavering leadership support - Tyler Cohn: MVP from strategy to launch. The glue of this project. - Charles Rubinoff: Invaluable on-location and editing insights - Louis Raphael: Crafted a stunning digital home for the series - Aaron Danzig: Look out for all our social content - Maddie Pratt: Kept our content marketing machine running smoothly - Brenton Gieser and Estevan Padilla (LvL Films): You both went above and beyond as our filmmaking partners And let's not forget the real stars of this show: the San Franciscans who opened their doors and hearts to us. Nearly two dozen locals who didn't just tell their stories but lived them right in front of our cameras. Their honesty, their love, their unwavering belief in SF's magic – that's what makes this project truly special. These folks remind us why San Francisco isn't just another dot on the map. It's a living, breathing, one-of-a-kind place that keeps reinventing itself while never losing its soul. --- If you still believe in the magic of San Francisco, repost ♻️ this to your network.

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I chatted with Josiah Mackenzie earlier today, and he posed a question. "Why do you love promoting San Francisco?" While I've been asked this question countless times, Josiah's inquiry made me reflect in a new light. Here's what I realized: I've always had an innate curiosity, the kind that drives me to seek out new experiences and share them with others. Whether discovering an exciting event, trying out a new restaurant, or exploring a new exhibition, I've always been the friend, rallying people together to create lasting memories. In marketing San Francisco, I get to channel this curiosity every day. San Francisco, with its ever-changing landscape and vibrant energy, offers endless opportunities for discovery. There's always something happening, something worth exploring. I get to be that friend who's looking for something cool to do every day, and it's such a privilege to do what we do. I imagine other destination marketers feel the same way. We work in such a special industry. Jump if you have the chance to join a destination marketing organization like San Francisco Travel Association.

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The most common misconception in the destination marketing industry is something my mom asked me almost 14 years ago. "Do you work for the city of San Francisco?" Nope, San Francisco Travel Association is a private, not-for-profit, 501(c)6, with a close relationship with city hall. We couldn't do our job without our close ties. In fact, most DMOs are structured this way. "So then, how are you funded?" Our primary funding source is through an assessment called the Tourism Improvement District. This is what it's called in San Francisco (it can go by different names in other cities). "What's that?" If you ever stayed at a hotel, you'll notice a small percentage added (1 - 3%) at the bottom of your bill. This is in addition to the hotel occupancy tax that a city collects and it directly funds our organization and the convention center. Once again, most DMOs in California (not all) are funded this way. "How do you increase your budget?" Two primary ways that are not easy: - Increase your hotel supply (build more hotel rooms) - Increase your average daily rate (ADR) Now you know. What's the most common misconception in your industry?

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If a “transformative experience” requires experiences that are both personally and epistemically transformative, should we continue to hyper-fixate on traveler’s past preferences and planning and booking decisions?   I can’t tell you how many times I hear or read about a hospitality or tourism company or platform talking about how to better understand and predict a consumer’s (the traveler) needs and desires by tracking and accessing their past trips and choices.   If they tend to go on family trips, continue to push family-friendly destinations to them, if they have searched for guided hiking tours before, then continue to push guided hiking tours to them for future trips, or if they have booked their trips 6 months in advanced previous times, continue to target them 6 months in advance for their next trips.   What isn’t considered here is the fact that we are human beings who continue to evolve throughout our months, years, and lifetime. We are a different person every time that we travel. Sometimes we are feeling overwhelmed, at times we crave more connection, then we might need time alone, next we are traveling for business, then we are going through grief and experienced a traumatic life event or the loss of a pet or a loved one, next we are reaching burnout and need to destress, and now we may be needing quality time with our partner….and it goes on. This means that our wants, needs, desires, and aspirations continue to evolve.   It’s no doubt that the travel industry is shifting towards a direction of more meaning and purpose with concepts like “transformative travel”, “responsible travel”, “intentional travel”, and even wellness travel continuing to take over the media headlines.   Just like any industry will evolve, the travel industry is destined to continue to evolve as well but into one with even more purpose, personalization, and heart. We will only go forward with this human-centric approach, not backwards, with these shifts.   My questions are, how will hospitality and tourism companies alter how they get to know consumers on a deeper and more personal individual level in the future if generalizing a traveler’s past preferences and decisions isn’t as effective for predicting future choices? If tourism marketing fundamentally changes from how it always was, what will it look like in this new age of hyper-personalized and transformative experiences?   This thought came to mind while reading a post by Joe Pine where he shared his findings and perspective of Laurie Ann Paul’s philosophy on transformative experiences. Dr. Paul is a professor of philosophy and cognitive science at Yale University and the author of the philosophical book titled “Transformative Experience”.  See the excerpt below. #transformativetravel #futureoftravel #travelexperiences #transformation

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Today, I want to address something that doesn’t get enough attention—the fear of unemployability in a fast-changing world. On LinkedIn, there are two types of posts: • The fist-pumping, “everything is awesome” moments. • The more vulnerable ones, where people are looking for new opportunities or ways to up-skill. This post is about the latter. It came up during a conversation this morning over matcha with Paul Soon —someone I look up to for his leadership in both marketing and personal fitness. (Side note: Paul, we forgot to snap a picture!) ➡️ The Fear of Being Left Behind ⬅️ With Gen Z, Alpha, and AI flooding the market, the fear of being left behind is real. It’s something many don’t openly discuss, but the possibility of becoming “unemployable” one day is a genuine concern. As companies prioritize future-readiness and new tech, how much does experience still matter when we need to quantify everything in dollars and cents? Personally, I was even once labeled the “digital expert” in my teams and even featured in The Straits Times for my work in digital & social media marketing. But today? Everyone is digital-first. So, how do we stay relevant? Here’s What’s Helped Me: ✅ Adapt or Fall Behind I’m constantly learning from my younger colleagues. They bring fresh ideas that challenge the traditional marketing playbook. Sharing knowledge is a privilege, but staying humble and continuing to learn is just as important. And yes, it’s okay to ask “stupid” questions—even if you’re the boss (or the boss’s boss!). Separately, I've always admired Gucci's example of creating a shadow committee of under 30's to shape and counter-check innovation. ✅ Stay Curious, Stay Paranoid (In a Good Way) Never get too comfortable. Keep your curiosity alive, and don’t shy away from getting hands-on. I read 2-3 books a month and subscribe to the likes of Harvard Business Review , WIRED etc . One of my goals for 2025? To network more and push myself out of my introverted comfort zone. ✅ Side Projects Are Not a Bad Thing Whether it’s consulting, side gigs, or weekend hobbies, these projects sharpen your skills. They pull you out of “bureaucrat mode” and keep you connected to the real-world hustle. ✅ Become an AI Operator, Not Just a Consumer AI isn’t just for quick tasks—it’s a tool for ongoing conversations. I use Perplexity AI and ChatGPT Pro for dialogues that challenge my thinking. If you’re only using AI to summarize or translate, you’re missing out on 99% of its potential. 👀 Final Thoughts: The playing field is constantly being reset, and staying relevant means embracing vulnerability, curiosity, and collaboration. If you share this mindset, let’s connect. It’s tough out there, but it gets a little easier when we grow and learn together right? HMU if you’re interested in brainstorming or collaborating.

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Success isn't one-size-fits-all. Let me share what it means to me. It's about impact through building. Here's what drives me: → Creating solutions that matter → Solving complex problems → Connecting puzzle pieces → Driving meaningful results → Making positive change Success comes alive when your work aligns with: - Business objectives - Community impact - Personal fulfillment The heart of it lies in: - Work that challenges your mind - Projects that spark creativity - Results that make a difference This is my definition. Simple. Clear. Purposeful. What drives your definition of success? --- If this content resonates, repost ♻️ this to your network.

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I once bombed a presentation so badly, I thought my career was over. (I still remember coming off stage, defeated, whispering into a hot mic, "Yeah, it wasn't my best day.) Fast forward 13 years: I'm now presenting regularly. The difference? A rock-solid pre-game routine. Your presentation day can make or break your career trajectory. My battle-tested routine to crush it: 1. Early rise, no compromise → Set 3 alarms. No snooze allowed. (Who am I kidding? I wake up before all of them anyway) 2. Power breakfast → Protein-packed. Fuel your mind. 3. Outfit check → Lay it out the night before. No last-minute panic. 4. Travel buffer → Aim to arrive early. Google Maps texts you when you need to leave. 5. Room recon → Scout the space. Visualize success. 6. Tech run → Test ALL equipment. Twice. 7. Breathing exercises → 4-7-8 technique. Calm those nerves. 8. Final run-through → One last practice. In the mirror. 9. Hydrate → Water is your ally. And caffeine is my friend too. 10. Power pose → 2 minutes. Feel like a superhero. Preparation breeds confidence. Confidence breeds success. Public speaking is hard. Everyone knows it. Everyone wants you to succeed. What's your pre-presentation ritual?

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Experience This! Travel Experience This! Travel show #41 is out and it's a good one. Our guests were Mitra Sorrells, Editor, PhocusWire and Madison Rifkin, CEO and Founder, Mount and the topic was mostly about the recent changes at Airbnb Experiences. And of course, Lori Timony and Christian Watts were on-board as well. The big news, of course, is that they are removing 5000 experiences from their platform. And the way they did it, sending emails to experience creators, giving them two weeks notice and just cancelling trips that are already booked taking place after June 30 has really rubbed most of us in the industry in the wrong way. But the fact is, there are a lot of other ways these experience creators can sell their tours and activities, for example Mount represents a new kind of distribution partner connecting experience creators with vacation rental hosts. Check out the show to hear how Mount works. The other, bigger news, is Airbnb's announcement about Icons. Here's their announcement: Airbnb is introducing Icons, a new category of extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, sports, and more. Icons let you step into worlds you’ve only ever dreamed of. Drift off in the Up house. Spend the night in the Ferrari Museum. Hang out with Kevin Hart. Today, we’re unveiling the first 11 Icons on Airbnb, with new experiences dropping around the world throughout the year. “Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination—until now,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. “As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth.” Interestingly, most of the Icons will be available for free and the rest will go for less than $100 per guest, said Airbnb. Airbnb plans to make 4,000 tickets to these Icons available in 2024. Listen to the show to hear why they're doing this, but in short, it's all about collecting user data and building the "Solar System" that is part of Airbnb's go forward strategy. You have to give them select information about yourself to have a chance to win one of the Icon experiences. I was interested so I gave them more than a dozen data points about me. Now Airbnb knows what kind of music I like, what sports I play, that I have dogs, etc... It will be interesting to see how this changes the properties they show me when I search for a place to stay or for an experience (if they still have enough experiences on the platform!) Their new Group Functionality is similar. They want to start collecting user data from everyone in the booking, not just the person making the booking. Sound familiar? Enjoy! Full show linked in the first comment.

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Recently, I received feedback - not all of it glowing, but all of it valuable. I see feedback as a treasure, even when it's tough to hear. Instead of closing off, I deployed a simple method to make the most of the critique. 1. I listened with full attention. 2. I echoed what was shared to ensure I understood. 3. I asked for more details or confirmation if needed. 4. I expressed my grasp of the situation. 5. I expressed gratitude for their time and thoughts. Interestingly, this approach doesn't involve judging whether the feedback is good or bad. That's not the aim here. Feedback is not just beneficial for the receiver, but also for the person providing it. It's an opportunity for their voice to be heard. As the recipient, it's my role to listen, be receptive to change, and long for more feedback in the future. Remember, feedback is a two-way street - a dialogue, not a monologue. Embrace it, grow from it, and keep the communication lines open.

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**Public Service Announcement** Carlos Almendros is ready to bring the #Glennergy to GBTA | Global Business Travel Association... In his own words: ---- "I am excited to share my candidacy for a seat Director-at-Large (Direct Member) on the Board of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) I am however amongst some excellent candidates which can be viewed here: https://lnkd.in/engUtSAD Learn more and hear more about me. https://lnkd.in/eC2YJPBy As a Long term GBTA Member and technology evangelist, I am looking to bring the art of innovation to the GBTA board and its members. I believe now more than ever we are set to achieve amazing things for our industry. As we look to the future, we need to ask ourselves some important questions. What are we looking for GBTA to prioritise? How do we align both Buyers and Suppliers on this exciting journey and lastly how do we leverage GBTA to achieve success. I’d like to invite you all on a transformation journey and if elected I’ll represent your buyer voice to bring this to life - Using modern retailing in our travel programmes is here, its ready. - Embracing transformative technologies will encourage new talent to our industry. - Bringing sustainable solutions will need us all to work together and use technology. - AI is coming whether we like it or not. Lets embrace the opportunity to improve our traveller, company and our experience. - Relationships are changing, let’s bring people together. With over 25+ years of industry knowledge, I believe if elected that I would relish the opportunity to serve YOU, our members in the coming years. It will be a process of listening, learning, and evolving with the Association, and most importantly, you, our travel community. I promise to continue this mission by being your global voice, so that we can “Innovate TOGETHER with purpose” May 24 – Voting Opens June 25 – Voting Closes Look out for an email from GBTA Elections. #GBTA #GBTAELECTIONS2024 #Community #Learning #Advocacy ----- #InnovateWithPurpose #SustainabilityIsForEveryone #LaSostenibilidadEsParaTodos #EmissionTransition #EmissionReduction #LowestLogicalEmission #LLE #AirlineSustainabilityBenchmarking #BusinessTravel #CorporateTravel #TravelDecarbonisation #TravelTransition #JourneysThatMatter #DiscoverTheAlternative #OneFCM #ItIsTimeForGreenTravel #SustainabilityIsMoreThanCarbon #LaSostenibilidadEsMasQueElCarbono #VoteCarlos

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ATPCO Elevate + TravelConnect 2024 in Washington, DC showcased PROS Offer & Order on the main stage during a panel discussion on #OffersandOrders. Here are our top 3 key insights from today's panel: ✨Value-Driven Retailing: The transition to modern airline retailing should prioritize adding value, offering customers more choices and flexibility. Ultimately, what benefits the customer also benefits the airline. ✨ Customer-Centric Focus: Airlines have traditionally been very process-centric and this needs to shift to customer-centric. This requires collaboration across value-chain partners. ✨ Standards for Innovation: Standards and collaboration are necessary for communication and lay a foundation for innovative advancements in the industry. Learn more about PROS Offer and Order Management here: http://ms.spr.ly/6043cfNAD #ModernAirlineRetailing #AirlineRetailing #CustomerExperience #Innovation #PROSai #ATPCOElevate #TravelConnect #PROS #PROSatATPCO24 #ETC24

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We're continuing our broadcast streak. 🎤 Today I'm on AZ Family chatting millennial and Gen Z travel trends, what annoys travelers most this year (in one emoji: 🦶🏼), and of course, the latest benefits of the Faye app. 📲 Take a watch 👇🏼 https://lnkd.in/g86FSWTD #travel #traveltrends

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I've found that the best networking comes by... Saying yes to all speaking engagements. PowerPoint, panel, or even a TED Talk- it doesn't matter. I get it; presenting is hard. Yeah, so is networking. I'd rather spend hours researching, learning, experimenting, or executing campaigns that become case studies. Then spend hours thinking of different ways to engage in small talk. The best part about saying yes to speaking engagements? The rewarding post-presentation interactions. People are often eager to seek you out, sparking valuable connections and conversations. What’s your favorite networking hack?

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Ah, yes, for travel/leisure/”bleisure” part of the journey-itinerary-vacation is getting from Point A to Point B to Point C, and beyond. A good Skift article spotlighting an interview with Noam Toister, CEO of Travelier discussing the less talked about – yet very large $157B and critical -- travel sector of ground and sea transportation of buses, ferries, trains, and private cars. And the opportunities to elevate these via digital means, including but not limited to integrating further into the OTA’s. As I work in the leisure and experiential travel segment, this statement particularly stood out for me: "[via this sector’s large digitization gaps/opportunities] Destinations will benefit not only from increased tourism but also from a more distributed visitor load that moves traffic away from overcrowded cities and into more remote, lesser-known areas.” #travel #leisure #transportation #digital #transformation #ono #PragShah

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🌟 Millennials: The Driving Force in U.S. Hospitality 🌟 In 2024, Millennials (ages 26-41) emerged as the largest segment of hotel guests in the U.S., accounting for an estimated 45-55% of total demand. 🧳 This dynamic group prioritizes: ✅ Tech-Enhanced Guest Experiences 🛎️ ✅ Wellness-Focused Stays 🧘‍♂️ ✅ Upscale Accommodations ✨ 66% of travelers aged 25-34 are drawn to health-conscious options like alcohol-free stays and unique, value-aligned experiences. 🍃 With their passion for technology and convenience, Millennials demand AI-driven solutions that elevate their stay. That’s where Open CX comes in! 🚀 Our platform empowers hotels to: ✔️ Deliver personalized recommendations and offers. ✔️ Ensure 24/7 AI-powered guest support. ✔️ Optimize pricing and promotions for maximum ROI. ✔️ Create a seamless, future-ready guest journey Millennials love. 💡 Future-proof your hotel business by aligning with Millennial preferences. Open CX is your gateway to the next-gen hospitality experience. #OpenCXAI #HospitalityInnovation #MillennialsTravel #GuestExperience #SmartHotels #BusinessGrowth #CustomerExperience #Personalization #MarketingAutomation #Chatbots #OmnichannelStrategy #SalesOptimization #InticoAI Oscar E Gomez Raul G. Alexandre Fialho Correa Keba Amadou SOW Samuel Henostroza

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Why is GetYourGuide stopping with digital product? GYG's product page, booking funnel and confirmation email are not built to support digital products. To give one example, on the confirmation email there is a massive banner to download the GYG app (a key objective for them) causing costumers to think they can access the product from THAT app and not downloading the supplier product. This prompts high % of client to contact Costumer Care complaining. NPS score drops, cost per booking increases and they end up loosing money on these products. It’s important to note that they will keep selling combos and packages with digital products so only pure digital is excluded from the platform which leaves lots of opportunities for collaborations between tour operators and digital product creators. The good news? End of last year we’ve launched www.cityfans.com. A digital-first platform built entirely for self guided, city-games and innovative city exploration products. Following a 6 months pilot phase in Amsterdam (with solid results) we are now expending to 10 cities by August and will be in 50 cities worldwide by 2025. This will be a gamechanger for digital products and create a clear path to market allowing more suppliers and better products enter the market. Get in touch to know more!

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Excited to see research shedding light on the growing issue of rental fraud within our sector. For years, as the CEO of I-PRAC I've emphasized the importance of tackling this problem. The Airbnb certification process, once questioned, is now under scrutiny. Fraud remains a significant challenge, driving the need for solutions like I-PRAC on a global scale. Collaboration with IAFCI to enhance fraud prevention is on the horizon. It's prime time to be I-PRAC certified, showcasing trustworthiness in the industry. Thanks ShortTermRentalz and Paul Stevens for covertibg this news Let's stay tuned for developments: [Link to the article here] 🌐 #RentalFraud #FraudPrevention #TrustedProvider Neely Khan

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