Travel Q&A resource Guidefabrik enters private beta

…

Guidefabrik, the dynamic question and answer tool for destinations, announced the launch of a private beta service. The site, which allows any destination to quickly set up a customized, evolving resource to answer questions from visitors, is now inviting applications from destination marketing organizations wishing to trial its service at no cost. Applications can be made at guidefabrik.com and are currently being screened for suitability, with preference being given to small and medium-sized DMOs and CVBs, ahead of a wider roll-out of the service later this year.

Features
By setting up their own page at .guidefabrik.com, destinations can easily refer visitors to a single online customer service channel, helping to keep their online presence up-to-date and relevant. The pages allow anybody with a Twitter or Facebook account to ask a question, and anybody with a Twitter or Facebook account to answer one, relying on votes from the community to ensure the best answers rise to the top. Users are automatically notified of new answers to their questions and can share pages easily using Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus to encourage more answers. At the heart of the site are a collection of topics which make it easy for users to find the information they are looking for – recommended topics include Hotels, Restaurants, Entertainment, Tours and Shopping. Using a simple admin panel, clients can easily feature their favourite questions, moderate the ones they’re not so keen on, and set up notifications to make sure they’re on top of things.

Benefits
Guidefabrik allows destinations to take control of what’s being said about them online and to foster a sense of community between their stakeholders – inviting residents and local partners to join the discussion with visitors. This community – and the simple moderation tools available to clients – helps ensure that Guidefabrik always provides the most reliable, up-to-date information for visitors, with a minimal time investment on all sides. Building a comprehensive Guidefabrik resource allows destination marketers to more efficiently handle queries from visitors in a friendly, open manner that encourages further discussion and future visits.

Future
Guidefabrik is currently working with a small number of partners ahead of a wider rollout in Q4 2011. “Today is a major milestone in our quest to offer a new way for destinations to connect with their visitors,” said Guidefabrik co-founder Nicholas Holmes. “We will be working closely with our initial partners to ensure we offer an unbeatable product when we formally launch later this year.”

Follow TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific in Google News

Vicky Karantzavelou

Co-Founder & Chief Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | + Articles

Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.