347: The Importance of Vendors in Industry Innovation with AJ Brau
Oct 29, 2024
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AJ Brau, co-founder and CEO of Wander, shares insights on revolutionizing travel planning with innovative technology. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration between destinations and vendors to drive industry innovation. AJ discusses Wander's upgrades, the incorporation of social media into travel itineraries, and how qualitative research from visitors shapes better solutions. She envisions Wander as the go-to platform for travelers, highlighting the significance of utilizing geospatial data to enhance visitor experiences.
Collaboration between destinations and vendors is essential for driving tailored innovations that effectively address specific industry challenges.
Understanding visitor behaviors through data and feedback is crucial for developing digital tools that streamline trip planning and enhance travel experiences.
Deep dives
Understanding Destination Challenges
Collaboration with destination marketers is vital for identifying and addressing specific challenges within the travel industry. Gaining insights directly from destinations enables service providers to create better tailored solutions. For example, the discussion highlights how destinations face problems such as outdated paper maps and the need for effective digital alternatives. This approach allows for continuous improvement based on real-world feedback and results, thereby enhancing the overall visitor experience.
Evolving Digital Mapping Solutions
The evolution from basic mapping to comprehensive digital solutions reflects significant growth in addressing user needs. Initially focused solely on providing maps, the business expanded to offer a variety of digital products, including embedded and interactive maps. A notable feature includes the Wander mobile app, which aids travelers in planning trips using curated authoritative content. This shift demonstrates an understanding of how digital engagements can better serve visitors and destinations alike.
Visitor Engagement Insights
Conducting extensive interviews with close to 500 visitors has revealed crucial insights into how people plan their trips. Most notably, social media emerged as a primary source for decision-making in travel planning, influencing users on where to go and what to see. This finding prompted the development of features that simplify the transition from social media inspiration to practical trip planning. By understanding visitor behaviors, the business aims to create seamless tools that help convert saved social media content into actionable itineraries.
Future Vision for Travel Interaction
The long-term vision is to facilitate direct interactions between travelers and destination managers, enhancing both travel experiences and community impact. Plans involve leveraging digital tools to provide high-quality, authoritative information, ensuring travelers have access to essential resources at their fingertips. By using advanced technology, such as AI-driven trip planning, the goal is to redefine how travelers engage with destinations. This approach not only aims to improve traveler satisfaction but also to empower communities by fostering sustainable tourism.
In this episode, Adam is joined live in the studio by AJ Brau, co-founder and CEO of Wander. She discusses the recent upgrades Wander has made to their technology and explains why it’s crucial for destinations to collaborate with vendors to drive industry innovation forward. Listen and learn how to own your visitor attribution using tools that capture valuable data directly from the source. Also discover what AJ envisions for Wander's future, including becoming the #1 platform travelers turn to when booking a trip.
“We want to solve your problems. We don’t have the same insight into your life that you do, and that’s actually the most valuable thing we can gain from working with destinations—learning what their problems are so we can build better solutions for the entire industry.” – AJ Brau
To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.
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