Comments on: The future’s bright, the future is virtual travel http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/10/25/future-virtual-travel-search/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tamara http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/10/25/future-virtual-travel-search/#comment-129201 Tamara Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:05:07 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2129#comment-129201 I took a trip around the shopping mall and was very disappointed in the functionality. when you go up to the stores you can't then go right and left - you have to turn back to go forward again. Most of the affiliate shop links I tried didn't work or took an age to click through. I also didn't like the limitations of it. It's a bit like a good idea that hasn't been thought through properly in terms of real usefulness. I took a trip around the shopping mall and was very disappointed in the functionality. when you go up to the stores you can’t then go right and left – you have to turn back to go forward again. Most of the affiliate shop links I tried didn’t work or took an age to click through.
I also didn’t like the limitations of it. It’s a bit like a good idea that hasn’t been thought through properly in terms of real usefulness.

Report this comment

]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/10/25/future-virtual-travel-search/#comment-128974 Darren Cronian Sun, 26 Oct 2008 10:16:36 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2129#comment-128974 @ Nick I suspect there's potential security issues too. I know Second Life has had a number of attempting hackings over the years. I am surprised to hear about STA closing their virtual world, like you say it was obviously not getting them the return they thought. I'm meeting Molly who writes for STA at the blogcamp next month so I will ask her why they closed it. @ Rohan It would not be for everyone, and it depends on if you get the return on investment. I think even with a search it would be quite cumbersome. The Mall site whilst I like the idea I really do think more thought needs to be put into adding content before anyone really uses it as a way to fin their holiday. @ Nick

I suspect there’s potential security issues too. I know Second Life has had a number of attempting hackings over the years. I am surprised to hear about STA closing their virtual world, like you say it was obviously not getting them the return they thought.

I’m meeting Molly who writes for STA at the blogcamp next month so I will ask her why they closed it.

@ Rohan

It would not be for everyone, and it depends on if you get the return on investment. I think even with a search it would be quite cumbersome. The Mall site whilst I like the idea I really do think more thought needs to be put into adding content before anyone really uses it as a way to fin their holiday.

Report this comment

]]> By: Rohan http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/10/25/future-virtual-travel-search/#comment-128965 Rohan Sun, 26 Oct 2008 10:01:47 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2129#comment-128965 Personally, I would hate it. Nice idea though. I would not use the mall site as like you have said Darren it is adding on another set of clicks to find a holiday. If you had a search within the mall then yes I could see it working better. Personally, I would hate it. Nice idea though. I would not use the mall site as like you have said Darren it is adding on another set of clicks to find a holiday. If you had a search within the mall then yes I could see it working better.

Report this comment

]]> By: Nick http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/10/25/future-virtual-travel-search/#comment-128851 Nick Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:52:31 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2129#comment-128851 Darren, as a second life reg and business person, I do not think it will work. Several reasons (and yes linden can provided lots of data where it has worked, but they do not tell you about failures). Second life has limitations to how it provides the information, how ever it would be good for tourist boards, embassies and official travel agents (ones like the Czech travel agency that are government run of funded). This of course has already happened. I can also see small specialist companies provided information on trips, ones that are different like GAP. With a low cost advertising and high value customers I can see some areas where it would work. For these companies with the information to hand 2 bookings a year would pay for the input. But to have a high street agency in a similar way we have in the UK, I can not see it working due to the range of information being to large. But when it comes to travel agencies or tour companies selling things in rl it has it limitations. (I can see problems and STA has closed... and if you think about it, that says something because SL is aimed at there key market). Darren, as a second life reg and business person, I do not think it will work. Several reasons (and yes linden can provided lots of data where it has worked, but they do not tell you about failures).

Second life has limitations to how it provides the information, how ever it would be good for tourist boards, embassies and official travel agents (ones like the Czech travel agency that are government run of funded). This of course has already happened. I can also see small specialist companies provided information on trips, ones that are different like GAP. With a low cost advertising and high value customers I can see some areas where it would work. For these companies with the information to hand 2 bookings a year would pay for the input. But to have a high street agency in a similar way we have in the UK, I can not see it working due to the range of information being to large.

But when it comes to travel agencies or tour companies selling things in rl it has it limitations. (I can see problems and STA has closed… and if you think about it, that says something because SL is aimed at there key market).

Report this comment

]]>