"Video Passports" Poised to Transform Internet Travel Planning
Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- The world of Internet travel planning is about to be transformed.
In the "old days" (meaning anytime before the launch of videopassports.com), travelers were accustomed to wandering the web in the often-futile search for video-based content that had something helpful to offer in the way of vacation planning. And if they found anything, it was often of poor quality and had little if anything to do with their travel plans. It was also a largely passive experience, involving little more than sitting and staring at their computer screen.
Those days are gone.
With the advent of Video Passports (http://www.videopassports.com) travelers are now able to engage with a web site filled with relevant, information-rich videos about the must-do, must-see activities and attractions in practically all of the world's most popular travel destinations. They can also upload videos of their own adventures and share them with friends and family during or after their trip.
But that's not all. Video Passports has also transformed the once passive pastime of video viewing into an integral part of the travel planning process. With the introduction of its video-based "Trip Planner," travelers can now embellish and enhance traditional travel itineraries (dates, flights, activities, hotel and car rental information) with video clips of the places they'll be visiting. They can send personalized "video postcards" to their friends and family. And there's also a very cool video player that lets them create a "wish list" of destinations, share videos with others, and even embed video play lists along with the video player itself into their personal MySpace or FaceBook web site.
Video Passports is the brainchild of co-founders Devon Ericson and Eric Nelson. Ericson is also the president and owner of SeaVid (http://www.seavid.com), a San Diego-based company specializing in the production of destination videos for the travel industry. Over the past 20 years SeaVid has amassed an impressive collection of original programming and stock footage of places all over the world. Given the recent surge in the availability and practicality of Internet video streaming, now seemed like a good time to leverage this valuable asset in the creation of Video Passports.
"I'm often asked why we're doing this and the best answer I can give is that it's never been done before," says Ericson. "Plenty of people are going to the Internet to plan their vacations, book travel, share experiences. But never before have they been able to do all this on a single web site and never on a site that makes video such an integral part of the travel planning experience."
It is this "one-stop-shop" approach that sets Video Passports apart from the pack. While seamless integration with a travel-booking engine remains on the "to do" list, there's still quite a bit about this site that makes it one of a kind. Unlike big-box booking engines such as Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia that have yet to capitalize on video as an essential element in the promotion and sale of travel, Video Passports goes right to the heart of what travelers are looking for - interesting, informative videos of the places they want to visit. And, unlike video-sharing behemoth YouTube, the content on Video Passports is travel-specific, easy to navigate, and relevant to the traveler's experience.
Video Passports is already attracting interest from other travel-related companies including Princess Cruises who has plans to integrate the Video Passports video player as well as its Alaska programming on the Princess web site beginning this spring. Future plans also include the addition of hotel and restaurant information, activity-specific "channels" where visitors can watch videos that appeal to a particular interest (kayaking, gardens, SCUBA diving, bicycling) and third-party content that will add depth to an already broad offering of programming.
With its successful launch and ambitious plans for the future, there's little doubt that Video Passports is destined to transform and redefine the Internet travel planning experience.
###
Free Articles:
Why Most Video Game Suppliers Online Sell In Bulk - Careful!
There are a lot of online video game suppliers to choose from but who among them are the best video game suppliers you can really rely on It is true that the online marketing zone is filled with both the best and the rotten tomatoes
Tighter Times Ahead in Hiring for Talent Starved Video Games Industry 2008-2009
"There is a looming problem for content developers in the Games Industry who hope to realize the bullish growth numbers forecast over the next couple years," states David Musgrove, President of the Professional Electronic Entertainment Recruiters association (PEER - www.Peer-Org.com).
"As the Video Game Industry's recruitment association and advocacy group, we are seeing clear signs that games content development will be significantly impacted for 2008 - 2009 and beyond, especially taking the declining US Economy into account", continues Musgrove. "The reason is simply that there won't be enough seasoned talent available to support that anticipated gro...
A Brief Idea About Video Production
The good old Chinese proverb has a strong significance; the proverb explained the fact that we believe an event more when we see it. Through video production or videography it is possible to shoot a series of event. Nowadays in different corporate presentations, video footages are widely in use. Through video production it is possible to cater the necessary information to different clients to satisfy them. Video production is now used for varied purposes and several documentaries and awareness associated presentations are made to achieve desired business goals. Audio video presentations are in vogue and almost in all sort of business activities this sort of presentation are used. The different documentary producing companies initially inter...
Video Sharing Communities Now Sharing Revenue
A lot of video sharing communities have sprung up recently, all of them trying to be the next YouTube of the online world. Many of them offering new and really cool features like edit videos, create playlists, etc. But what they forget is the need of users to just upload a video and share it with friends.
Upgrading, Adding or Removing a Video Card, Sound Card, or Other AGP/PCI Card
For Video cards - Most PC video cards these days are AGP. But you COULD be working with PCI, or PCI express.
Massive Prison Release Intended...to Kill Three Strikes Law (Free 8 min Full Disclosure Network™ Internet Video News Blog)
In an eight minute Full Disclosure Network™ video news blog, President Steve Ipsen of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys of Los Angeles County accuses California politicians of deliberately sabotaging the California Prison system thus setting the stage for a massive prison release program now underway. Ipsen tells FDN host Leslie Dutton how criminals who are sentenced to prison are now being released after serving only half, or less, of their sentences due to California politics. He says elected officials, who oppose the Three Strikes law, have for the past ten years, blocked building new prisons, causing massive overcrowding and early releases.
THIS FREE VIDEO news blog is available here for viewing 24/7, on demand as ...
Dealer.com Rolls Out Vehicle Showroom? for Dealer Websites - Dynamic Video and Research Solutions Proven to Increase Lead Volume
Dealer.com, the leading provider of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced the addition of Vehicle Showroom? for automotive dealer websites; a marketing solution that features CarFlix Virtual Test Drive? videos, a video gallery for dealers' inventory, and an online research center designed to keep car shoppers on dealer websites longer. In a recent dealer study involving nearly 10,000 Internet shoppers, Dealer.com video tools were shown to increase lead submissions by as much as eighty-seven percent.
New Wedding Video Site Enables Couples to Share Their Video Online
A new service from Viddia.com enables couples to stream their wedding video online to share with friends and family. The service provides the couple with a password protected website that they can share by sending out email viewing invitations.
New Pro Audio Training Video: FL Studio 8 - Know It All!
Digital Music Doctor announces the release of a new video training course, FL Studio 8 - Know It All! This course contains almost 3 hours of interactive videos which cover all major aspects of audio and midi recording, editing, mixing, and mastering using the FL Studio 8 Digital Audio Workstation.
Gamespeek Podcast Rewards Gamers with Video Game of Their Choice
Gamespeek is holding a contest asking gamers why they play video games. Users simply need to register for the forum at Gamespeek.com and reply to the contest page at the top of the forum. The winner receives a game of his or her choice.
The Daily Reel Launches Online Video and Indie Film Social Networking Site 'ReeledIn'
"ReeledIn" creates the first ever social network devoted solely to creators of Independent film, online videos, user generated content and film industry news and opportunities.
ioimage Releases 3-Megapixel Intelligent IP Security Camera with Built-In Video Analytics
High-resolution IP camera with video analytics features unique picture-in-picture functionality for synchronized tracked-object close-up with full field of view.
Video Conferencing - The Impact On People And Businesses
Video conferencing is considered to be one of the most effective forms of communication using electronic means.
Small business video security guide
Buying a new security monitoring system is a very important step for your self and for improving your business as it will allow you to keep track of every thing that happens during the working hours and the off working hours. Of coarse it combats thefts and breaks through done by criminals. And to make use of these features you need to choose the most suitable system and security accessories that aid you in accomplishing the target of securing your perimeter.
Morphogenix, LLC Launches RealSavvy.TV The Internet's First Video Channel for Moms
After receiving its tenth Telly Award, Morphogenix announces the launch of RealSavvy.TV, an integrated broadband channel, streaming hundreds of short video segments from its award-winning PBS TV series, Real Moms, Real Stories, Real Savvy.