Sir Richard Branson has a lot oon his plate, but at LAX, he gave us a lot more to chew on.  Learn about his new Boeing 777, a trip to Mars, and his friend, Nelson Mandela.  

An Interview with Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group - 

http://www.travelmole.tv/watch_vdo_preview.php?id=14934

New in 2009!

Would you like to reach 70 million consumers throughout the world by email?

Well, now you can through TravelMole Consumer eMail Marketing.

The great news for you is that TravelMole Consumer eMail Marketing can now offer what is probably the most powerful global consumer travel marketing tool with over 70 million consumers - 53% in the USA and 47% international, all having subscribed to receive information from us about general and specific travel opportunities and information.

You can also be totally reassured that our consumer subscribers want to hear from you, because all of them have double opted-in and are required to re-opt in each year to receive our information.

We also only send requested information and limit our contact to a maximum one email per week, maintaining and sustaining our relationship with our subscribers.

To give some idea of our geographic spread, our country profiled database includes 22 million subscribers in the USA, 410,000 in Australia, 167,000 in Canada and 41,000 in the UK.

The scope and range of our email marketing opportunities is immense, including dedicated emails - run-of-list or targeted by interest, originating point, destination, marital status, etc, etc, and advertising in regularly scheduled emails by categories - banners and video, special interests - Beaches and Spas/Exotic Explorations/Las Vegas Lights/US and Canada/European Delights/Cruises and Waterways/Tours of the World/Sports & Travel/Travel Lifestyle/Romance Travel/Casino Traveler and of course, TravelMole Lead Generation (CPA)

Did you know some of these important recent findings about email marketing?

• 47% of those travel and tourism businesses surveyed identified email marketing as the most effective way to address finding new customers, generating business in the off-season, and filling rooms/seats. - Constant Contact, Inc, The 2007 U.S. Small Business Summer Outlook (2007)

• 83.2% of marketers surveyed chose email marketing as the most important advertising mediums they will use in 2007. - Datran Media Research, "The 2007 Email Marketing Survey: Looking Forward" (2007)

• Nearly half of survey respondents (46%) said reducing the dependency on print marketing is a major benefit of email marketing. - Constant Contact, Inc, The 2007 U.S. Small Business Summer Outlook (2007)

• Half of all consumers surveyed have made a purchase as a result of an email solicitation, and 16% did so from messages found in their spam folders. - Endai Worldwide (2007)

• 73% said they'd made an online purchase as a result of receiving an email offer. - Epsilon (2007)

• The average order-conversion rate of email is 6%. - Shop.org, State of Retailing Online 2007 report (Sept. 2007)

• 20.6% indicate that sales conversions as a direct result of better email marketing have improved by up to 5% in the past 12 months, with 7.2% reporting conversion increases of more than 10%. - Internet Retailer (Aug 2006)

• 4.5% of online retailers have a conversion rate from emails of more than 10%;

• 27.9% have conversion rates under 1%;

• 25.4% have conversion rates of 1.1% to 4%;

• 12.7% have conversion rates of 4.1% to 10%. - Internet Retailer (2007)

• 70.6% of marketers surveyed who plan on using email for customer acquisition in 2007 will increase their email acquisition budget in 2007. - Datran Media Research, "The 2007 Email Marketing Survey: Looking Forward" (2007).

• Email is delivering sales at an average cost per order of less than $7, compared to $71.89 for banner ads, $26.75 for paid search and $17.47 for affiliate programs.
  - Shop.org, State of Retailing Online 2007 report (Sept. 2007)

• The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) estimates that in 2007 U.S. marketers will spend $500 million on email marketing to generate $21.9 billion in sales, an 18.3% increase in email marketing expenditures over 2006. - DMA (2007).

• US spending on email advertising will grow to $2.1 billion by 2012 from $1.2 billion in 2007. - JupiterResearch (2007).

• 47% of those travel and tourism businesses surveyed identified email marketing as the most effective way to address finding new customers, generating business in the off-season, and filling rooms/seats. - Constant Contact, Inc, The 2007 U.S. Small Business Summer Outlook (2007)

• Half of all consumers surveyed have made a purchase as a result of an email solicitation, and 16% did so from messages found in their spam folders. - Endai Worldwide (2007)

• 73% said they'd made an online purchase as a result of receiving an email offer. - Epsilon (2007)

• The average order-conversion rate of email is 6%. - Shop.org, State of Retailing Online 2007 report (Sept. 2007)

Interested in Lead Generation, we offer "fresh" exclusive leads generated through our own TravelMole Lead Generation system, not purchased from other sources which could be several month old and/or sold to many people.

Our leads are not incentive based leads, the people who fill them out do not get prizes, discounts, coupons, etc., they are genuine leads and include:

• Name

• Email

• Product interest

• Postal Code

In some cases we can obtain phone and address, best time to call, etc for a supplemental charge.

TravelMole Customized Newsletters are some of the most effective forms of email marketing, with TravelMole publishing over 15 newsletters globally - we can produce your own original newsletter, with original news and video content: -

• Newsletter-style layout for promotional emails generated average click rates of 7.1 percent, compared to average click rates of 6.2 percent for single-image "postcard-style" messages. - Silverpop (2006)

• Consumers who subscribed to email newsletters generated 34.25% more product sales. - MarketingSherpa (2007)

• 60.8% of US marketers said that sending email newsletters was one of their online and mobile tactics. - Penton Media and PROMO Magazine, "2007 Interactive Marketer Trends Study" (2007)

• 70% of the top retail sites in Google's paid search listings offered email newsletters. - JupiterResearch (March 2006)

• The majority of email marketers are failing to use email as a relevant marketing tool. His research found relevant messages can lead to almost as many sales as free or discounted shipping offers. - Jupiter Research VP and research director David Daniels (2006)

• 44% of marketers surveyed believe the biggest challenge in email is providing relevant content. - eMarketer (2006)

So what are the advantages of eMail marketing?

• The advantage of a mailing list is clearly the ability to distribute information to a wide range of specific, potential customers at a relatively low cost.

• Compared to other media investments such as direct mail or printed newsletters, it is much less expensive and much more effective.

• An exact return on investment can be tracked ("track to basket") and has proven to be high when done properly.

• Email marketing is often reported as second only to search marketing as the most effective online marketing tactic.

• It is instant, as opposed to a mailed advertisement, an email arrives in a few seconds or minutes.

• It lets the advertiser "push" the message to its audience, as opposed to a website that waits for customers to come in.

• It is easy to track. An advertiser can track users via web bugs, bounce messages, un-subscribes, read-receipts, click-throughs, etc. These can be used to measure open rates, positive or negative responses, correlate sales with marketing.

• Advertisers generate repeat business affordably and automatically.

• Advertisers can reach substantial numbers of email subscribers who have opted in (consented) to receive email communications on subjects of interest to them

• Over half of Internet users check or send email on a typical day.

• Specific types of interaction with messages can trigger other messages to be automatically delivered.

• Specific types of interaction with messages can trigger other events such as updating the profile of the recipient to indicate a specific interest category.

• Green - email marketing is paper-free

Act Now!

So how do you find out more about these amazing low cost TravelMole Consumer eMail Marketing opportunities?

It could not be easier - all you have to do is to click here or eMail us at: frances@kiradjiangroup.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

Frances Kiradjian
Publisher & Sr. Editor, TravelMole North America

Click here to view Advisory Board

"This is a very exciting time for TravelMole, where I anticipate being part of some positive changes that will grow the company and add to its profitability," said Ms. Kiradjian, who has spent more than 20 years in the travel and tourism industry. "I look forward to working with a great team of professionals who have worked hard to make TravelMole one of the most widely read online travel newsletters in the world."

Among her other accomplishments in the hospitality and related industries, she spent 13 years developing the CCRA Preferred Hotel program and travel agent online booking portal. During her time there, Ms. Kiradjian forged relationships around the world with travel agents and hotel chains, as well as independents. CCRA eventually became the largest program of its type in North America, serving more than 18,000 travel agencies.

“The reason for the great success there -- as well as in other endeavors -- has been my sincere passion for the industry and in making improvements for the people and processes inside it, all with a business approach that applies deep interest and knowledge in areas such as technology, marketing, sales and distribution,” said Ms. Kiradjian.HomeandRoad, Inc. recently named Ms. Kiradjian a Member of its Founders Group and Chief Travel Officer for its planned network of 300 HomeandRoad.com franchised local information and travel websites covering North America. The Company says its plans are to leverage Ms. Kiradjian’s expertise in the areas of strategic travel partnerships, business planning, marketing and capitalization. Ms. Kiradjian, who frequently gives keynote addresses to major travel groups, is the founder and CEO of the Kiradjian Group (TKG).

The Kiradjian Group signed an agreement to represent Sterling Sleep Systems of Garden Grove, California to the hospitality and travel industry.  Sterling holds patents for a new modular mattress design that allows hotels to zip-off (remove) the top portion of the bed for cleaning or to replace mattress covers and foam overlay component parts instead of replacing entire beds.  This process protects the hotel's investment by extending the service life of the mattress system.

Besides the obvious value proposition where maintenance budgets are reduced, comfort levels can be maintained at higher levels while making a "green" statement. Mattresses are renewed, reused and waste is reduced. Save money and be more environmentally friendly at the same time.  When hotels eliminate the need to replace beds as often, they are maintaining sustainable and ethical environmental practices. Sterling modular bed systems cost no more than conventional mattresses of similar quality.

The Kiradjian Group will work closely with the Sterling team in prospecting for clients and developing a comprehensive plan to reach any property looking to renovate, replace existing product or for new hotel builds.  Other potential clients include cruise ships, b&b's and the timeshares.

"We selected The Kiradjian Group based on their many years in the industry working closely with hotel managers and owners, in an effort to expand our client base, all within an industry we have not been familiar with," noted Tony Hochschild, Sterling CEO.  "We're looking forward to taking advantage of the contacts made by CEO, Frances Kiradjian, through her many years working that particular marketplace, as well as her expertise in online marketing."

"This is an outstanding new product for hotels and one that we're proud to introduce and add to our current line of the finest suppliers in the world," remarked Frances Kiradjian, CEO of The Kiradjian Group.  "I have visited Sterling's Showroom and can say first-hand that this bed is incredible.  It's made of the absolute highest quality materials and is the first of its kind in design.  The fact that it's environmentally friendly by replacing parts instead of complete beds makes a purchase of Sterling Beds a huge $ savings for hotel owners and managers."

About The Kiradjian Group LLC | The Kiradjian Group is a travel industry consulting business with a specialty in three diverse areas:  digital online marketing, representation for a very select group of suppliers to the hospitality and travel industry, and consultation with new companies in the raising of capital and business planning. The company is headed by Frances Kiradjian, its founder, and based in West Hills, California. Frances, a longtime senior executive of the travel and tourism industry, pioneered a wide range of lucrative marketing and promotional programs for hotel chains and independent properties around the world, as well as creating the first travel agency reservations booking portal during her 13 years as head of CCRA International. 

About Sterling Sleep Hospitality | Sterling products are shipped to over 30 countries with our largest customers residing in Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. In 1998, we were named by the industry as manufacturer of the year. Sterling has a strong track record in product innovation and development. This Southern California based company operates a modern 70,000 square foot facility with the latest equipment. Our Flotation and Silver Lining bed systems incorporate the most advanced technologies available in pursuit of a better night's sleep. The company owns more than 10 U.S. patents covering various design features of our flotation and foam sleep system products.

Contact: 

The Kiradjian Group

818-883-4363

frances@kiradjiangroup.com

LOS ANGELES, Calif.| Hsyndicate, a global leader in hospitality and tourism news content distribution and syndication, today announced a strategic partnership with The Kiradjian Group LLC to provide U.S. based companies with a local delegation representing Hsyndicate's portfolio of products and services.

Hsyndicate's diverse offerings of focused industry intelligence used by more than 750 organizations with a network-audience of more than 250,000 professionals in hospitality and tourism, will now have the capability for enormous growth within the U.S. and eventually, all of North America. The Kiradjian Group brings over 22 years of experience in travel and tourism marketing and distribution with a strong emphasis on hospitality. The combination of the two companies working together brings the industry an enhanced focus on connecting people, news and delivery within hospitality around the globe.

The Kiradjian Group is extremely excited to be named representative of Hsyndicate in the United States. Frances Kiradjian, CEO, stated, "After much research, referral and consideration, we are pleased that Hsyndicate chose our company to act on their behalf and represent them to all travel and tourism related companies within the U.S.. Our Los Angeles base of operation provides Hsyndicate, based in The Netherlands, with increased customer service and sales support as well as the opportunity to consult on technology initiatives." The Kiradjian Group also represents select technology suppliers to the travel sector.

Commenting on this next important step in Hsyndicate's progress, CEO Henri Roelings, said, "We believe this step is necessary in order to deliver the best service to our growing client base of hotel companies, hospitality related associations and a myriad of hospitality suppliers and news organizations. We look forward to working closely with Frances Kiradjian and her team in increasing North-American footprint, adding new programs and service elements. "

About Hsyndicate.org | With the active support of leading industry stakeholders, Hsyndicate centralizes, categorizes and redistributes filtered B2B intelligence from and to various stakeholders within the global hospitality industry. The result of these efforts is a unique and highly valuable online knowledge base which feeds market intelligence to various industry players such as hotel groups, trade associations, universities and schools, financial institutions and analysts, industry portals, and consultants. Today's Hsyndicate network reaches a community of 46,000 highly targeted industry professionals in specific segments of the global hotel industry, reaching from hotel chains, hotel associations, universities and public industry portals. Among others, Hsyndicate's current partners include AH&LA, IH&RA, HFTP and HSMAI. For further information visit http://www.hsyndicate.org/.

About The Kiradjian Group LLC | The Kiradjian Group is a travel industry consulting business with a specialty in online marketing technology. The company is headed by Frances Kiradjian, its founder, and based in West Hills, California. Frances, a longtime senior executive of the travel and tourism industry, spent the last 13 years as founder and co-owner of CCRA (Computerized Corporate Rate Association), an internationally renowned corporate hotel marketing and preferred rate program.

In her 13 years with CCRA, Kiradjian took the firm from relative obscurity to "key player" status in the consortium hotel program arena, securing most of the major travel agency consortia accounts headquartered in North America with exclusive multi- year contracts. Under her direction, CCRA also pioneered a wide range of lucrative marketing and promotional programs for hotel chains and independent properties around the world. She recently closed the sale of CCRA and it's parent company, Reservation Center, Inc. (RCI) to Onelink Corporation.

Contact

Organization

Hsyndicate.org
http://www.hsyndicate.org/
Akersteenweg 31
Tollfree: 1-888-885-2856
Phone: (+31) 43 3626600
Fax: (+31) 43 3626770
Email: info@hsyndicate.org

Recent News

• Specialized booking systems for tour operators and tourist offices or convention and visitor bureaus.
• Promotional marketing direct to mobile devices.

In her previous position, Kiradjian had focused much of her energies on the CCRA hotel program for agents, bringing it from relative obscurity and making it into a key player in the agency consortia marketplace and growing its hotel database. She participated in the purchase last year of Reservation Center, Inc. and CCRA by San Francisco-based Onelink Corporation, after which she stayed on for a year.  The most prominent task was the launch of the CCRA travel agent booking engine after some 7 years in development.

Kiradjian is a member of SKAL-the professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, the elite Vistage Group-the largest CEO organization in the world, as well as current president of HSMAI Los Angeles (Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International).

More details on the new business can be found at http://www.kiradjiangroup.com/.