20 tweets that show how travel firms use Twitter

I recently tried to answer the 'but what can we tweet about?' question for an online retailer by way of a list, entitled 'The 27 varieties of tweet used by online retailers'.

A quick scan across the Twitter feeds managed by retailers proved that there's more to tweeting than simply pushing out deals and special offers. Examples of tweets included communicating website downtime, driving in-store visits, casting calls for TV ads as well as the more obvious coupons and time-limited offers.

So what would the average travel company tweet about? Again, there's huge scope for airlines, hotels and travel operators to use Twitter in a variety of ways, to boost engagement, satisfaction and sales. Let's now look at some examples...

Riding the celebrity wave

@britneyspears Thanks for the shout-out for us @palmslasvegas on Letterman last night!! Muchas gracias!

http://twitter.com/PalmsLasVegas

Promoting events

ROK Vegas Nightclub at the New York-New York will host Roktoberfest-Guitar Hero Video Game Competition October 15... http://bit.ly/j1DbM

http://twitter.com/VegasConcierge

Surveying followers / creating a meme

Where is the most romantic place in Australia? Tweet back or vote here http://bit.ly/v9Lyr

http://twitter.com/SeeAustralia

Shouting about latest destinations / hotels

Just added Il San Pietro di Positano in Italy http://bit.ly/avN2z

http://twitter.com/TabletHotels

Running competitions

Kudos to Rob for winning our 1st Flickr photo challenge! http://bit.ly/pydPN Share your ideas for future challenges: http://bit.ly/c4ZMG :)

http://twitter.com/AlaskaAir

Helping customers

@jeremypair Can you follow so we can DM?

http://twitter.com/AlaskaAir

Flagging up technology improvements

@ellenrossano We are still testing wifi on four a/c and plan to equip our fleet early next year. We can't wait to twitter from 30 thou feet!

http://twitter.com/SOUTHWESTAIR

Boosting your environmental credentials

@jamesfarrar learn about our Jetting to Green initiatives and view reports at http://www.jetblue.com/green

http://twitter.com/jetblue

Encouraging people to visit lovely cities

999 brilliant reasons to visit London: http://bit.ly/16km8q #BAHL

http://twitter.com/britishairways

Promoting destination gorgeousness

RT @Metrotwin: Absolutely gorgeous panoramic photos of London - http://ow.ly/t88Y

http://twitter.com/britishairways

Launching a new hotel

President Alvaro Uribe, Mr. Marriott, Mr. Ricardo Poma, & Mr. Fernando Poma to take stage shortly to Inaugurate the Bogota Marriott.

http://twitter.com/marriottintl

Creating awareness of a new TV advertisement

Have you seen our new TV ad? The hovercraft is back! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/LQlG8

http://twitter.com/orbitz

Announcing time-limited offers

For 48 hours only we're sharing $48 fares! Get them before they are gone: http://budurl.com/2g2a

http://twitter.com/virginblue

Offering newlyweds something extra

RT @HawaiianMiles Earn Double HawaiianMiles when you stay or celebrate your honeymoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village®. http://bit.ly/4scFrK

http://twitter.com/FlyHawaiian

Retweeting relevant lists

RT @timestravel: The world's 10 best tropical beaches http://cli.gs/BahW3 #lp

http://twitter.com/lonelyplanet

Bigging up the mobile app

@murphymac Expedia does have an iPhone app! http://www.iappphone.com/de

http://twitter.com/expedia

Driving user-generated reviews

“Be careful sitting on sofas - can crack your back since wood frame is the cushion.” Scary trip? Tell us! http://bit.ly/3buMI6

http://twitter.com/tripadvisor

Promoting the beautiful Flickr feed

New Flickr Photo: PA114982: sdaby has added a photo to the pool: http://bit.ly/cx5os

http://twitter.com/purenewzealand

Giving love to the latest brand partnership 

SeatGuru seat reviews are now live on TripAdvisor UK's brand spanking new meta flight search! http://bit.ly/2iGSUO

http://twitter.com/seatguru

Revealing a delicious new menu

We have a new menu: http://bit.ly/TDLJE What do you think?

http://twitter.com/TheDrakeHotel

[Image by kcdsTM via Flickr, various rights reserved]