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The international traveler’s guide to Bloomington, Minnesota

THE NEW TRAVELER • WEB TRENDS • APP-TITUDE

Welcome

2 The Planner

Welcome to Bloomington, Minnesota, the hospitality hub of travelers around the world. We are dedicating this issue of The Planner to a new sort of traveler—the Millenial Traveler—who is no doubt changing the way you and countless other meeting and event planners operate every day. With all things digital changing your delegates’ preferences and expectations by the near nano-second, we have compiled an overview of this relatively new breed of traveler, researching their go-to websites and apps that they commonly use now and will undoubtedly use in the future, both in their personal and professional lives.

Like you, we believe it is critical to understand these trends, fleeting or lasting as they may be, to provide the best experience possible for visitors to our city today and in the future. We also believe that technology is no panacea or substitute for exceptional customer service—something you can always expect from us, here at the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

So as you research possible sites, or begin to plan an event in our fabulous city, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will use the myriad tools at our disposal to help you plan the perfect event.

Bonnie CarlsonPresident & CEO

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Bloomington is Minnesota’s fifth largest city, and one frequented by visitors because of its many conveniences. To start, it’s centrally located:

Bloomington is just 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, and even closer to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). Even better, all three of those destinations are accessible via the METRO light rail, which stops at Mall of America.

Speaking of the mall, it is, by far, the city’s largest attraction. However, it’s not the only reason visitors flock here. You’ll also find other great attractions, fine restaurants and an abundance of green space—the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and its many miles of trails sit here, as do the banks of the Minnesota River and additional parkland. Plus you’ll be warmly welcomed wherever you go—this is a city unsurpassed in its hospitality.

+ MSP Airport is the nation’s 16th busiest, and borders the northeast side of Bloomington.

+ The METRO system connects Bloomington’s Mall of America with the airport and both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul.

+ There are 39 hotels located in the city, ranging from luxury to economy, with another 1,000 rooms on the way.

+ Bloomington offers free parking as well as free hotel shuttles to the airport and Mall of America.

+ With I-494 and I-35W within its borders, the city offers convenient freeway access.

Welcome to Bloomington

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The Planner 3

The New Traveler

There’s a whole new generation of delegates whose attention planners need to capture, but that can’t

be done unless you first understand—and willingly embrace—the technology they are using. Across the world, business travelers age 30 and younger are going on trips 4.7 times annually, as compared to 30-45-year-olds who are only doing so 3.6 times per year. That is a huge potential market to tap. The issue is that this age group has a set of expectations that are diversely different from those of the generations that came before them. If you understand that, you can break through the barriers and give yourself a competitive advantage in the industry.

When traveling, these individuals are more “silent” than ever. They don’t need, nor want, any coddling or handholding—they can search for and book everything they need right from their mobile device. These types of instant gratification—booking a hotel minutes before arrival, getting texts about flight updates—are changing travelers’ expectations. It’s not just that they like having more control over their experiences, but they are also genuinely interested in where they are staying, where they are eating, and what they are doing in and around their destination. In fact, of the estimated

30 billion annual mobile searches, more than one-third is local. These search results are aligned with destination and review sites, brand and property websites, and social networks, all of which travelers turn to in order to make smart decisions.

As you might gather, mobile is king. Mobile devices have blurred the lines between professional and private, but they’ve also made this generation more accessible—80 percent of Millennials actually sleep next to their phones. The biggest action is around mobile booking—52 percent of consumers use smartphones

to research trips and 25 percent to book accommodations—however, mobility is also

about transforming an experience, and about helping, not selling. As a result, future trends show that investments should be made in the areas of mobile websites and applications,

digital signage, kiosks, tablets, mobile payment and room keys, and social media.In order to successfully reach the delegates in this

age group—and those to come—it’s essential that you get a handle on and adapt to this new way of thinking and operating. Read on to learn more about the tools this generation is using.

The New Traveler

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Websites

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Websites Changing The Way We Travel

Gone are the days when business travelers wanted to fly in, stay at a hotel, eat at the restaurant onsite, attend their meeting or event, and fly home. This new generation desires local, unique,

peer-to-peer experiences.

p EATWITH.COM Dining is something all travelers will do on their visit and is a great way to get a taste of local culture. By using this site, you’ll get a peer-to-peer dining experience that combines the perks of eating out with the atmosphere of a dinner party. Simply search the site for a prescreened host in your area (they are located in more than 150 cities across the globe, including the Twin Cities), choose the offered meal, book, and show up for a shared experience with other travelers. There’s also the option to team up with a chef for a private meal, if you really want to impress your attendees.

p GUESTTOGUEST.COMThis home exchange program lets you travel the world at little to no cost. Available in more than 180 countries, members of this site are able to truly live like a local. There are a few different options: You can do a reciprocal exchange, where someone stays in your home the same time you stay in theirs, or if that doesn’t line up, you can use the site’s GuestPoints to stay in an available residence without someone staying in yours.

CAMPINMYGARDEN.COM q Do you prefer camping to staying in a hotel, but want to

do so in a space more unique than a typical campground? This website is the world’s first and only garden camping

community, which allows users to find private gardens that serve as micro-campsites. Gardens range from “bamping”

(basic camping) to “glamping” (glamorous camping), and you have the option to search for ones with offerings such as power

points, tents, a shower or bath available, barbeque facilities or a supermarket nearby.

RVSHARE.COM q Perhaps you’ve always wanted to travel across the country in

an RV, but didn’t want to incur the expense of owning one. Or, maybe you want to take your attendees on a short road

trip, and are looking for a cost-effective way to do it. This community-driven site is comprised of independent dealers and private owners, creating a one-stop shop to compare all

prices and options. T

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Websites

BOATBOUND.COM pSimilar in concept to RVShare, but for the water bound. This would be a great option for planners here who want to take

their guests out on the Mississippi River, Lake Minnetonka or the St. Croix River, but prefer something more personal than

an organized tour. Boats are available to rent directly from the owners for everything from cruising to fishing and water sports.

VAYABLE.COM pCollectively, the team behind this site has traveled to more than 102 countries worldwide and is using that knowledge to provide

unique, real-life experiences to users. The “insiders,” as they are called, create and curate the offered experiences. Simply

browse the site and pick what looks enticing to you, which could include anything from a personal photo shoot in Paris to

a tour of street art in Amsterdam or a sailing tour in Athens.

q SPINLISTER.COM Considering that the Twin Cities is repeatedly regarded as one of the most bike-friendly places in the nation, riding around on two wheels would be a great way for travelers to experience the cities. This peer-to-peer bike rental program allows you to search for what’s available near you are, request the date and time you need it, and message the owner with any questions. Snowboards and surfboards are available, too.

q KETEKA.COM Formed by two former Peace Corps volunteers, this website allows you to partake in authentic experiences while doing good. Search through the database of tours and activities—ranging from canopy zip lining through the mountains of Panama to chocolate making in Guatemala, geocaching in Peru or slow trekking in Patagonia—and sign up knowing that you’re having a positive impact on these developing countries. Right now experiences are only available in Latin America, but the plan is to expand.

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Mobile Apps

Mobile App-Titude Mobile apps have never before been so popular—or helpful. Chances are, delegates to your event will be using at least one of the following apps, if not more, to aid their travels. Whether the app’s utility is to book a hotel or plan an experience before, during or after your event, it’s important to understand

how well these apps work in your city of choice.

CITYMAPPERThis comprehensive navigation app plans your route for you, offering travel times, distances and prices, plus real-time departure information across all modes of transportation, disruption alerts, Uber integration, weather concerns and more.

COST SPLITSplitting the bill has never been so easy. Set a budget for your trip, create a group of who you’re traveling with, add expenses and who paid for them along the way, and at the end of your trip it’ll run a report showing who owes who what. Each person in the group can add expenses from their own device.

WHAT3WORDSThis GPS tracking app enables you to pinpoint your family, friends or colleagues no matter where they are. The creators of this app mapped the world into 57 trillion squares, each of which is 3 meters by 3 meters. Each square has a random three-word name, which you can send out to alert others to your exact location.

Citymapper

HOTELTONIGHTNeed a last minute place to stay? Find deals on and book fast, same-day hotel rooms in more than 500 locations across the world. Search hotels in one of three categories—Basic, Hip or Luxe—and once you find what you need, all it takes to secure is three taps and a swipe.

POCKETHave you ever seen an interesting article, but didn’t have the time to read it? Pocket lets you save web articles and videos to your device that can be accessed offline at a later date—perfect for traveling or passing time in between meetings. You can even send ones you like to another person’s Pocket or share via Facebook, Twitter, Evernote or email.

YPLANCompiled by a team of “entertainment experts,” this app lets you browse and book local events, allowing you to spontaneously answer the question, “What should I do tonight?” You can also read reviews from previous attendees and invite friends.

HYPERLAPSEWith similar versions created by both Microsoft and Instagram, this iPhone app lets you create time-lapse videos by crunching your videos as you record, while also smoothing out for cinematic quality and automatic stabilization. If you’re an Android user, Framelapse and Hyper Timelapse are similar options.

BEENAre you a business traveler on the go looking to boast about your globetrotting? Been lets you select all of the states and countries you’ve visited, and then calculates to figure out what percentage of the world you’ve covered. Visited spots are put into both a map and list, which can then be shared via social media.

LYFTYou’ve likely heard of Lyft—the car service that lets you request a ride with the tap of a button—but it’s Lyft’s new Line feature that will save you money. Select “Line” when you open the app, and you’ll be matched to travelers who are already headed the same way, offering a savings of 60 percent.

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Mobile Apps

PARKOPEDIANever worry about finding a place to park again. This app has more than 38 million parking spaces in 52 countries that are a part of its database, and will locate spaces near you using GPS. You can narrow choices based on filters like free, takes credit cards or is covered, see availability in real-time and get directions to the space.

PONCHODon’t let the weather catch you off guard. Poncho delivers weather reports each morning—either by text or email—tailored to your personal preferences and routine. And it’s much more useful than just a forecast. If it’s going to rain, Poncho might tell you to grab an umbrella. Heat on the horizon? Don’t forget sunscreen.

FIELD TRIPLike the ones you took as a kid, but for adults. First, choose how often you want to receive updates. Then the app will run in the background of your phone, and alert you when you get close to something interesting—historical sites, galleries, attractions, bars, restaurants and more. The app pulls from a large number of credible sources, including Zagat, The Food Network and Thrillist.

TRIPNARYCreate your travel bucket list, so you’re ready to go whenever the time comes. Collect all the places you want to see and things you want to do so that when you travel, it’s organized in an easy-to-use way. You can even compare airfares between every destination on the list, helping you decide where to go when.

MOMMY NEARESTThis app guides parents to kid-friendly activities, events, restaurants, shops and more in whatever city they are. Using a geo-locator, it will alert things to do based on your location, as well as offer real-time reviews from other parents.

POSTAGRAMRemember how nice it was to send and receive postcards? With this app you can turn your iPhone, Instagram, Facebook or Dropbox photos into postcards, and send with a personalized message from your destination. It takes less than one minute, and costs as little as 99 cents (postage included).

CITYMAPSWhether you’re collecting as you’re traveling or you’re planning a trip, Citymaps lets you collect and share favorite places, creating a map-based guide to the spot. Details include contact information, pricing, hours, reservations and directions, and there’s the option to assemble your own or collaborate with others.

CONTACTUALLYForget about missing networking opportunities. Contactually lets you seize the chance before it’s too late. Bring contacts from your phone, email and social networks into one address book and receive suggestions as to when and how to reach out. The app will remind you of recent conversations and social updates so you’re able to connect in a personal way.

EVERNOTEA New York Times Top 10 Must-Have App, this can be used personally or professionally to take notes and photos, build to-do lists, record voice reminders and create searchable notes, all of which can be accessed across all devices.

SUNRISECompatible with Google Calendar, iCloud and Exchange, Sunrise seamlessly connects your calendars and evokes extra features to ensure you never miss a meeting or event. There’s time zone support, and you can add dates quickly, set reminders, and even see the LinkedIn profiles of the people you are meeting.

IFTTTIFTTT, short for “If This Then That,” essentially works as a large switchboard, connecting more than 180 apps and devices. IF weather shows rain THEN get a notification. IF you post a photo to Instagram THEN save it to Dropbox. IF you leave home THEN turn down Nest Thermostat. Get the idea?C

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Hotel Tonight

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Profile

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I’m excited that this summer Planner is dedicated to all things digital. Here at the Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau, we see visitor digital engagement as one of our top priorities for meetings and events. Our mobile and social sites open the door to a digital experience both before and during our attendees/guests’ stays, giving travelers control of where to eat, what to visit and even search for events at Mall of America, etc. We invite you to search our website and mobile site and make it the preferred channel for your group. Our goal is that your attendees have an incredible digital experience in Bloomington and invite them back for a future stay.

Welcome!

Dan O’NeillVice President of Strategy and Sales952-858-8500doneill@bloomingtonmn.orgwww.bloomingtonmn.org

Trip Planning, From Start to Finish

WHAT DO PLANNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW GENERATION OF DELEGATES?I just had the privilege of presenting at the Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association, and I found it fascinating to present the importance of personal and professional branding on LinkedIn to three generations. I found Gen Yers were quick to embrace, tweet and post about the content I was sharing. Gen X was more reserved and asked more questions about why and how they can be more authentic. Boomers were interested in etiquette, doing it right and not seeming boastful. Each generation has its own needs and agendas, and different ways to gather, share and curate content. Meeting planners need to provide different tools for the delegate to leverage the content to meet their needs.

WHY DO MEETING PLANNERS NEED TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY?To continue to meet the needs of their delegates. If they do not embrace technology, I predict that they will be left behind (or without business). Look what happened to travel agents. I don’t even know a travel agent anymore. Technology took over their jobs because the new generations were so capable of using technology that they didn’t need the middle person. Could this happen to meeting planners? We are already seeing meetups and crowd gathering events both on- and offline, where a middle person planning the event is not needed.

WHAT ARE SOME PRIMARY WAYS PLANNERS CAN FIND AND EMBRACE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES?I suggest planners create Google Alerts, where they can keep up on the latest technology through bloggers, experts and thought leaders. In addition, they might join groups on LinkedIn such as HSMAI, Event Planning & Event Management and their Social Media and Event Technology subgroup to keep up-to-date on all of the latest trends and technologies. Also, follow the top leaders on Twitter, connect with them on LinkedIn and watch for their posts.

HOW CAN PLANNERS CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON TECHNOLOGY?

First, get the latest mobile technology—everything is going digital. Next, create online profiles, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and sites where their clients are playing. Lastly, network with the agencies that are creating meetings for the next generation and understand what apps they are developing. Many of the apps are being custom developed.

IF THERE WERE ONE TECHNOLOGICAL THING PLANNERS SHOULD BE DOING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Asking their clients what tools they are using and experiment with them.

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Q&AAnne PryorOnline Brand Strategist, Meaningful Connections

Anne Pryor is a nationally recognized teacher, speaker and trainer specializing in LinkedIn, who helps clients ranging from CVBs and hotels to global executives and marketing leaders leverage technology for business.