They are just not that into that | Travel Research Online

For the past year, there has been a tremendous focus from TRO and every other trade publication in the travel industry on social media. We have had webinars. There have been seminars. We even devoted a large special section of the TRO Community to it. Yet there has been a push back and it makes me ask “Why?”.

More often than not, when discussing the value and benefits of social media, I hear comments such as:

• My clients are too old for that
• I am too old for that
• My clients are not into that
• That stuff is for kids

Make no mistake, these are just excuses. And if we have talked, you know who you are. I won’t name names.

Back in the “old days” in 1997 when the Carlson Wagonlit agencies were all getting their very own websites, there was a similar push. Several agency owners did not see (or refused to see) the benefit of an online presence. We were at a training class in Minneapolis (no doubt freezing our butts off because they never do training during the three days it is above freezing) and I vividly remember Gloria Stock-Mickelson, trainer and presenter extraordinaire, referring to these people as the “old and crusties” of the travel industry. And you know what?  Gloria was spot on.  Where do you think these old and crusties are today—just 15 short years later?

Technology is not going to slow down for you. Technology is not going away. The decision that you need to make is if you are going to make a valiant effort to learn and embrace it—or are you going to become old and crusty in 2011.

As to the excuses above, I can tell you that none of them are true. But there is no need to take my word for it. Take two minutes out of your life and hear what AARP has to say.

Are you listening now?