Right on track with our DataMapping service is this recent article from tripadvisor.

It's coming and if you're not on the map, your neighborinb business is....  Jim

Travelers are taking off more in 2012…and they’re bringing their smartphones

TripAdvisor today released the results of its annual Travel Trends survey of U.S. travelers, and surfaced some good news in the process: travelers are on the move this year! Nearly a third of the more than 2,700 travelers surveyed said they plan to spend more money on travel this year than last.

According to the survey, travelers are also using their mobile devices more than ever as they hit the road. Forty-four percent of U.S. travelers plan to rely more heavily on their mobile phone or smartphone as a travel resource during their 2012 trips. Plus, nearly a third (31%) will be using travel apps (including TripAdvisor’s!) on their mobile device.

A little further digging reveals that Americans in general appear more reliant on their mobile devices for information. The latest research discovered that now 87% of all American smartphone users are accessing the Internet on their device. And according to a separate Pew Internet survey, half of all adult cell owners (51%) had used their phone at least once to get information they needed right away in the past 30 days. Besides looking up the location of the nearest Starbucks, this could mean Americans are turning to their mobile devices to find a last-minute hotel room, a good restaurant in a new city, etc. And if you have a Business Listings subscription, remember that your direct contact info is available via mobile, allowing travelers to connect to you immediately via “click-to-call.”

In other words, U.S. travelers truly are connected – all the time. This means that complete TripAdvisor listings are likely well worth the effort in the coming year. Make sure that great photos and thoughtful management responses are the types of things popping up on mobile devices all over the country as travelers research your property and plan their trip.

Wishing you safe travels around Maine this winter.

To assist you with winter travel planning to Maine, here are some handy Road Condition links:

Road Condtions:

Maine (works on Smart Phones)

Midcoast (works on Smart Phones)

Live Road Cams

High Bandwith Site

Some folks have told me, sometimes I get too "techie". Ok, here is DataMapping Simplified.

Call us and get it done right 207-415-5646 ...

We've gettting into that holiday season and noticed this first article from the Press Herald. We'll add more Maine Coast Events to our Calendar as we get them.

For lodging, refer to our "Open All Year 'Round" list.

By ELIZABETH WEBSTER, Special to the Maine Sunday Telegram

In school, we learned how people in other countries celebrate the holidays with their unique customs and traditions. But plenty of communities in Maine offer their own interesting twist on the holidays.

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BRUNSWICK

• From 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at the gazebo on Maine Street, viewers will get to see Brunswick's tree lighting and partake in cocoa, carols and Santa's visit. (729-4439)

ROCKLAND

• Nov. 25-Nov. 27, head to downtown Rockland to see Santa arriving by Coast Guard boat at the public landing, the lobster trap tree lighting ceremony, festival of lights parade and enjoy a family pancake breakfast with Santa. (596-0376 or 593-6093)

CAMDEN

• Dec. 2-4 come to Christmas by the Sea, which includes a parade that goes from Union Street to Main Street, a community tree lighting and fireworks. A children's story hour with Santa, who arrives by boat, is also planned. (236-4404)

BOOTHBAY HARBOR

• On Dec. 3, Santa and Mrs. Claus headline Boothbay Harbor's 29th annual Harbor Lights Festival. The duo arrive around 1 p.m. by boat during a lighted boat parade. Also on hand are elves, Mr. Moose and the Christmas Lobster. (633-2353, boothbayharbor.com)

BANGOR

• From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3, folks can visit Santa's Workshop at 33 Central St. to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and take pictures. The festival of lights parade begins at Main Street and West Market Square at 4:30 p.m., with the city tree lighting around 6:30 p.m. (947-8336)

FMI