the world's smartest travel social network
2009.08.25
Go-Lo.net
José Balido
JoseBalido@gmail.com
786-282-7838
www.go-lo.net
TRAVEL INDUSTRY INSIDERS, HELPS BEAT THE RECESSION BLUES
Free professional advice and more bang for your travel buck
are the goal on Go-Lo, a social network for today's value-conscious traveler
MIAMI ̶ AUG. 25, 2009 ̶ David Paul Appell, co-founder and CEO of EnLinea, LLC, a Miami-based developer of innovative social networks, today announced the official launch of Go-Lo.net, a new travel social network that breaks down the traditional barriers that have stood between travelers and travel journalists, publicists, agents, vendors, and anyone else with good, actionable info.
Appell, a longtime travel journalist and former magazine editor, explained: "Go-Lo offers travelers who are overwhelmed by information from too many travel sites a chance to 'hang out' online with industry insiders, asking questions and getting tips that will help them travel better ̶ and save a buck. Meanwhile, the insiders get a chance to put their fingers on the pulse of what the traveling public wants, and pick up a few tips of their own. Everybody wins." Co-founder and President José Balido added with a smile: "I myself just stayed at a great property in Tampa recently for under a hundred bucks, thanks to a Go-Lo member expert. It might have taken me hours to find it on my own."
With a user-friendly, Facebook-style interface, Go-Lo combines fun content ̶ destination spotlights; user-generated photo and video galleries; travel news feeds; an events calendar; weekly polls; world music videos with commentary; and a far-ranging weekly travel blog ̶ with an eclectic and ever-expanding network of members from more than 50 countries around the world, thus far including Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, the Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai/UAE, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad/Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. They're all travel enthusiasts, but many are also travel journalists, travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, and marketers.
Members participate in more than 260 groups dedicated to all 50 U.S. states and hundreds of countries around the world, as well as travel topics including eco/sustainable tourism, family travel, honeymoons/weddings, gay/lesbian, movies & travel, travel with pets, wine, foreign-language clubs, history/archaeology, singles travel, and much more. Most of these groups even list specific members qualified to advise on that destination or topic. What could be cooler than getting up-to-date info from an Auckland journalist about your upcoming trip to New Zealand, a couple of tips from a fellow traveler, and a rundown of fare options from a Kiwi-specialist travel agent, all in one place? And you might even make a friend or two along the way!
Go-Lo.net also has dedicated groups for travel media, travel agents, tour operators, and travel publicists, and a random sampling of other members includes representatives from: Colombia Tourism, Finnair, German National Tourist Office, Kimpton, Lufthansa, Mandarin Oriental, Minnesota Tourism, Mississippi Tourism, Netherlands Tourist Board, NYC & Company, Portugal Tourism, Ritz-Carlton, SAS, South Carolina Tourism, Visit Britain, and Visit Florida, among others. All are ready and willing to help fellow members upon request.
Says Appell, "In an age when both travel and the print media are facing enormous pressures, we hope to create new outreach opportunities for both ̶ and help people keep exploring their world."
Editor’s Notes: Interviews and photographs are available upon request.
̶Arthur Frommer on www.frommers.com / New York, NY
"FACEBOOK for travelers? That's the aim of Go-Lo, a social networking site of, for and by travelers - from writers to flight attendants and travel agents - focusing on over 250 global locations."
New York Post / New York, NY
"Potentially a fantastic backdoor route for scoring expert advice from the people who travel and explore for a living!"
Alistair Wearmouth on Away.com, Travel Editor / Washington, DC
"By the time they reach their first million members, [Go-Lo] can become a good promotional vehicle."
Chris Robles, Director of Marketing for the Brunei Tourism Development Department / Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
"Fantastic concept for the travel industry - will be sure to invite all our colleagues in Australia and NZ."
Tess Willcox, Senior Account Manager at World Resorts of Distinction / QLD, Australia
"I love Go-Lo and always get great travel ideas from your fabulous site!"
Sharon Spence Lieb, Travel Journalist / Charleston, SC
"Much cooler than 90% of new travel sites..."
Max Hartshorne, Editor of GoNomad.com / South Deerfield, MA
"Great idea and vision, for everyone who travels....anywhere."
Patricia Aitken, Travel Agent / Eagle Point, OR
"It's great to see someone doing something proactive instead of just whining about the state of the travel industry!"
Alan Solomon, Travel Journalist / Chicago, IL
"I am very excited about this site and am looking forward to participating."
Carol Fravel, Travel Agent / San Jose, CA
"This is a beautiful website (if that's the right word). I'll use some of the information in my Travel Tips column."
Betty Austin-Ware, Travel Journalist / Fort Mill, SC
"A great organization for quality travel & culinary connections."
Leigh Cort, Publicist / Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
"I am a hold-out -- have resisted joining any other online networking site -- no MySpace or Facebook for me. :-) "
Sharon Rooney, Publicist / Windsor, CA
"What a great site for resources!"
Tanja Rieck, Travel Agent / Redwood City, CA
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