November 10 , 2009

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts checks in to social media by enabling two-way dialogue
New website first in industry to engage travelers through Facebook Connect

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announced today the launch of the new sheraton.com, the first hotel industry website to feature Facebook Connect and allow visitors to interact with their friends and family by sharing their travel experiences through today’s most popular social networking site. 

In 2006, sheraton.com became the first hotel industry website to embrace social media by featuring user generated content. Today, the brand continues to enhance the social media experience for guests by tapping into new social networking channels and enabling a two-way dialogue through the unique global travel community on sheraton.com.   The launch of the new site is part of a $6 billion worldwide effort to revitalize the iconic Sheraton brand, including an investment of $2.3 billion in new hotels, $1.5 billion in renovations and $400 million in signature brand initiatives throughout North America.

Facebook users can now share and discover

The new site enables Facebook members to interact through sheraton.com over travel experiences by sharing stories, tips and photos about their best travel finds, destination favourites and passion for travel. Users can visit sheraton.com and now post their stories by logging into their Facebook account via Facebook Connect.  Once a story is approved and posted to the site, Facebook Connect enables sheraton.com users to tag their Facebook friends in their story, inviting them to jump into the conversation as well as share their travel experiences with all of their Facebook friends.  Not a Facebook member?  No worries – anyone can post their travel tales and photos by simply entering their email address. Have a question or comment for Sheraton Hotels about an upcoming stay or recent visit?  The new site also lets visitors create a two-way dialogue with the brand through its online community. 

“The new sheraton.com reflects how people communicate and stay connected today,” said Hoyt H. Harper, senior vice president for Sheraton.  “Our guests are technologically-sophisticated travellers who are eager to share their experiences through today’s most popular social networking sites, like Facebook.  We wanted to use the power of social media to go beyond merely just transacting with customers and provide a meaningful experience by creating a global community where travellers can easily engage in an active, exciting dialogue about their passion for travel.”

Explore the global neighborhood

Upon entering the new site visitors can click on “our community”, or go directly to sheraton.com/community, where they will be welcomed by a globe that represents the Sheraton brand’s “global neighbourhood” and invited to explore what other guests are saying about their travels as well as share stories of their own. 

The globe is organized by region and powered by Microsoft’s Bing Maps and populated with pictures and stories that have been submitted by guests and travellers.  Users can log in thru Facebook Connect, allowing them to "connect" their Facebook identity, friends and privacy to the site.  The site’s new search optimization also allows visitors to search stories by activity and interest, including beach, romance, sports, business and spa, so that relevant stories are immediately accessed.  Each story is additionally accompanied by hotel information, a booking portal and applicable special offers for effortless access to relevant information.