Hilton Hotels expands reach past iPhone with Notescasts

By Jordan Crook

August 26, 2009

Hilton's Walt Disney World Resort guide on the iPod

Hotel mega-chain Hilton Hotels has launched a new product-information resource via the Apple family of products for its Walt Disney World Resort location.

Using TimeStream Software technology, owners of the iPhone, iPod touch, iPod Classic, iPod Video and iPod Nano can download a 60-page-guide to the Walt Disney World resort to their computer, transfer it to their iPod and have it with them on-the-go. This technology called Notescasts is fresh off the conveyer belt, so Hilton is getting a head up on the competition.

"Today's consumers are beginning to spend more time away from their computers and are now accessing that same information via devices in their mobile lives," said Mike Westby, founder of TimeStream Software, Portland, OR.

"To follow these consumers and maintain mind share beyond the PC, companies need to make sure they're extending their message to devices with the largest market share, or in other words, the devices consumers are actually using," he said.

The Hilton is using traditional media tactics as well as its own Web site to promote this new offering.

The same guide rendering on an iPhone

The differentiating factor for this mobile marketing product from TimeStream is reach.

While many brands stick with the application channel to create brand awareness, that application only reaches a small percentage of the potential 50 million iPhone and iPod touch users.

Notescasts, on the other hand, extend Hilton's reach beyond the iPhone and iPod touch and grasp further into that family of products reaching the iPod Classic, iPod Video and iPod Nano as well.

The potential reach of this technology goes from 50 million users to approximately 150 million users.

"Now, for the first time, the Hilton, located in Walt Disney World Resort can use its powerful new Notescasts for the iPhone and iPod to extend its marketing message beyond the PC and out deep into potential guests' and meeting planners' mobile lives," Mr. Westby said.

"From there it can be reviewed and acted upon wherever they go, and whenever they want, even if there is no cell phone signal or Internet access," he said.

To download Hilton's notescast, users must begin by connecting their iPod device to their PC.

From there users must click on the link.

After downloading the notescast.zip file, users must copy the "Hilton Walt Disney World Notecast" and "Photos" files into the Notes section of iTunes.

Once the user syncs and ejects their iPod device, they are ready to venture into the happiest place on earth.

The Notescast technology holds up to 1,000 pages of customizable content that brands can deliver to iPod, iPhone and iPod touch users globally.

"Notescasts are an excellent tool to reach travelers, as each title provides a rich experience in a wealth of information which showcases a resort or travel destination," Mr. Westby said. "In a nutshell, Notescasts bring a resort's entire Web site content to a mobile device."

"Better yet, all of this custom content is formatted specifically for the device, so guests no longer have to deal with the tiny fonts or expanding and contracting screens experienced when reviewing a hotel property via a standard Web site app," he said.

"And because no WiFi or cell phone signal is required, the information specific to that resort is always available. From a mobile marketing standpoint, this means potential guests and decision makers stay engaged with the product, thus increasing response, reservations and revenue."