Grantastic
10-07-2007, 03:37 PM
At the SMX Local Mobile keynote speech by Michael Jones, Chief Technologiest for Google Maps, Earth, and Local Search, he presented the comparisons between online local search and the concierge business. While Michael conceded that Google Local is far away from the quality of service a professional concierge can provide, I myself have been to upper-class hotels where the concierges were oblivious to online local search, and I found myself having to assist them with finding local spots.
My blog article (http://www.grantasticdesigns.com/blog/index.php/2007/10/07/will-local-search-kill-the-concierge-business/) provides an overview of Michael's keynote presentation on the "hyper-local" challenge between Google local and concierges, an article by USA Today that appeared the day afterwards which addresses these same topics, and my own suggestion list for what all hotels and buildings offering guest services need to assist their guests by including online local search.
My blog article (http://www.grantasticdesigns.com/blog/index.php/2007/10/07/will-local-search-kill-the-concierge-business/) provides an overview of Michael's keynote presentation on the "hyper-local" challenge between Google local and concierges, an article by USA Today that appeared the day afterwards which addresses these same topics, and my own suggestion list for what all hotels and buildings offering guest services need to assist their guests by including online local search.