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Both versions of the SDTA\u2019s website have information on hotels, attractions, restaurants, transportation and tours throughout the San Diego area.<\/p>\n
The new mobile site is not to be confused with an app, though it does have some of the same features handheld users have come to expect from apps. Users of smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices can access the new mobile site through a web browser. Navigation is made simple through \u201cback\u201d and \u201chome\u201d options and users can venture to the SDTA\u2019s regular website with one click.<\/p>\n
Kathleen Kubota, the tourism authority\u2019s senior director of marketing services, said the mobile site has been in the planning stages for about a year. The actual building process began four months ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ran into a couple of issues early on, but once all the obstacles were moved out of the way, I think the turn-around on this was pretty quick,\u201d Kubota said.<\/p>\n
Joe Terzi, president and CEO of the SDTA, said in a press release that development of the mobile site was based on data. He asserted about 25 percent of the tourism authority\u2019s traffic comes from handheld devices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to create a sleek, seamless connection to travelers on the go,\u201d Terzi said in the release. \u201cNow, with the swipe of a finger, San Diego visitors can book a hotel room, discover what restaurants, attractions and activities are nearby and even create a \u2018favorites\u2019 page.\u201d<\/p>\n
An estimated 7 million people visit the SDTA\u2019s website annually.<\/p>\n
While the bulk of SDTA\u2019s marketing efforts are geared toward the more than 32 million people visiting the greater San Diego area each year across the globe, Kubota said the information is also beneficial to locals looking to seek out leisure options in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople use our websites in different ways and for different reasons,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether a person is a local or visitor, Kubota said the split versions of the SDTA\u2019s website are aimed at meeting people\u2019s different needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to be able to reach people who were on the go with quick bites of information,\u201d she said. \u201cThe mobile app is truncated and doesn\u2019t have the robust content you\u2019ll find on our (desktop) site.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mobile site has more interactive features than the traditional desktop site. Once a user logs onto m.sandiego.org, he or she is prompted to share their exact location. The intent, Kubota said, is to give visitors information on venues and amenities that are in close proximity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the \u2018what\u2019s nearby\u2019 feature will be really helpful \u2013 especially to visitors,\u201d Kubota said. \u201cIt has mapping capabilities, and it can help people figure out restaurant options and use other types of search features.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plans also call for the mobile site to feature exclusive offers from member businesses and organizations. A mobile user will be able to show electronic coupons on his or her handheld device without printing them.<\/p>\n
The tourism authority enlisted the services of mobiManage, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based software development company specializing in mobile websites and apps. The SDTA mobile site was developed through the use of Sitecore, a Microsoft .NET CMS platform.<\/p>\n
The SDTA has more than 1,000 active member organizations. The new mobile site will allow them much more flexibility with their marketing efforts and special offers aimed at customers on the go, and they will be able to publish content directly onto the traditional and mobile sites through an extranet feature.<\/p>\n
While SDTA staff and members and mobiManage officials worked out a number of bugs before the official launch of the mobile site, Kubota said it remains a work in progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur intent is to roll out more features and enhance the mobile site over time,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re hoping this will be a great resource.\u201d<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s Note: The author of this piece decided to do a test of m.sandiego.org. Here are his results:<\/i><\/p>\n
Using my handheld device \u2014 an Android smartphone \u2014 this reporter recently tried out SDTA\u2019s new mobile site.<\/p>\n
During the \u201ctest drive,\u201d which was done during peak midday hours, I did not have any difficulty navigating the site. All of the information loaded quickly and there weren\u2019t any noticeable bugs.<\/p>\n
The mobile site clearly has a number of tabs under such headings as \u201cWhat\u2019s Nearby,\u201d \u201cDiscover San Diego,\u201d \u201cWhat to Do\u201d and \u201cWhere to Stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
I chose to click on a tab labeled \u201cEvents\u201d and appreciated the depth of information available. At the touch of a button, I could locate information on walking tours, museum exhibits, lectures and an assortment of other events taking place in the immediate and distant future.<\/p>\n
Throughout the site, handheld users have opportunities to filter their searches by date, region and category. \u201cInteractive\u201d was a word that quickly came to mind as I browsed.<\/p>\n
My 10-minute visit to the mobile site was a pleasant, informative and expeditious experience.<\/p>\n
For more information about the San Diego Tourism Authority, find them on Facebook as \u201cVisit San Diego,\u201d follow them on Twitter at @visitsandiego, visit their website, sandiego.org or on your handheld, try out the new m.sandiego.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n