Orbitz, Travelocity, Flip The UGC Switch Already

I have recently been searching Orbitz and Travelocity for their user generated video.  I can’t find any.  So here’s an idea I am giving away if anyone at either of these sites is listening.

Since The Flip video recorder is about as stupid simple as you can get, why not give vacationers the option to have one to use for their trip for free, as long as they upload at least 10 minutes of video. If they don’t upload any video, then they get charged $25 for using it (or the full price of the unit if they fail to return it).  They could also give a Flip away every month to the traveler turned video-maven who gets the most views on their video.

Since both of these sites know well in advance of when a family or a couple is going on vacation, they could simply ask them if they want to participate.  If they do, then the traveler puts a deposit on a credit card (card is not actually charged) and the Flip (branded of course) is either sent to them or they could have a number of them stocked at the destination hotel.

For the length of their stay the traveller has the Flip to record their video.  I would suggest that they get the destination hotels to work with them to set up a station in the business center or right in the lobby, where the traveler is encouraged to upload their day’s video to the site.  In fact when they do upload content, they are also prompted to send a link to their friends and family via email or their cell phones.

Doing this would allow for greater content sharing as well as building up a library of user generated content that can be used with the travelers review of the property.  In addition, by almost forcing the traveler to give friends emails when uploading you are creating a wider circle of people who now will interact with the brand and be encouraged to learn more about what the Brand has to offer.

The Flip is a wonderful tool for brand’s to use to enable user genrated content.  What can you do to encourage your users to upload content?