Thirteen Tech Tools We Can’t Live Without in 2013

Mar 13, 2013

In a recent co-branded webinar from TravelAge West and ASTA’s Young Professionals Society (YPS) entitled “13 Technology Tools We Can’t Live Without in 2013,” four leading travel and technology experts shared the secrets of their favorite tech tools.

Moderated by TravelAge West’s senior editor Skye Mayring, the panel included Brian Cloud, chief technology officer of SwiftTrip LLC, an Altour company; Kale Hungerson, the U.S. Internet marketing manager for the Ensemble Travel Group; Monica Poling, the online and technology editor for TravelAge West; and James Shearer, director of progress at Travel Masters in Vancouver and the international chair for YPS.

The conversation covered far more than 13 valuable technology tools and their applications. For a summary of the webinar, see the outline below — or scroll all the way down to watch the archived webinar now.

Email, Planning and Organization Programs

Microsoft Outlook
•Set rules for automatic email organization or use Quick Step as a shortcut for organizing emails without automatically sorting
•Synchronizes with phone and other devices
•Can integrate with other tools, keeping everything in one spot
•Multiple email addresses can be accessed through Outlook

Evernote
•Note-taking tool, add-on to Outlook 2010 and web browsers, as well as tablets and phones
•Features for sharing notes with others and tagging notes to find them more easily later

OneNote
•Integrated with Microsoft Office and Outlook
•Similar to Evernote — make lists, tag things from the Internet, use multi-dimensional tools for subcategorizing items, access notes later on-the-go

Other Recommended Email Tools
•Lotus Notes
•Thunderbird •Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail

Meetings and Collaboration

Trello
•Comprehensive online web application — manage tasks, set due dates, create lists, etc. that can all be accessed from the web
•Assign tasks quickly with different people in different places

Meetings.io
•Free communication tool, like Skype or conference call applications, to share files, send instant messages and make calls
•Create a one-page profile which embodies you or your business so people can come to that page to learn more and set up meetings with you

Join.me
•Screen-sharing program, which is free for a trial period
•Can be used internationally

Doodle
•Free online scheduling tool that allows groups to share their individual availability through a poll

Google Hangouts
•Place for groups to meet online and converse face-to-face from different places

Cloud Storage

What is cloud storage?
•Storing files on the Internet, as opposed to a computer, so that they can be accessed from any Internet connection

Google Drive
•Cloud storage system with access to Google’s publishing tools
•Free tool for storing files online — get five gigabytes for free

SkyDrive
•Windows version of Google Drive — get seven gigabytes for free
•Attaches to Outlook; offers ability to edit Microsoft documents online

Dropbox
•Put documents in a file that you can easily email to others
•Photos from a mobile phone can be sent to DropBox, to look at on a computer, edit, upload or email

Hardware

Mobile Organization
•Neat Receipts — mobile scanner device for business cards, receipts and documents into files for managing
•Shoeboxed — take a photo of a business card or receipt to upload without scanner device; offers accounts of varying prices
•Square — mobile credit-card scanner for payments

Smartphones
•Android/iPhone/Blackberry/Windows operating systems
•Syncs with email, tech tools, etc.
•Wi-Fi hotspots can give travelers consistent access to the Web

Western Digital Storage Drives
•Like Dropbox, but physical hardware for backing up files

Apps

Airline Apps
•Scan boarding pass instead of printing

TripIt
•Automatically parses travel information such as flight number, hotel information and itinerary details; sends reminders for flights; creates a master itinerary
•TripIt Pro is $50 a year and will track airline refunds and offers other tools

Flight Track Pro
•Gate information; terminal maps; weather delays

Skype
•Make calls to computers or mobile phones for free or a minimal cost
•Video camera or phone calling

Sunrise
•Each morning sends an email that gives you a full-day itinerary by syncing with your calendars and applications (both work and personal)

Delicious
•Bookmarked web pages are centralized across different browsers and hardware through an app
•Add tags and categories to bookmarks; can create public categories for sharing with groups

Extra Tools

Social Media Scheduling Applications: HootSuite, TweetDeck, Buffer
•Multi-dimensional way to track everything in one place
•Post Facebook postings or Tweets in advance to go live later

Office 365
•Is similar to Office 2013, but allows offers to pay a yearly rate for up to 5 devices instead of purchasing for individual computers
•Gives more accessibility to the Skydrive cloud tool

Carbonite
•Online backup software offering tiers of data storage; automatically updates

YouTube
•How-to videos for using technology tools

MailChimp
•Regular communications email tool with statistical feedback

Urban Spoon
•Review-based app for finding quality restaurants in your location based on price and type

WhatsApp
•Works on all different phones with Wi-Fi for free messaging without incurring text messaging fees

The webinar, “13 Technology Tools We Can’t Live Without in 2013,” was the first in a series of webinars presented by TravelAge West and ASTA’s YPS. The series will continue on April 23 at 11 a.m. with the next co-branded webinar, “The New Young Consumer — Marketing to Generation Y and Millennials.”