57% of people talk more online than they do in real life. source: Alex Trimpe via Ogilvy — February 21, 2011, ThinkQuarterly, Google

62% of personal travelers use search engines as the number one source for travel information. source: Google/OTX, Traveler's Road to Decision 2010, U.S, Sept 2010 -TWEET THIS FACT

Source http://www.imagemediapartners.com/blog/bid/93634/50-Tweetable-Social-Media-Marketing-Stats-for-2012
Facebook mobile app audience grew 88% (TWEET THIS STAT)
Twitter mobile app audience grew 134% (TWEET THIS STAT)
Foursquare mobile app audience grew 118% (TWEET THIS STAT)
Pinterest is fastest growing social network in 2012 (TWEET THIS STAT)
46% of social media users now connect via a mobile phone (TWEET THIS STAT)
53% compliment brands on social media networks (TWEET THIS STAT)
50% complain about brands on social media networks (TWEET THIS STAT)
14% purchased a product after seeing an ad on social networks (TWEET THIS STAT)
33% agree ads on social media sites are annoying (TWEET THIS STAT)
30% prefer contacting customer service via social media rather than by phone (TWEET THIS STAT)

http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/reports-downloads/2012-Reports/The-Social-Media-Report-2012.pdf
How is consumer usage of social media evolving?
How is social media impacting marketing?
Who is using Pinterest?
Service
51% people aged 25-34 use SM in the office
47% share money incentives

What's Youth Got to Do with It? Exploring the Travel Behavior of
Teens and Young Adults http://www.uctc.net/research/papers/UCTC-FR-2012-14.pdf http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4062853.html - People London – London
It was not surprising to see that London itself generated the highest volume of search for London as a destination, with New York City, Rome, Milan and Manchester being the next top source cities for London search.

t's interesting to note that while 45% of bookings were for 3-star hotels, 43% were for 4-star and just 9% stepped up to 5-star properties. Of the 10 nSight Persona Clusters defined by over 100 demographic, psychographic and behavior attributes, the Self-Seeker Persona generated a strong share of travel with 27.9% of bookings into London. The Bucket Lister Persona (select attributes: 66+ years old, mostly fixed income, long lead Time for research) is 2X more likely to book London that the Dream Tripper Persona (select attributes: 51 – 65 years old, higher income, often travels with friends, often adds tours and excursions)

http://faculty.ist.psu.edu/jjansen/academic/asist_bulletin_paid_search/02_chiang.pdf
In addition, the Internet has transformed consumer behavior in two ways: (1) transformation of consumers into online shoppers requiring the usage of computers, and (2) transformation of the physical stores into online marketplaces that is information technology intensive. In order to understand consumer online search behavior, it is necessary to include the interaction between the combined roles of consumer/computer user and information technology provided by the online stores. These factors impose certain search costs on consumers and influence their online search behavior.

Sources such as friends, advertisements, and magazines such as Consumer Reports are often utilized by consumers to facilitate their decision-making. Lately, the Internet has joined other traditional media and become a major source of information for many products and services for consumers because of its abundance of information and convenience.
Searching information online requires consumers to change their conventional behavior. Behavioral change is difficult and often requires incentives such as explicit monetary savings or increased convenience. Past studies have found that convenience is the single most salient benefit of online shopping and consumers look for new way to find information and buy products that are faster and more convenient. In order to search online,