September 18, 2006

USAToday.com overhauls travel section with "greater emphasis on consumer input"

USAToday.com has relaunched its travel section today. Online Media Daily reports the redesigned site "will place greater emphasis on consumer input, travel tools, and blogs."

Touted under the tagline "Explore. Go. Share.," the refurbished travel site also encompasses a batch of new blogs. They include The Golfer's World; Just Back From, which will include memorable stories and tips from USAToday travel writers recently back from trips; Amazing Race, which will provide travel tips and information based on the far-flung journeys of contestants in the CBS reality show; and a cruise-related blog to be introduced by month's end.

Embracing the user-created content trend, blogs and other sections on the site will more prominently feature comments and feedback from readers. "We're taking the inclusion of consumer comments and really bringing that to the fore so there's a lot more user interaction," said Jeff Webber, publisher of USAToday.com. The goal is to provide a more balanced mix of expert advice from its staff writers with the opinions and insights of travel consumers, he said.