Destination Nexus Beta Launched

February 19, 2010 Reservation Nexus is proud to announce the launch of Destination Nexus. Destination Nexus is a destination directory of privately owned businesses, starting with the lodging industry. Destination Nexus will elevate entire industries; assisting those businesses with improving content, representation and service.

What are the goals and aspirations of Destination Nexus?

Destination Nexus lists everyone. Membership is optional and affordable, not mandatory in order to be listed.
With ever increasing costs and decreasing representation (small pictures, too many banner ads, cluttered content, etc.), it's well past time to introduce an affordable and guest-friendly directory for several markets.
With over 12,400 U.S. inns (and growing daily) Destination Nexus is and will continue to be the largest directory of its type. It will grow into other markets over time.
Destination Nexus is an amazing and attractive directory that is truly all about promoting the businesses it represents. It is banner ad and commission free.
While other directories use small quarter-sized pictures, Destination Nexus uses large beautiful pictures.
Destination Nexus avoids clutter and information overload.
Visitors go straight to the business' website or online booking engine commission free.
Members can add unlimited content about their business for only $97 a year. There are no hidden fees or hidden commissions.
Businesses are listed not by how much they pay, but by an internal ranking system we call the "Red Carpet Index". Read below for more information.
While directories pop up all the time, Destination Nexus is the first directory to come along in a long time by an established industry leader. Most of those directories start with nothing. Destination Nexus started with 12,000+ U.S. inns.

Destination Nexus Ranking System - Introducing the "Red Carpet Index"

Destination Nexus lists businesses by their Red Carpet Index (RCI). Much like Google, the goal is for the best businesses to be on the first page of their state, region and city. While the exact formula is confidential, the overall details are public: The goal is to have the best businesses at the top. They have great websites and pictures, superb presentation and marketing skills, they allow guests to book online and they have solid customer ratings, etc. The exact formula will be changing from time to time especially this first year.

The Destination Nexus Red Carpet Index is not done by a computer. Every business can claim and manage their Destination Nexus listing at no charge. Membership is optional and affordable and allows inns to add additional content. Membership doesn't award a higher RCI.

As these businesses update their pictures, descriptions and content within Destination Nexus, a Destination Nexus Travel Editor is notified and reviews and adjusts their Red Carpet Index. Thus, businesses are in control of their ranking within Destination Nexus. Destination Nexus will even make recommendations on how to improve your Red Carpet Index.

Much like Google, Destination Nexus is a living product. It is constantly updating pages so it can take several days for ranking changes and new businesses to appear.

Starting Page

Visitors start where they live and then use the map to select where they want to go. With the present economy, more and more people are traveling closer to home. Most privately owned lodging entities claim that the majority of their guests reside in the same state.

Spiders and bots start on a different page: http://destinationnexus.com/home2.html.

Destination Nexus Stages

Stage 1: Search Engine Indexing - With so many pages, it's going to take time for Google, Bing and the other search engines to index Destination Nexus. During this phase, innkeepers are being asked to place a link on their website to their Destination Nexus listing.

Please visit: http://destinationnexus.com/recommendations/link-to-destinationnexus.aspx for instructions and steps.

During this stage, please report any contact information errors by calling 801-830-1889. Picture and description changes can be made by the businesses in Stage 2.

Stage 2: Claim and Manage Your Inn. Become a Member

At the beginning of March innkeepers will be able to claim their inn and make changes to their listing. Businesses can add even more content by becoming members for only $97 a year.

During this phase, lodging businesses can request to be added to Destination Nexus. Visitors can inform Destination Nexus of any businesses that are out of business or missing.

Stage 3: Business Highlights & High-Quality Area Activities

It is the intention of Destination Nexus to highlight the best businesses (highest RCI) through extended articles that are called "highlights". These businesses are interviewed by a Destination Nexus Travel Editor and submit high quality photos to be used in their highlight. Visitors will be able to read these highlights and learn more about the top businesses within Destination Nexus. Businesses can bid and compete for these highlights by state if the have the required minimum Red Carpet Index rating.

Destination Nexus also will start listing area activities. Visitors and businesses can submit local activities for consideration. Unlike most directories Destination Nexus activities will be very specific and well written. For example: "Hiking to the Grotto in Payson Canyon -- Payson, Utah" compared to "Hiking" (where?). Visitors recommend activities and our Travel Editors call, interview, research, write and publish these area activities. High quality activities should help visitors find amazing and specific activities near the businesses that are listed within Destination Nexus.

Stages 4+: Confidential

There are several additional stages scheduled for this year that are confidential. More details will come over time. You will love what's coming!

Become Involved

Thanks for your interest in Destination Nexus. It is an amazing and exciting project. Even though Destination Nexus has over 12,400 U.S. inns and every day more are added, your help and involvement are essential. It takes solid content, teamwork and hard work to earn top search engine placement. We can't do it without you! Please help us help you. Together we can revolutionize and elevate the look, feel and effectiveness of the major lodging directories on the market.

By becoming involved with Destination Nexus, over time you will see other directories become more affordable, effective, attractive and guest-friendly.

How can you help and become a part of the oncoming change right now?

Place a link to your Destination Nexus listing on your website homepage. Click here to learn how.
(March) Claim and manage your Destination Nexus listing. Membership is optional.
(March) Become involved. Membership is only $97 a year and allows you to add more content to your listing. The first year membership is free to all Reservation Nexus subscribers as well as for inns that participate in a Reservation Nexus no-risk 30-day trial.