It’s undeniable, irrefutable and a fact of life.  Social media has changed the way we live, think, feel and do business.  And the speed at which it is changing (along with the tech gadgets we use to propagate it) ensures that we will all be playing “catch-up” in our efforts to understand how to maximize this shiny new toy.

This is especially true with businesses.  Entire industries (big corporations down to mom-and-pop shops) are scrambling to understand and take advantage of Social Media.

EyeforTravel (a UK-based company specializing in travel distribution news, worldwide events and analysis) (@anigba) was far ahead of the social media trend when it launched the Social Media Strategies for Travel North America four years ago.  The conference (one of the most anticipated and respected travel conferences in the world) hits San Francisco today for two days of instruction and discussion on the latest trends in social media for travel and how the industry is progressing with the onslaught of social technology.   The event will feature some of the most respected thought leaders in the travel industry as speakers and attendees who are managers of corporate and tourist travel-related companies seeking to understand how to use social media more effectively.

In addition to attending their many conferences on social media throughout the world, travel industry business people and entrepreneurs can also join EyeForTravel’s robust LinkedIn group “Social Media in Travel” with over 4,000 members.

The event hashtag is #smtravel11.  Three words: check it out!  You’ll learn quite a bit about how to improve your travel experience whether you work in the business or just love to travel!

We’ll be trolling the hashtag stream, stirring up trouble, and bringing you the goods from #smtravel11.  Come on over and tweet hello (and if you have a social media travel experience worth sharing – tweet it under the event hashtag and we’ll retweet it!).

Tweet ya later!