Most people are told to get off Facebook at work, but Travelscene American Express (TSAX) members are urged to jump on the popular social networking site and could even win $500 for doing so.

At the recent TSAX National Consultants Conference TSAX Marketing Head, Adam Vance, offered a $500 marketing grant to the first agency in the TSAX network to get 500 Facebook ‘likes’.

“You don’t have to be a Webjet or Expedia to make an impact online,” Mr Vance said, which is certainly true according to TSAX research that found more people were following TSAX members on Facebook than Webjet and Expedia.

“Facebook is perfect for our members because they can target specific groups and it does not have to be a huge spend,” Mr Vance told e-Travel Blackboard.

“The success of our social networking campaigns is that they were never about targeting the 18 to 30 year old demographic.

“Latest figures [from Sunday] show 7.9 million Australians are on Facebook…1.22 million in the 40 to 50 year age group – these are the people we are targeting.”

According to a recent study, TSAX found consumers tend to research travel plans online, but prefer customer service and support when actually booking travel.

“Our customers are telling us…that they want to have the information at their fingertips but still want the reassurance and empathy of a travel professional to complete and fulfil their dream holiday,” TSAX General Manger Jacqui Timmins said.

As such, TSAX has focused on upping its online presence and investing in significant online marketing campaigns to channel online consumers to their members.

In the last twelve months TSAX embarked on 200 marketing campaigns with 35 preferred suppliers through Facebook.

“These dedicated campaigns and our own Facebook presence now drive almost one third of all visitors to the Travelscene American Express website and that’s…new business for our members,” Ms Timmins said.

TSAX is also the primary travel sponsor of the soon to be released iconic travel movie, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ and will provide members with marketing tools to “almost own that movie”, Mr Vance told delegates.