Group Updates and Conversations

Every group trip has a space in your travelers' portal where you can post updates and, if you choose, let the travelers talk to each other. Nobody needs a new login, and there's no Facebook group to run on the side.

Where to find it

Open the group and go to the Messages tab. The Updates in their portal card is there from day one, even before you've posted anything.

Posting an update

Use Message all. Also post to Updates in their portal is ticked by default, so the message is emailed to everyone and also stays at the top of each traveler's trip page. Tick Pin to top for anything important.

Each update shows how many travelers tapped Got it, and you can click through to see who hasn't yet.

Letting travelers talk

Turn on Let travelers talk on the Updates card. Then:

• The group's section in each traveler's portal becomes Group conversations, with a New post button.
• Anyone on the trip can start a post, and everyone can reply under any post.
• Travelers see each other by first name and last initial.
• Each traveler's trip card on their portal home gets a Join the conversation link.

Sharing group photos

With Let travelers talk on, travelers can share photos with the whole group:

• In New post, they tap Add photos and pick up to 20 photos from their phone. A title is optional on a photo post.
• The photos show under their post, and every photo in the group gathers in a Group photos strip at the top of the conversation. Tapping one opens it full size, with arrows to flip through the rest.
• Anyone in the group can reply under a photo post, the same as any other post.
• Photos are shrunk on the phone before they upload, so a big batch goes quickly even on hotel wifi. A group has 2 GB of photo space.

On the Updates card you see each post's photos. Hover one to download it, or use the eye button to hide it from the group. Hidden photos leave every traveler's portal straight away, and you can show them again.

Photos shared in the group are separate from the Traveler photos card on a trip, which collects photos only you can see.

You stay in control. From the card's menu you can remove any post, and the eye button hides any reply or photo. Turning the switch off hides the whole conversation, photos included, from travelers without deleting anything.

Leave it off for groups where it doesn't fit. It's a per-group switch and off by default. A group with it off works exactly as before: updates from you only.

Email nudges

While Let travelers talk is on, Email travelers about new posts (on by default) sends the rest of the group a short email when someone starts a post or replies, with a Join the conversation link.

• At most one email an hour per traveler per group, so a busy thread doesn't flood anyone's inbox.
• The person who wrote never gets an email about their own post.
• Each traveler can untick Email me about new posts at the bottom of the group's conversation in their portal.
• Your own updates already go out by email through Message all, so they don't send a second nudge.

Nudges go to the lead traveler on each trip in the group who has a portal and an email address.