Virtual reality will help travel companies become the “next generation retailers” – that’s the rallying cry from one travel tech provider this week. A developer at Amadeus-owned Navitaire in the US has created what the company is claiming is the world’s first “virtual reality search and booking experience”. The patent-pending…
From American Airlines to United, airlines are currently generating the kind of headlines no brands want to be associated with, whilst generating memes like “board as a doctor, leave as a patient”. NB: This is an analysis by Johan Hogsander, managing director for Transform. Reactions to the United saga,…
The humble travel app faces huge challenges when competing in the world of consumer shopping and buying of products related to trips. Firstly there is the trend that travellers tend to not have many apps on their devices now, preferring to have a favourite and sticking with it. Also, consumers…
Evolving a business to address travelers’ needs doesn’t have a start and end date – it’s a constant flow of change and transition. From how consumers book a hotel to how they submit a travel insurance claim, technology is a given when it comes to customer service. NB This…
Hospitality and technology have long been awkward bedfellows. Whereas other industries have been able to incorporate the automation of tasks with relative ease, hospitality has lagged a little behind. NB This is a viewpoint by Sam Weston, marketing manager at 80 DAYS. Most of us would admit technology will…
Increasingly, corporate innovation means dedicated incubators, accelerators, or investment arms that exist to nurture new and emerging companies. This macro trend is alive and well in travel. Larger travel companies use these models to capitalize on new ideas, markets and technologies that startups pursue. These investments are intended not…
Recharge, a mobile app that lets users book hotels outside of the traditional timeframe, has caught the attention of JetBlue Technology Ventures. The airline’s incubation project, launched in February last year, has made an undisclosed investment in the two-year-old startup. The company has previously raised $2.3 million in seed funding…
There are many pain points in the travel process, impacting consumers, suppliers, intermediaries and the tech providers. But there is a growing consensus that blockchain could be the innovation to address these issues. NB This is a viewpoint by Trond Vidar Bjorøy, head of product development and implementation –…
As consumers are always connected to their digital channels, their habits are constantly evolving. These constant shifts have challenged the hospitality industry to keep pace with new technology and trends so as to compete in the online community space. NB: This is an analysis by Jean-Luis Boss, chief marketing…
Travelsky’s 2016 annual report highlights the scale of the business and the range of services it is currently offering to China’s airlines, airports and agents, with a hint that it might be looking at opportunities overseas. The 185-page densely-packed document covers topics familiar to anyone familiar with annual reports…