Tech experts outline the future of travel
Internet fatigue, new payment systems, immediate settlement for ticket sales, multiple styles of commercial relationships, and the selling of more complex products online were just some of the predictions made by experts at this year’s Travel Technology Show.
The crystal ball gazing revealed an internet and systems landscape very different from the ones we know today, but all pointed towards a travel industry where every player has the potential to be a mini tour operator as dynamic packaging takes a firm grip on the industry.
Major changes in the pipeline include:
XML rewriting the distribution scene with new channels detracting from the GDSs and lessening their grip on the market
The emergence of “fuzzy logic” and CRM recommendation.
Think Amazon’s “if you liked this book, you’ll like…” and translate that to hotel suggestions. Tech bosses predict this is just around the corner.
Oyster Card-like smart cards for air travel.
Multi-channel platforms which allow selling across a variety of technologies.
The emergence of Travel 3.0 which will see Web 2.0 technology combine with dynamic packaging to produce an environment where travel providers will bid for your client’s custom as you package their holiday up.
An increase of products available to sell on the travel agent’s desktop. Said one pundit: “Even now the type of product an agent sells is very different from the old days and this will keep evolving.”
The ability to sell more complicated itineraries and products online through better technology.
By Dinah Hatch
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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