Travel Convention: Operators warned of competition from non-travel brands
Leisure travel companies are failing to catch on to mobile technology, according to a communications expert.
PWC partner Kenny Fraser told delegates at the ABTA Travel Convention that while business travellers are well served by mobile apps, the leisure traveller is not.
“We’re not seeing the big holiday operators or small operators really using this technology,” he said.
“The business traveller is very well catered for and there is a tremendous amount of functionality already there, but the holiday traveller is not so well served.”
He warned leisure travel companies that if they do not act fast, they risk being overtaken by competitors within and outside the industry.
“You’re going to see the big dominant brands, like Amazon and Tesco, expanding their presence and becoming new, non-traditional competitors.”
He said leisure consumers are using mobile apps in their day-to-day lives to buy train tickets or check bus timetables.
“They will expect to see this happening in their holiday world as well,” said Fraser.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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