Travel Mole Q&A on Mobile Apps

Mobile Apps are dramatically changing the travel industry. Here is a TravelMole question and answer session with David Goodis, President and CEO of Revelex:  

Q: Are aps, in your opinion, living up to their potential or are they underused ?

A: They are under used at this current time, but as companies begin exploring ways they can optimize those apps, I believe we will see some big changes within travel.
 

Q: Who is using aps now?

A: All companies in travel are exploring travel applications and many have launched these applications recently. However, the majority of travel companies are still in the “thinking about it” or in more of a research and development phase.
 

Q: Why are they growing in popularity?

A: Travel Apps are growing in popularity, especially with all the competition of mobile technology providers to be more advanced on their platforms.  Predominately, the air and hotel sectors have the heaviest use within travel apps. The majority of those using such travel apps mainly use it for content and research at this point, but we believe they are getting prepared to position themselves for increased booking over the next few years as their apps become more advanced.
 

Q: What ways are aps now being used and please speculate on how that might change in the future? 

A: Most apps address content only functionality.  Booking functionality is slowly gaining traction and we feel strongly that this trend will continue to increase due to the aspects which make mobile apps appealing:  ease of booking,  24/7 availability on multiple mobile platforms and of course, immediacy of the information to research (very important when coordinating group travel or even just a large family vacation). The future is really headed in the direction of booking platforms throughout mobile apps and I believe we will start seeing more and more of them popping up in the near future.
 

Q: Who are leaders in travel aps?

A: The large OTA’s and individual suppliers currently have jumped to the forefront in the deployment of travel apps.
 

Q: Who or what in the future might be more inclined to use them?

A: All sellers of travel will need to evaluate their business model to adapt to both mobile applications and social media.
 

Q: If air and hotel are the major users now of travel apps, will that change in the future?

A: As more travel verticals expand their reach into social media and travel apps, there will be an increased growth in these sectors. New categories of travel apps are launching quickly, which will impact growth of that respective travel sector.
 

Q: How does this fit with the overall travel industry?  

A: The travel industry continues to strive to be in the forefront of any technological advances. Using mobile travel apps is pertinent to keeping travel trouble-free for consumers, travel and industry providers.  Those travel providers known for their technology will continue to be leaders in the app technology as well.

Q: Some general comments on use of aps and where they're headed?

A: As consumer habits change, travel too must change.  Travel companies realize that in order to enhance their service to customers, they must better understand their customers and keep abreast of the trends that are continually developing in the industry.

By David Wilkening