Technology for travel -The future is already here
Tourism technology is changing the way we travel. Remember watching those sci-fi movies in the 80’s and 90’s and coming out of the theater thinking “I would love to live in the future’. Well, my friend, you are.You just haven’t noticed it. Better still, you are traveling on the technology wave that is speeding up all the time.
The times they are a changing. travel tech is moving at warp speed
Take a second and think about what is different now to last year, a decade ago? If I had suggested to you 36 months ago that sometime in the next 5 years you would be getting into an automatic car that would drive you to your destination without a driver but a computer, what would you say?
Yes, the driver-less car suffered a set back with an accident but so did the first commercial airline flights. It is tragic but there is a cost to get to safety and that cost is mistakes. Already we have models of cars that we can park remotely. The next step is very close in commercial terms.
But let’s talk about today’s travel technology.
Data Technology in travel
Big Data is a buzzword that means little to those not in the information or corporate industry. It basically explains why you can now get online and score so many great hotel deals, depending when you select your dates. The next 2 weeks in a hotel might be beyond your budget, but the following two weeks, for the same hotel and same room could be $200 or more cheaper. Why?
The reason is Big Data technology. It is the analysis of all things revenue and beyond. Now hotels can determine their seasonal drop off weeks and low occupancy very accurately. They can analyze trends, historical data, weather, conferences in town, events and basically all things that connect to occupancy.
As a result Big Data calculates an algorithm that determines which weeks need to be discounted to increase occupancy. This complex predictive analysis is the key to profitability.
Who wins? We, the consumer do. That is a current trend in the airline and hospitality industries.
Internet of Things (IoT) is a big part of tourism technology
Another term that may be foreign to you. I remember checking into the Citizen M Schiphol airport in Amsterdam a couple of years ago and being amazed. Here I was, checking myself in, getting my own key-card, just by having a text conversation with the computer. It was fast, simple, and at the time, mind-blowing.
I had just experienced IoT – internet of things. And it did not stop there. My cubicle like room was fitted with a tablet that controlled the environment, TV, lighting, blinds and ambience. I don’t remember getting off the bed to make anything happen. I just had the tablet in my hands. The TV announced my welcome, greeting me as Citizen Rob. I felt like I was in a sci-fi movie. It was awesome!
So, what is IoT. It really means inter-connectivity with devices talking to each other, sending and receiving data.This is an extension on the use of the internet where devices from your smart watch, phone or tablet can receive information ad transmit instructions to other devices that are fitted with receivers and transmitters.
Now data is exchanged freely to our home, office, car, business and anything else that is connected. What does this mean for travel and our lives generally.
Basically it can be translated into one innovation after another from our suitcases having a tag that would alert us where they are and if they are coming down the luggage belt to the location of our rental car.
Our phones can operate with an entry password to a rental smart-home and all operations within the home, from opening the garage doors to operating appliances.
Technology for travel does not just stop at the obvious
There are other aspects that add to the experience for travelers and for the tourism industry’s capability to attract customers. Virtual tours of resorts, hotels and cruise ships are now available. A virtual try-before-you-buy opportunity.
With the help of the advancements being made in immersive visual technology, simulations of your experience can be brought to your mobile or desktop. (AR) augmented reality, virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) are now being used to further tourism technology.
The generation of Millennials have sped travel tech forward into the new world
74% of travel is planned on the Internet. The use of travel agents is down to only a 13% share. The new generation are natural with technology – watch any 7 year old on a mobile. It’s not surprising that their love and habitual acceptance of technology had meant that it would combine with their other passion – that of traveling. They were reared on ground breaking advancements in technology.
Social media, apps, games and blogs. This is the staple of the Millennial today and it translates, not only in tourism technology but all of it.
Just keeping up with it all leaves the rest of us breathless. However, it is really exciting. Tomorrow will be unrecognizable.
I have just spent close to an hour scanning your website. I love the variety of articles and generally your writing style – some better than others. I will be back. Interesting stuff
Thanks, Arthur. Glad you like it. I will be uploading plenty of new articles on a regular basis