With new travelers from emerging countries and innovative technologies entering the travel industry, new possibilities for travel agencies arise. Online travel agents are investing heavily in digital innovation and returns transcend investments greatly.
The number of hotel bookings keeps growing online and offline and travel applications are one of the most popular downloads in app stores. Indeed, it’s a great time to work in travel.
The giant awakens
The number of international flights has doubled in the last 2 decades and this trend will continue in the coming years. Poor countries are developing rapidly and the inhabitants have more to spend. Many of their residents have never been outside their own country, but are now able to discover the world.
Imagine what happens when some people of India, a country with more than 1.3 billion inhabitants, get holiday jitters and want to experience the highs and lows of Amsterdam on their own.
The impact of this will be huge.
Online travel agents disrupt the industry
By investing in digital innovation, online travel agents are able to optimize the experience of the customer journey. You can easily book a dream trip from your smartphone within a few clicks. Online travel agents are flourishing, but the hotel industry is still operating in the past.
Hotels also have to pay more commission to online travel agents, which makes it even more difficult for them to take a strong position themselves that aligns with modern-day times. According to Deloitte, hotels can grab their profits by focusing on direct bookings and "members only" campaigns.
A personal connection
Thanks to high-quality applications and the use of big data, online travel agents are increasingly able to offer personal trips. Artificial intelligence, the internet of things, blockchain and other digital innovations ensure that the traveler is fully equipped for a new way of experiencing the world.
The customer-brand relationship is becoming increasingly more important through personalization. For example, innovative travel agents ensure that your hotel room is at the right temperature and that your favorite drink is ready.
The right music is playing in the background and the chef has put together a menu that takes food your gluten allergy and other wishes into account. At the counter, there is a personalized selection of trips and restaurants in the area, which are catered to your personal interests.
Time to get on board
A lot is happening in the travel industry and the opportunities are growing by the day. But, there’s one thing you have to adhere to: you need to at least keep up with the innovative travel organizations, otherwise, the trip continues without you.
