Competing in the digital ecosystem
Despite the dominance of Expedia Inc, Priceline Group and Ctrip, there are enough openings and opportunities for travel agents of all shapes and sizes – online, offline and emerging startups – to succeed.
We know that the bigger picture for international travel is positive, with most organisations predicting year-on-year growth into the medium term. At the same time, online travel – which now includes mobile – continues to grow as a proportion of the overall market, even in mature e-commerce regions such as Europe and North America.
“The connected traveler” is driving this continued online and mobile growth. One constant when it comes to travel today is traveler reliance on, and desire for, connectivity. The mobile phone is no longer an optional accessory for the majority of travelers. Many even tote tablets and laptops as they travel. This creates a complicated web of potential touchpoints for agencies.
Defining connected traveler’s complexities
Agents are aware of the complex and connected nature of the 21st-century traveler. Is a forty-something middle management business traveler “connected” in the same way as a backpacking digital native? Do apps or mobile web convert better than desktop or are they more about service? At what point does targeted messaging cross the line from insightful to intrusive?
The Connected Traveler paper works to structure this chaos. It provides a cut-out-and-keep guide to the topline issues that need to be addressed by online and offline travel agents, their travel suppliers and their technology partners.
For example, Sabre has identified five demands that the connected traveler places on travel agents. The intensity of the requirement varies according to region, demographic or travel intent. Here are the key areas to address:
To dive into the research, click here to download the report.
This article originally appeared on Tnooz.
- seamless customer experience
- instant research
- consistent customer interactions
- 24/7 service
- video content
- increased personalisation and relevance
- engagement through real-time conversations
- optimised omnichannel footfall
- preference-driven offers to maximise yield
