New year, new travel trends
What is in store for 2020?
The new year (and indeed the new decade!) is firmly upon us, but it will take time for travel trends to begin to form. Expedia has some predictions though. According to the group’s Head of Research Abhijit Pal, a number of interesting types of travel and new technologies will emerge in 2020 and beyond.
Business travel will becoming increasingly important as businesses seek to become ever-more competitive
When it comes to generational and geo-economic shifts, Pal predicts that Generation Alpha will make waves in the coming decade. In 10 years’ time, they will be turning 20 and making their own travel decisions. They are expected to crave a fully digital, frictionless travel experience and predicted to be well-travelled, both digitally (think virtual reality) and physically.
Pal predicts an uptick in travel this year due to the rising global middle class ─ better wages equates to more people travelling and powering consumption.
Another prediction is that business travel will becoming increasingly important as businesses seek to become ever-more competitive. In addition, he sees business and personal travel becoming more connected ─ using AI to extend a business trip into a family vacation, for example.
AI is also set to assist in delivering more personalised experiences to travellers, recommending accommodation based on previous booking patterns, for example, and will do so more quickly than ever before.
Another prediction is a transformation of the airport experience with airports re-evaluating what’s on offer: think a better variety of travel routes, parking options, local cuisine and shopping. Airports, too, will seek to deliver a more personalised experience through their amenities. In addition, Pal predicts travellers will be able to purchase add-ons all in one place, based on their personal preferences.
Pal highlighted that in order for these predictions to come to fruition, collaboration and risk are key. “A collaborative approach remains a top commitment to our travel suppliers, as is putting our own capital on the line for researching, developing and testing technology so they don’t have to,” he said.
We at ITIJ will be keenly anticipating and reporting on exciting trends and the continued growth of the travel industry. Stay tuned!