The way we travel is changing. Thanks to technology that helps us plan, book and stay in touch while on the move, we can travel anywhere in the world without losing a beat of our daily lives. In fact, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, we’re also traveling more than ever before, whether that means taking more leisurely vacations or business trips. But will these changes lead to even more travel? And how could technology continue to change the future of travel? Read on to find out how travel could evolve in the coming years based on big data-driven trends.
A data-driven traveler is someone who relies on information to make decisions about their trips. They use various sources, such as social media, blogs, and online reviews to plan their trips. These travelers are typically looking for authentic experiences and unique places not found in guidebooks or the mainstream travel industry. Many are also environmentally conscious and keen to explore local cultures. For example, one way for tourists to enjoy their visit while minimizing environmental impact is to rent cars with electric motors rather than those powered by fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel. Driving these cars will help reduce carbon monoxide emissions and pollution. Plus, you’ll save money since the engine doesn’t require expensive gasoline. Another way would be to take public transport like buses or trains as they are usually cheaper and have less impact on the environment. And if you end up taking a car, find out about the fuel source so you know what type of fuel your vehicle will use.
Data is changing the travel industry in many ways, from how travelers research and book trips to how hotels, airlines and other stakeholders operate. One of the primary ways data is changing the industry is through personalization. Personalization can take many forms, such as tailoring itineraries or recommendations to each traveler’s needs or wants. It can also mean using data to decide which destinations are in demand and whether prices should be increased for certain routes. For example, Norwegian Airlines used predictive analytics software to help it decide on new routes. By analyzing historical flight pricing data, they identified that they could add flights between London and New York profitably during off-peak hours at a price that would not be prohibitive. Hotels are also starting to use data to decide what amenities to offer guests.
Data is the key to unlocking the future of travel. From a data-driven approach, you can make more informed decisions on where to go and what to do once there. It’s not just about driving traffic, it’s about driving business value. Using the data, we are able to measure KPIs for each campaign; for example, if we want to measure the number of visitors coming from organic search results in our Google Adwords campaigns, we only have to compare the organic click-through rate (CTR) with other sources such as display advertising or outbound links. With this information, we are able to adjust budgets based on user preferences by modifying bids or creating new ads specific to these audiences. For example, we might find that someone searching for “hotels” is more likely to be interested in bookings outside of their home country. She can therefore create ads specifically targeting these people, expat being one of the keywords. Essentially, allows us to connect with people more effectively.
Data Driven the journey is not without its challenges. As with any new technology, the more people who adopt it, the more data there is to process and analyze. For example, when photos are taken on a smartphone, they are automatically uploaded to a cloud server and tagged with GPS coordinates which can be used to create a map of the location. This means users no longer need to manually search for their photos to find where they were taken. Unfortunately, it also means you have little control over what happens to your personal data if someone hacks the service or if your phone is lost or stolen. That’s why companies like AirBnB and Uber have developed strict policies on how long user information is kept before it’s deleted from servers. Still, mistakes do happen: in October 2016, hackers gained access to the private data of 32 million Yahoo accounts (names, email addresses, dates of birth and phone numbers) during one of the greatest cyberattacks of all time. The personal data of around 500 million Facebook users was breached in 2013. These breaches show how easy it is for criminals to obtain sensitive data.
We are on the cusp of a data-driven revolution. With more and more people relying on information, not intuition, to make decisions in their personal and professional lives, it’s no surprise that travel is next in line. That’s right; we are entering the age of data-driven travel. Here’s what you need to know about this new mode of travel. First, December is historically one of the most popular times for vacation travel. Prices are lower than usual as fewer travelers fly during the winter months due to adverse weather conditions. Second, December flights may be cheaper as they fill up later and seats may remain unclaimed or available after cancellations closer to the departure date. And third, many hotels are also running December promotions so you can get great deals with our latest December travel deals.
(The article mentioned above is feature content, this article is a paid publication and has no journalistic/editorial involvement from IDPL, and IDPL claims no liability.)
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