Travel tech continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and 2017 is poised to be an exciting year for tourists and industry insiders alike. Explore some of the most highly anticipated travel tech conferences scheduled for 2017 and discover what each has to offer. HDI 2017 Conference & ExpoThe HDI 2017 Conference & Expo, which is scheduled to take place in Washington, DC, from May 9-12, is designed for tech support professionals, from entry-level to CEO. Tech support is an increasingly critical component of the travel industry, especially since a great deal of travel transactions are completed online. The HDI Conference & Expo will help professionals understand how important their roles are, as well as address common barriers. According to information on the HDI Conference & Expo website, professionals at all levels will find value in its offerings. The program will include topics such as improving productivity, networking, the latest innovations in customer experience management, and desktop support, as well as a host of other interesting topics. A conference pass includes access to four keynote speakers, networking activities, break-out sessions, breakfast briefings, and in-depth sessions. Food and beverages are included. The HDI Conference & Expo will offer pricing ranging from the Super Saver level to standard pricing, with earlier booking subject to deeper discounts. Travel Tech EuropeThe Travel Tech Europe conference, one the largest travel conferences in the world, will be held February 22-23, 2017 in London. This two-day event will be packed with exhibitors who will highlight new travel industry opportunities and bring brand awareness to a variety of up-and-coming travel partners. For those in the travel accommodations sector, the Travel Technology Europe is not to be missed, as experts will offer valuable insights, and a variety of leading technologies will be on display. The experts will hold in-depth sessions that will show travel industry insiders how to increase revenue and expand their businesses. Travel Tech Europe is expected to draw over 6,000 attendees, and although it will only last for two days, it will include various showcases as well as more than 30 suppliers who specialize in hotel accommodations and in-room marketing technology. Additionally, IT professionals will have the opportunity to further their industry knowledge and to network with others via social events. Travel Tech ConOne of the most exciting travel conferences for this upcoming year will be Travel Tech Con, which will be held in San Francisco. Travel Tech Con is specifically geared toward travel industry startups, and the coordinators pride themselves on remaining community-focused and dedicated to technological innovation within the travel industry. Travel Tech Con is an independent conference dedicated to educating and inspiring the entire travel tech community and open doors for startups trying to break into the industry. Much like previous Travel Tech Con events, there will be a pitch competition in which finalists will be selected to win prizes as well as funding. Travel Tech Con will also feature live Twitter streaming of the conference events, regular Facebook updates, and a variety of authoritative speakers from the travel tech industry. Aside from Travel Tech Con, organizers also work year-round to promote travel startups through its Travel Tech Hub. The service provides a way to connect worldwide startup partners in the travel industry, giving startup founders access to mentorship, funding, tips on successful pitching, as well as networking opportunities. Why Attend Travel Tech Conferences?Aside from being fun and informative, there are several reasons to attend trade shows and conferences. For those in the travel business, understanding what’s on the horizon is key to pleasing current and potential customers. Travel tech shows allow participants to discover what innovations competitors are working on as well as to see how their company measures up against others in the industry.
In addition to having the opportunity to meet high-profile individuals, conferences offer attendees the opportunity to sit in on master classes, presentations, and Q&A sessions with travel tech experts. Many conferences even offer professional development opportunities and continuing education credits to enhance or maintain certifications. Networking at travel tech conferences is also a major benefit, and attending one of these conferences can put you in contact with thousands of prominent industry figures. The value of these contacts is immeasurable, and familiarizing yourself with key players fosters connections that cannot be made from the comfort of your office. Technology has infiltrated various aspects of life, but nothing can replace good old-fashioned networking. From finding suitable workout facilities to locating nutritious food near the hotel, many frequent travelers have a hard time staying healthy when they’re away from home. Serious workout enthusiasts may find pared-down hotel gyms inadequate, and this may cause them to forgo their workouts altogether. Finding gyms and healthy food are not the only difficulties associated with travel—it’s also true that frequent traveling can take a mental toll. A recent study reported that business travelers—like those who fly more than once a month—age faster due to repeated jet lag and greater exposure to radiation at high altitudes. Even leisure travelers run into similar problems, thanks to the stress that accompanies waiting in long security lines at the airport, and the general frustration that can sometimes accompany travel. Fortunately, there are ways to combat this stress. From mobile apps to fitness wearables, we’ll explore some of the best technology tools for staying fit and healthy while traveling. Tom Tom Adventurer WatchFitness trackers are extremely popular nowadays, and it seems that nearly everyone has one. From the basic to the super high-tech, there are plenty of options out there, no matter your fitness goals or what features you find important. For frequent travelers who enjoy outdoor sports, the Tom Tom Adventurer Watch may be the fitness tracker of choice. This watch is perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and other adventurous pursuits, as well as everyday use at the gym. The Adventurer Watch takes what people have come to love about Tom Tom—its GPS technology—and combines it with an easy-to-use setup. Unlike more complicated fitness trackers and watches, the Tom Tom Adventurer Watch is user-friendly. It comes complete with a built-in music player that holds up to 500 songs, a heart rate monitor, and a set of Bluetooth ear buds. The GPS features of the Tom Tom Adventurer Watch are especially helpful for travelers looking to stay fit, since pre-determined running routes can be loaded onto the watch ahead of time. This is great for travelers who’d like to work out in unfamiliar surroundings without the fear of getting lost. The watch holds a charge for up to 6 hours straight when playing music, and up to 20 hours in everyday mode. Users can also download the Tom Tom MySport app, which keeps track of stats and workouts. The Tom Tom Adventurer Watch retails for $350 and can be purchased on the Tom Tom website and at select retailers. Gymsurfing For travelers who are tired of tiny hotel gyms with ancient equipment, finding a good local gym in an unfamiliar city can be a challenge. The Gymsurfing iPhone and Android app is designed to make this process easier by allowing users to locate nearby gyms. The app displays information about each gym, such as the pricing for day passes, as well as the types of equipment and other amenities available, such as pools and saunas. Users of Gymsurfing can book a day pass to nearby gyms right in the app, and passes range from$5 to $20. Currently, Gymsurfing allows users to find gyms in Toronto, Philadelphia, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, to name a few cities, and there are plans to expand to other locations in the future. HealthyOutFinding healthy food is one of the biggest hurdles to staying fit and feeling good while traveling, but the HealthyOut iPhone app changes that. HealthyOut helps find healthy meals nearby. The app offers a variety of search filter options, which is great for those on special diets. Users can sort results by dietary restrictions and choices such as low sodium, low calorie, low carb, diabetic friendly, and vegan or vegetarian options. There’s even a search filter that omits salads from the results, which is good for those who like to watch what they eat, but are tired of eating salad all the time. HealthyOut is available for the iPhone as a free download in Apple’s App Store for US users only. FitGuideFor those following a dedicated health and fitness regimen, frequent travel can disrupt the process. FitGuide is a web and mobile platform that provides exercise and meal plans that are customized to fit anyone’s schedule—including people who are always on the go. The platform is unique because it uses real fitness professionals to design customized workouts and meal plans based on the user’s lifestyle.
FitGuide offers its services for free for the first 30 days in order to give participants a chance to see if it works for them. After filling out the initial FitGuide application, participants are connected with a consultant who will assess their needs and abilities as well as scheduling constraints. After this initial assessment, the consultant creates a customized exercise plan and the participant is paired with a nutritional coach to provide accompanying food and meal recommendations. The FitGuide professionals also make sure to include questions about work-life balance, sleep patterns, and other factors that may affect performance. While traveling can disrupt anyone’s best-laid plans for health and fitness, technology is making it easier than ever to stay on track and in shape while away from home. With a little web research, you can find the tech tools that will keep you healthy no matter how much you travel. Artificial intelligence (AI) is much more than what we have seen in movies and television. This sophisticated technology has been used by a variety of industries for decades (often reluctantly). Find out how the travel industry has adapted to the widespread popularity of AI and what it could mean for the future of travel. What is artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence is a programmatic system designed to analyze and interpret specific types of inputs (in the form of raw data) and provide outputs that resemble intelligent, or at least reasonable, conclusions. AI is sometimes mentioned along with big data or machine learning—both of which are similar concepts. Software that uses artificial intelligence performs complex tasks that previously required human intervention, but at a much faster rate. How does AI relate to travel?Artificial intelligence was once seen as a threat to the travel industry, but in recent years, the industry has begun to embrace this technology. Instead of fighting against technology that once threated to take travel agents’ jobs, industry insiders are recognizing how AI can positively impact their interactions with customers. One of the best uses of artificial intelligence in the travel industry has to do with its ability to predict travel-related occurrences, such as security threats and weather incidents. GeoSure CEO Michael Becker—who is responsible for developing an AI app—asserts that artificial intelligence has the capability to predict security threats in nearly every major city worldwide. He believes this technology will ultimately help travelers feel safer, which will therefore increase travel industry revenue. In addition to predicting security and other threats, artificial intelligence is also used for narrowing down the best travel deals, identifying optimal times to plan a trip, optimizing itineraries, and providing detailed information about popular travel destinations. Who benefits most from AI?Artificial intelligence is somewhat impractical for analyzing patterns of the average traveler (as it is best for identifying more frequent occurrences), but for those who travel a lot, AI could prove to be very valuable. For instance, business travelers typically travel more often than leisure vacationers, and they usually repeat the same set of activities. Additionally, business travelers are less restricted by travel prices, since their presence in a specific destination is not flexible. This means that if a businessperson needs to be in Tokyo next week, there is no time to wait for a price drop. Artificial intelligence can also help to create a high-quality experience, and surveys have consistently shown that is what business travelers value most. What are the challenges?According to critics, artificial intelligence currently poses a threat to travel agents. However, these threats can be minimized if travel companies use AI to their advantage by, for example, identifying customer patterns in order to provide better customer service. Major companies such as Expedia, Google, and Apple have already begun to develop AI systems to better understand customer behavior. These companies understand how detrimental it would be to ignore AI, and they are forging ahead in development to avoid a major industry disruption.
While many in the travel industry can see the inherent value in artificial intelligence technology, it still hasn’t been totally embraced. Travel agents in particular have been burned by the technology in the past (they have not fully recovered from the way the Internet revolutionized booking travel, essentially allowing consumers to cut them out of the process). According to Trisept Solutions CEO John Ische, travel agents need to prepare for change by working hard to communicate with their customer base in order to gain a deeper understanding of what customers want and value, which will inevitably leader to higher sales in the long run. As long as leisure travelers dominate the travel industry, artificial intelligence will still have its limitations. With this in mind, the use of AI on a large scale is still impractical because the data simply isn’t there. Even with the slow progress of AI, many companies in the travel industry are incorporating AI into their operations. Industry Forecast predicts that 2017 will usher in more use of artificial intelligence, particularly in the form of apps, software, and bots that will augment travel agent functions. As it stands now, AI is still new and its full potential has yet to be tapped. It will be interesting to see how far AI can expand beyond simply analyzing the data of business travelers and deliver more personalized experiences for all consumers. Technology and travel seem to go hand in hand, and as time goes on, products and services that make travel easier or more fun continue to enter the market. Some of these are practical in nature, such as those which make getting through airport security lines less of a hassle, while others take popular vacation activities such as photography and provide a thrilling experience. In the following, we explore some recent travel tech innovations that are sure to gain popularity over the next year, ranging from new mobile apps to a program that offers faster airport security clearance. 1. car2goAvailable in nine US cities, as well as several international locations, car2go is an on-demand car rental service. The idea behind car2go is that travelers frequently want to land in a new city and get going without all the hassle and paperwork of going through a traditional car rental company. car2go works by allowing consumers to pick up a car without a reservation and secure a vehicle in as little as 30 minutes before they actually need it. What’s even more convenient is that Car2Go charges by the minute, so travelers only pay for how long they actually use the car. Additionally, car2go is available for locals who need to use a vehicle on a temporary basis. Unlike typical car sharing services, car2go does not charge for fuel, parking, or any additional fees. The service is perfect for those who do not own a vehicle or only need access to one every once in a while. The car2go app, which allows users to view and pre-select available vehicles, is currently available for both the Android and iPhone. 2. SphereFor travelers who value virtual tours and an immersive photography experience, Sphere (formerly TourWrist) is the ideal app. Sphere allows users to create and submit panoramic photos and videos through its app, which can then be viewed by other users for a virtual reality type of experience spanning hundreds of destinations. The Sphere website explains the photography process in depth and even offers a demonstration video to help users understand how to best use the platform. Along with the video demo, there are detailed instructions on how to create the best 360-degree panoramic photos, adjustments for specific lighting conditions, as well as helpful hints that will ensure high-quality photos and videos. Creating an account on the Sphere site is free. In addition, the Sphere app is available as a free download in the Apple App and Google Play Store. The app has more robust features and even offers an option for hands-free recording. 3. KnowDelayIf you’ve ever had your flight delayed or vacation plans ruined by inclement weather, then KnowDelay will come in handy on your next trip. KnowDelay is touted as the best way to predict travel delays related to the weather. Considering the fact that the US Department of Transportation indicated that more than 20 percent of flights arrive late and that over half of these are related to adverse weather events, KnowDelay could help travelers immensely. KnowDelay states that it has successfully been able to predict 90 percent of weather-related flight delays. Using the KnowDelay app, travelers can be notified up to three days in advance of their trip, giving them time to make alternate plans if necessary. Additionally, KnowDelay can track flights and notify travelers of anticipated delays prior to booking, which not only saves money, but also frustration. 4. CLEARAvailable in 17 US cities, CLEAR offers yet another way to move through airport security lines faster. The service guarantees that passengers will get through security in less than 5 minutes. For less than $15 per month, travelers can sign up for CLEAR, giving them a guaranteed method of getting through the airport even more quickly than travelers who are a part of the TSA PreCheck program. CLEAR is sanctioned by the TSA, as well, and CLEAR members are escorted to special lanes at the airport. During their time in these dedicated lanes, passengers have their identities biometrically verified, either by an iris or fingerprint scan. The addition of CLEAR lanes is yet another method for dealing with increasingly busy airports throughout the country. CLEAR does not verify passengers’ identities with typical background checks, but instead checks passport and driver’s license information, and asks a series of passenger-specific questions. Passengers verified by CLEAR do not need to present their identification. They can simply keep their wallets put away, and CLEAR will identify them by their eyes or fingerprints. CLEAR even provides faster verification for passengers who are already enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program. These are just a few of the exciting technological advancements that will inevitably gain greater popularity in the coming years. For 2017, tech trade shows such as World Travel Market’s WTM London trade show and the Consumer Technology Association’s CES 2017 will undoubtedly add to the already fascinating world of travel tech. |
AuthorBruce Eaton is the president and chief executive officer of i2 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a hit discovery and lead optimization technology provider serving clients in the pharmaceutical industry. Categories
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