People are increasingly using websites to book travel and are relying more on mobile applications to keep their travel arrangements organized, document their vacations, and plan their itineraries. As a result, travel agencies have seen a decline in business and customers due to the fact that traveling has become so easily accessible and affordable. Virtual reality has also emerged on the scene in recent years, and what was at first the “cool thing” to do became something those working in the travel industry could use to their advantage. Travel agencies and others in the industry have tapped into the potential of virtual reality, realizing they could offer customers a unique glimpse into destinations and other travel-related environments. VR Shows Huge Potential for Travelers and Industry Leaders Many people use virtual technology regularly when utilizing Google’s Street View, which gives users a unique look at exactly where they’re going while they’re still in the planning stage. Virtual reality hardware takes it a step further, allowing users to have a 3-D or 4-D view that will allow them to see locations anywhere as if they were really there. Virtual reality is more than just watching a video; the idea is to have users feel as if they are immersed in the area - able to clearly hear the sounds and see the sights that make up their favorite destinations. Travel agents understand just how powerful this experience can be. They also realize that it can mean the difference between potential customers deciding to book a trip or not going to a destination at all. Examples of VR in the MarketplaceThough virtual reality is still relatively new to the marketplace, there are a few innovative virtual reality devices and experiences already available to consumers. German airline Lufthansa has created an interactive LH virtual reality experience that allows users to sit in a seat with a video game-like joystick. The experience is designed to allow users to feel as if they’re sitting in LH business-class, interacting with other passengers and the flight crew. Users are treated to several different scenes, including boarding the plane and being served food. Depending upon your location, the joystick feels like physical object, like a drink in your hand. The hotel brand Marriott has also developed its first-ever virtual reality travel experience, Oculus. With a 4-D journey that is able to virtually transport people to any destination in the world in as little as 90 seconds, Marriott’s Oculus is an exciting addition to virtual reality. YouVisit allows companies to create realistic 360-degree views of real-world destinations, hotels, and cruises, giving customers a chance to experience virtual reality online. YouVisit creates these exciting virtual reality videos, mainly for those in the travel industry, in order to give potential travelers an immersive preview of their desired destination. So far, YouVisit has been able to help thousands of companies in the travel industry increase their conversion rates by more than 13 percent. Benefits of VR for Travelers Although virtual reality is definitely a boon for those working in the travel industry, it is also an exciting technology for avid travelers as well. Once a traveler is able to experience a destination in the virtual world, they become immersed in the culture and sights, which inspires actual travel plans. In terms of airlines, virtual reality devices can help a person select a seat or evaluate accommodations prior to booking. This can be especially helpful for business travelers, who often would like to know where airport business lounges are located and what amenities are provided in case they need to work or relax during a long layover. Business travelers also use virtual reality technology to tour conference centers and get a preview of conferencing and meeting rooms prior to closing a huge deal. For leisure travelers, virtual reality can help them explore restaurants by showing them their exact table prior to making a reservation, viewing a chef hard at work in the kitchen, and even demonstrating a restaurant’s most popular dishes. The Future of VRDespite the fact that virtual reality technology is very exciting for both travelers and those working in the travel industry, it cannot replace real-world travel. However, virtual reality may completely change how we view travel and serve to inspire new vacations and experiences.
The possibilities are nearly limitless for virtual reality. Some of the users that are likely going forward include airlines, hotels, and car rental companies as well as local restaurants. Some feel that virtual reality is only for millennials who are obsessed with technology, but research in the industry has indicated that there are no age barriers when it comes to virtual reality’s appeal to travelers of all types. Even those who aren’t technologically savvy can appreciate being immersed in an exotic destination. Comments are closed.
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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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