ao link

 

Different perspectives

Databox image

More than 370 travel retailers were quizzed on how likely they believed certain technologies would disrupt travel distribution in the next 10 years. Mobile ranked top (scoring 9.5 out of 10), while mobile messaging and bots came second (9.2).

Again, it is these so-called gatekeepers that lead the charge, with their rapid development of virtual assistants such as Siri and Echo. The report noted that their search control was set to grow, offering them greater access to consumer data.

The report also highlighted the difference in views between airlines and travel agents regarding “future pathways”. They were each asked to score industry players in terms of their future importance. Airlines revealed direct sales were most important, with metasearch companies second. Offline agents came bottom. But for travel retailers, GDSs were seen as the most important distribution pathway for the next 10 years, and OTAs second.

“We recommend that the industry considers six key areas to focus on for future collaboration,” the report stated, listing: responding to consumer expectations; responding to the rise of gatekeepers; harnessing technology; integrating travel distribution; adapting to sharing economy platforms; and preparing for the rise of giant meta-OTA hybrids.

 

Read what Barrhead Travel's Sharon Munro has to say about unregulated travel disruptors

Sign up for weekday travel news and analysis straight to your inbox

Latest travel jobs

Assistant Manager - Birkenhead

Assistant Manager - Birkenhead

Travel Consultant - Wallasey

Travel Consultant - Wallasey

Store Manager - Cameron Toll

Store Manager - Cameron Toll

Competitions

Our Next Events

Luxpo 2024

Luxpo 2024

TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies 2024

TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies 2024

TTG - Travel Trade Gazette
For Smarter, Better, Fairer Travel
B Corp-certified
TTG Media Limited.
Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU