Smartphones and Google maps have revolutionised the way we travel. Together they’ve rendered traditional maps (almost) obsolete, put the power of navigation inside everyone’s pocket and connected all of that insight with localised information about things to do, see and experience. But combining GPS with localised maps isn’t always enough for a seamless or ultimately […]
This deep dive takes a closer look at the social media marketing trends shaping today’s travel industry. How are travel agents using social media to connect with customers? Which social media sites are the most powerful? And most important of all, which techniques are working? This analysis is based on Travel Market Report’s recent Outlook on […]
Heading into 2019, one trend in the industry that we’re keeping a close eye on is the desire for more sustainable, environmentally-friendly travel options. Sustainability means different things to different people. For some it’s a case of recycling and using public transport, for others it means going full Vegan and never setting foot in a car […]
Traditional marketing saw companies aim to hit the jackpot, make that perfect ad and sell you their product in an instant. Even if they left you with little more than an annoying, unforgettable jingle, they succeeded. The seed was planted. But that was advertising before the internet. In the dawn of the information […]
Ah, robots. We meet again. For an industry so reliant on customer service and authenticity, you’d think travel companies would steer clear of employing too many non-human workers. But no, the race to innovate never stops. Particularly when adaptable robots can provide easy customer service, free labour and, in some cases, an extra security measure. […]
Getting noticed online isn’t easy. Especially in the travel industry, where a handful of platforms dominate search results, customers flit from site to site in search of the best deals and loyalty is a becoming a thing of the past. But that doesn’t mean that starting up in the industry is a lost cause, or that […]
For businesses who regularly send employees away from the office to work with clients or abroad for meetings and conferences, the cost of corporate travel can be significant. Particularly when trips and accommodation are often organised at the last minute, and those tasked with doing so have to source information from a range of different sources. Travel commerce […]
Google: you might have heard of it. The search engine giant, 20 years old this year, has become synonymous with the internet. The company is a household name around the world and even a verb. It’s impossible to overstate the impact this single company has and continues to have on the travel industry. As consumer […]
Ah, the World Cup. It only comes around every 4 years and is always over far too soon. This summer’s tournament is no different, with 32 national teams from around the world heading to Russia to compete in beautiful game’s greatest spectacle. Like so many international sporting events, the World Cup brings together people and […]
The travel industry owes a lot to the natural world. If it wasn’t for the spots of outstanding natural beauty, the pristine beaches, the untouched wildernesses; many of us would be out of a job. These are the things that most people enjoy. These are the things that help make travel worthwhile. Which is why the […]
A survey of American tourists has revealed some interesting results about travellers’ relationship with their mobile phones. Hint: we’re more addicted than you think. One travel industry trend that’s been well documented – by us and others – is the desire for authenticity. This trend arguably has several distinct causes. Among them is the relentless […]
In recent weeks you might have received a weirdly large number of emails and notifications from companies and applications that you use, asking you to look at updated policies and privacy terms. That’s not a coincidence. These moves to adjust policies and develop new codes of conduct are all designed to help companies adhere to […]
Reputation is important in the world of travel. It’s what inspires loyalty or drastically reduces return customers. If your agency or platform is known for a certain something: unbelievable customer service, poor value for money, once-in-a-lifetime experiences… that’s going to directly impact your bottom line, for better or for worse. Which brings us to PR, Public […]
There are a few constants in the travel industry that haven’t budged despite the influx of technology and a new generation of travellers approaching things in a different way. One of those is the pain of planning, the agony of trying to make the best of a destination that you have little or no knowledge […]
Social media platforms such as Instagram and Youtube are giving us more insight than ever into the lives of the rich and famous. This phenomenon has ties with the rise of ‘influencers’, closer relationships between brands and celebrities, and aspirational content becoming a thing. This trend, however shallow it may appear to be at first […]
Technology is already changing every aspect of travel. Tourism no longer starts with a trip to a physical travel agent, but through a search engine or social media platform. Research and bookings are now almost exclusively carried out online. We’re even starting to move beyond booking through conventional computers and towards the convenience of smartphones and […]
We’ve written several times on the dominance of major industry players when it comes to travel searches and bookings. We’ve also highlighted the potential for search engines such as Google to become increasingly influential throughout that process. Last week Google launched updates that look like they will set those things in motion. Google is one […]
Urgh. Travel insurance. Possibly the most mundane but necessary part of planning any trip. But plenty of travellers still don’t even bother. Is that because they truly don’t see it as important? More likely is that they are frustrated with how complicated the process is and weary of completing any purchase that takes more than […]
Every once in a while a technology or format comes along that forces the travel industry to think again. The introduction of the internet and online commerce was one. Then came the dominance of search engines and the importance of SEO, combined with the rise of travellers searching, organising and booking through mobile devices. Now […]
This year’s Consumer Electronics Show set out to do what it does every January: Publicise and predict how the latest technologies will weave themselves into every aspect of our lives. It’s no surprise then that several companies have set their sights on travellers. The industry is one that’s always been open to innovation, and it […]
Some things in the travel industry never change. Startups will keep on searching for new niches to target. The world will become increasingly small as travellers keep searching for the next horizon. The simple pleasures of sun, sea and sand will remain comfortably familiar to us all. Oh, and your luggage will occasionally end up […]
Over the past few weeks, it’s been impossible to watch or read any financial news without being confronted by Bitcoin. At the time of writing, the world’s most famous cryptocurrency has seen a meteoric rise in value, up 161% ($10,567) in the last month alone. People are starting to take notice. Whether or not you […]
The travel industry does not exist in a bubble. It is not independent of the social and economic factors pushing society one way and another. And neither should we expect it to be. Although a huge driver of travel is to escape the reality of our day to day lives, our ability to do so depends […]
One of the reasons we love technology is its ability to revolutionise the travel experience. And that goes for every step of the journey, from searching for a trip to booking, checking in and all of your transport in between. Sure, there are times when we worry that technology is becoming too central, that it risks […]
When we hear the word Blockchain most of us will react in two ways. The first is by drawing some vague connection to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The second is simply a knowing shrug: it’s important but pretty complicated so we just smile and nod! So today we’re going to try to untangle the complicated mess […]
Here at Travelshift we like to keep our finger on the pulse of the latest trends and products in the world of technology, particularly if it’s clear they are going to have an impact on the way we travel. Few things define our travel experience like language. In many ways it’s central to culture, a […]
Many things have changed in the travel industry over the years. More than anything else, technology has been the driver behind those changes. Every step of the customer journey has been innovated to an extent, from booking to check-out to marketing and everything in between. But one area that hasn’t changed all that much is […]
If there’s one thing that all travellers want to do, it’s fit in. Nobody wants to be the tourist, to feel like an outsider in a new place. Instead, the desire is to blend in with those surroundings, to be one of the locals. Part of being a local is doing as the locals do, […]
When Donald Trump became president of the United States back in January 2017, plenty in the travel industry were making predictions about how the radical shift in American politics would impact upon tourism to the country. This was due to a number of factors. Not least the new president’s xenophobic rhetoric and his intention to adopt […]
Travel is an industry of unknowns and unpredictability. Over the course of a single trip, one traveller might be dealing with or served by countless different operators. Whether it’s booking a trip through a travel marketplace, getting an Uber to the airport or complaining about your hotel, there are always opportunities for an established brand […]
Depending on who you speak to, there are different definitions of what constitutes travel technology. As a travel marketplace provider, we certainly see that definition in a different light to a transport company like Uber or an OTA like Expedia. Our job as a (mostly) B2B service is to enable operators to reach as many […]
Working in the travel industry, it can be easy to forget that our responsibility extends further than just the people and businesses we sell services and products to. The bigger picture stretches beyond travellers, encompassing residents of popular destinations, natural ecosystems and, of course, the sustainability of the industry in general. That’s where the challenge […]
The world is a complex place and we are living in particularly complex and tumultuous times. We’ve looked on plenty of occasions at different trends from the spheres of technology, sociology and politics. We do this in an effort to predict and outline how these trends are going to impact the travel industry. Then we […]
The battle for search engine ranking is as fierce as it’s ever been. Particularly in the travel industry, where a handful of enormous operators tend to dominate most online travel searches. In fact, many of these operators are themselves becoming the keywords that are searched for. That’s not SEO, it’s just unfair! So what can […]
On the 23rd of June 2016, 52% of the British public voted to leave the European Union in a historic referendum. The consequences for the travel industry, both from a UK and an EU perspective, are only just beginning to become clear. There are plenty of articles and even a few books detailing the story […]
A global survey by Italy4Real has found that virtual reality won’t replace real-life travel experiences. At least that’s what travellers are saying today… We like to keep one eye on future trends in travel. There’s no doubt that one of the technologies with the most potential in the industry is Virtual Reality (VR). We’ve written […]
In a slight break from tradition, this week we’re not going to be delving deeply into the work of a particular travel startup. Instead we’re going to be looking at several in one go, deciphering trends and gaining insight from a selection of people who have been there and done it. There are a few […]
At its foundation, the travel industry is about hope, aspiration and curiosity. These cornerstones represent both the power of travel and the motivations behind it. Travel is also something that is uniquely open and appealing to everyone, regardless of background. That was one of the reasons why we suggested that the travel industry should be a […]
Every so often we try to arrange interviews with inspiring travel startups from all around the world. Our industry is colourful and diverse and these type of pieces are a great way to explore that diversity. Having said that, many of the challenges and pitfalls faced by travel startups are the same across the board. […]
Travel industry marketing is changing. And, for better or for worse, travel operators need to adapt. In this blog post we’re going to be taking a closer look at how travel marketing is being turned on its head, what challenges these changes pose to operators in the industry, and how Travelshift software can help you […]
We’ve touched on the potential of various types of technology in the travel industry before. Whether it’s virtual reality or instant messaging, the current wave of innovation could transform the travel industry for the better. But today we’re going to get a little more specific. Today we’re going to take a closer look at how wearable […]
Something a bit different this week, folks. Instead of delving into a particular travel market sector, we’re going to be taking a closer look at one specific company in the industry. The operator in question is Zen Resort Bali, one of Bali’s leading holistic health retreats. We’ll be speaking with founder Dr Mahendra Shah, and […]
We’re back with another instalment of our popular ‘Gap in the Market’ series. Each volume addresses a different travel industry niche, as we do our best to bring you insight and inspiration from leading figures who have been there and done it. This week we’re taking a walk on the wild side, delving into the […]
Prepaid cards of one sort or another are nothing new. In fact, they’ve been around for decades, and have long had something of a controversial reputation among consumers. It’s only in recent years that travellers have started to benefit from their presence. On the face of it, prepaid travel cards solve a number of common […]
If there’s one thing the travel industry has had to come to terms with in recent years, it’s the increasing influence of mobile platforms. Not only are smartphones and tablets dominating travel research, social media and bookings themselves, compatibility with these platforms has also become a vital factor in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). With that in […]
It’s that time of year again. Plenty of sweeping romantic gestures have been made, relationships are starting up; bad boyfriends around the world are still regretting that last-minute hunt for flowers in the gas station. Even though Valentine’s Day has been and gone, love is in the air. With that in mind, there’s no better […]
When we speculated about all the possible ways in which Donald Trump could impact upon the travel industry, we didn’t really expect his actions to be so direct. Or so fast. On January 27th the new President of the United States signed an executive order halting all refugee admissions and banning people from seven Muslim countries: Syria […]
As part of our popular ‘Gap in the Market’ series, we take a closer look at unique sectors in the travel industry and discover more about how they tick. We’ve already covered travel niches dedicated to wellness, food tourism and corporate trips, speaking with plenty of industry leaders in the process. This week we’re delving […]
Not long ago we put together a feature on ethical travel. It was actually the first part of our ‘Gap in the Market’ series, which has been running for a while now. The focus was the world of responsible travel. We took a closer look at how and why this market sector is on the […]
That’s right. It’s 2017 and our Gap in the Market series is back with a bang. If you’re new around here, this series is our chance to dig deeper into a specific travel niche. We’ve already covered a number of potential sectors that would-be travel startups might want to explore, from Staycation travel to wellness […]
As 2017 gets underway, we thought it would be a good idea to allow ourselves a moment of nostalgia. 2016 was a big year for us here at Travelshift: The growth of our readership has been immense and our marketplace software has begun to help travel startups all around the world. With that in mind, we […]
When we think of artificial intelligence, it’s easy for our minds to rest on those eerie dystopian blockbusters you see at the movies. In the Hollywood version, life with AI is the end of life as we know it, evil computers are ruling the world. Except it doesn’t have to be like that. In many […]
Do you remember what kind of things you did for entertainment when you were younger? Take a moment to think about how you spent your free time as a teenager. You probably read books, played outside, made entertainment from nothing at all. And why? Well for one thing, the internet likely wasn’t in existence/a dominant […]
It’s likely that if you’ve decided to build a travel marketplace, you already have a niche in mind that you want to target. But maybe you haven’t gone about it that way. Maybe you just want to break into the travel industry, figure a marketplace is the best place to start, and are looking for […]
Deciding on a pricing strategy for your travel marketplace is at the very centre of your business model. It’s what will define your platform in the long run, and most importantly, your relationship with customers and sellers going forwards. To begin with, let’s take a closer look at what you need to consider before potential […]
As tempting as it was to draft a new post about travel industry technology or the latest SEO techniques, both article choices would have left a yuuuuge xenophobic and populist elephant in the room. Here at Travelshift we have no problem delving into the big issues; so here goes nothing. This week we’re going to talk […]
It seems like since the dawn of the internet age, a handful of e-Commerce giants have had the travel industry in a chokehold. Expedia, TravelSupermarket, Booking.com, Trip Advisor… you know the ones. All are internet monsters willing and able to spend millions on marketing and advertising while offering rates that ruthlessly undercut any fresh travel […]
We’ve been writing this blog for a while now, and though we’ve looked at the ins and outs of the travel industry and the intricacies of how technology and global trends are changing tourism for the better, there’s one topic that we haven’t covered yet. Although it’s vital to every single travel startup out there, […]
Plenty is going on in the world of technology at the moment, and it’s only logical to assume that much of this will have some, if not a huge impact on the travel industry. Tech trends are already changing customer behaviour and expectations, and over the next decade or so these effects are only going […]
As part of our Gap in the Market series, every so often we take a closer look at a particular travel industry niche. The general idea is that we provide ambitious business minds with the information, inspiration, and motivation to consider setting up a marketplace in that space. This week we’re delving into the world of corporate […]
The travel industry is driven by aspiration and inspiration. People have aims and ambitions, destinations they want to see and things they want to do there. But all travel goals have to start somewhere. They all have to begin as inspiration, as moments of clarity that end in an eventual purchase or booking. So where […]
As part of our ‘Gap in the Market’ series, we’ve been taking a closer look at different sectors of the travel industry. Each post outlines a potential niche that might be ripe for a new marketplace, crunches some of the numbers, and looks ahead to what could be in store for the future. Today we’re […]
There’s something about travel that appeals to our deepest desires and natural instincts. Seeing a friend’s Instagram photo of a trip to Paris is a bit like watching someone devour an ice cream on a hot day. You see it, you want it. That basic tendency is at the heart of what’s driving social trends […]
When you stop to think about it, travel is perhaps the one thing we all have in common. Man or woman, black or white, old or young, rich or poor. As people, we all have that innate sense of curiosity and a desire to explore different parts of the world. Across the board, humanity is […]
Deciding to set up in the travel industry is a huge statement of intent. You want to provide people with the best possible experiences and spread your reach around the world. You want to jump into an international business like no other. As you can imagine, there are so many aspects to consider before you […]
So you want to start a travel agency? We don’t blame you. The travel industry is lucrative, consistently growing, and demand doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon. This is partly because of our seemingly innate willingness to explore new places, but it’s also because, in many countries around the world, disposable incomes are […]
Last week we went through some of the political events and uncertainties affecting the travel industry at the moment. It’s fair to say that so far 2016 has been a chaotic year. But, as we alluded to in the previous post, here at Travelshift we like to see the positives in things. With traditional […]
In times of increasing fear, civil unrest, and political uncertainty, the travel industry is often hit as tourists pull back from their usual holiday plans. It’s been a month since the UK voted to leave the European Union, causing widespread financial chaos, confusion over the future of European travel, and enormous currency fluctuations. There has […]
It’s a nerdy post this week, everyone – brace yourselves. If you haven’t heard about the Pokemon Go craze sweeping around the world, firstly, where have you been? Secondly, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Pokemon Go is the latest game in a series that’s been going strong for almost two decades, […]
Eurgh. Let us start by saying that we hate it when two words are randomly combined to form a new word (that’s called a ‘neologism’, by the way). ‘British’ and ‘Exit’ all of a sudden equals ‘Brexit’; the mix of a Labrador and a Poodle is now a ‘Ladbradoodle’. Horrendous. Those familiar with the travel […]
After delving into a number of different market sectors, it makes sense that we now hop aboard the luxurious world of cruising and discover more about what is another growing travel industry niche. Gazing up at the epic cruise ships of today, it’s easy to assume that the idea of travelling over water for the […]
Ah, adventure tourism. White knuckle thrills, adrenaline-fuelled moments, extreme sports – these are the elements of any trip that can give you memories that last a lifetime. Why sit on a beach for a week when you can para-glide over it? Why relax when you can really get your heart pumping? In a strange change […]
Each week we’re going to be digging deeper into a different travel industry sector, with a view to both inspiring and informing new startups in the business. Today we’re taking a closer look at the world of wellness, a travel trend that has grown rapidly in recent years. As people have started to grow more […]
This week marks the first instalment of our industry insight collection. In each volume, we want to highlight a particular sector of the travel industry and delve a little deeper into it. We hope that this will open your eyes to the possibilities out there, and maybe even inspire you to set up your own […]
The luxury travel market is growing faster any other. But why? And how can travel startups jump on the bandwagon? Today we’re going to take a closer look at this market, and outline why there’s plenty of room and opportunities for new startups.
You hear plenty of buzzwords in marketing, and we’re generally not massive fans of those that seek to make swathing assumptions about a large group of people. “Millennial” and “Gen Z” are two such examples. But, however much it seems like lazy labelling, there is some truth to the notion that generations tend to behave as […]
On the face of it, there’s no obvious link between football and the travel industry. But two seemingly disjointed topics has never stopped us from drawing parallels in the past, so here goes. Luckily we’re all about looking into things a little bit deeper. You may or may not have heard that something magical happened […]
Over the past few months we’ve published several articles on the relationship between technology and the tourism industry. There’s plenty happening. And so many things to be excited about and hopeful for. We thought it would be a good idea to aggregate all of these things into one handy blog post. So here you have […]
On the face of it, virtual reality and tourism don’t belong in the same sentence. One is an emerging technology that has only come in to being in the past few years, while the other is essentially a concept that has been around for as long as humans can remember. Sure, our Neanderthal ancestors didn’t […]
You may have heard that Sweden, known by many as the home of IKEA, fantastic meatballs and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has recently launched its own phone number. That’s right, you can now pick up the phone and ‘call’ Sweden or, to be more specific, a random Swede – from anywhere in the world! Today we’re going […]
You may not think it, but tourism and politics have an incredibly close relationship. And we’re not just talking about the trips to Panama that politicians take to hide their money. There’s a connection that runs much deeper than that. First of all, politics both drives and is driven by opinion in society. Society governs […]
Last week we touched upon the increasing buying power of travellers from emerging markets. More importantly, we took a closer look at exactly why emerging markets present a huge opportunity for travel brands. The global tourism community is on the up, as more people from every country you can think of gain both the resources […]
There are a few cliches in the world of travel. Service with a smile is one of them. The customer is always right is another. But what if the day comes when robots undermine all of these go-to phrases? What happens when customer service is turned on its head, and instead of a person falsely smiling behind a […]
A famous quote says that travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer. I think it’s probably true. Memories are timeless, and incredible experiences will live on far longer than your new 4k TV ever will. Think about it for a second and you’ll realise what a valuable service those in […]
It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, if you start an interesting campaign or promotion and cleverly tie it in to social media, you’re on to a winner. That’s exactly what Netflix have done these past few weeks…
When we last checked towards the end of 2015, social media giant Facebook was racking up around 8 billion video views every day. Yep, you read that right: 8 billion. And that’s up almost 100% from as recently as April last year. This is of course partly because of the new autoplay function. And while […]
Social media can be a complex, confusing world of hashtags, likes and unpredictable customer engagement. But there’s no doubt that if applied correctly, a strong social media marketing strategy can drive traffic through your website and help build your brand. Here are a few social media tips for professionals in the travel industry.
The travel industry is changing, and your marketing strategy needs to change with it. Here are three ways you can make small tweaks to create a big return.
A report has shown that although only a small minority of travellers leave reviews, the ripple effect can be huge, with over half of consumers checking others’ opinions before booking online…
In an increasingly digitalised world, food and dining will be amongst the last authentic things travellers can expect to experience. You can’t taste authentic Italian pasta through a screen; not yet anyway. And you can’t enjoy the hustle and bustle of a French market from your sofa at home. These things are the fabric of […]
As a species, how we communicate has changed dramatically in recent years. Nobody faxes any more, letters are a thing of the past and email is being superseded by swathes of messaging platforms offering instantaneous interactions. In a world where customers are busy, self-reliant and wary of any correspondence that begins with the word ‘Dear’, […]
The travel industry is changing, highly competitive and a place increasingly lacking in customer loyalty. Luckily though, travel operators will always be able to bank on one tiny thing. People will always, always want to travel, and although skiing in the Alps or cruising through the Med are not necessarily fundamental human instincts, curiosity and […]
Analysis from SimilarWeb highlights the most popular search terms used by U.S. consumers when searching for travel information. We all know that the travel industry is heavily skewed in favour of the big hitters. They each have a huge online presence, and as such are able to pull in more and more traffic in a […]
Most industries require a gentle nudge towards innovation, but the travel sector is different. Over many years the status quo has been embedded and customer attitudes and behaviour are slower to change. This means that your average travel startup needs to do more to get noticed, and trends show that full-on industry disruption is the […]
When you want to understand something abstract, often it’s a good idea to compare it to something in the real world. That’s what we’re going to do with backlinks. Imagine that you run a travel startup. Naturally, you want more business. It might be a good idea to leave business cards with friends, family and anyone […]
Content Marketing in the travel industry can be an effective way to build your brand’s authority and gain a loyal following of customers. Here are a few golden rules to follow when devising and producing your content.
Ah Content Marketing; a simple, effective way to build trust and authority with your chosen customers. Let’s face it; nobody likes being sold to in an overly direct manner. When it comes to travel services, as with many other industries, customers want to be gently encouraged and subtly informed about what you can offer them, […]
Recently we outlined what we reckon are some of the toughest challenges facing travel industry operators at the moment. Conveniently left out though, was exactly how our Travelshift software can assist you in dealing with those challenges. You only have to read one of our expert content marketing articles to understand why we’d need a […]
These are hard times for small-sized travel agencies. They are also pretty tough for those just beginning with a view to getting started in the travel industry. The traditional reasons you would approach an agency are growing less meaningful every year. Why go to your local agency to ask questions about some faraway destination when […]
In an online world where marketing bombards us from every angle, it’s getting more and more easy to simply switch off and ignore the expensive messages that businesses are intent on driving our way. Pop-ups, email newsletters, social media posts, video adverts… All of these methods can be avoided, deleted, fast-forwarded or completely disregarded. The […]