Let’s Shape the Future of Travel

Have you ever think about the future world of tourism industry? Do you have any needs that can’t be satisfied by the current technology or condition? Would you like to be more connected with your friends, the travel destinations even the airplanes by your mobile? You must have your answer in your mind, while Amadeus, an IT provider for tourism industry, gave its answer at the beginning of 2014. So, what will the world look like from Amadeus’ eyes? The company uses three words to answer this question, personalization, connectivity and sustainability.


A personalized travel future

Travelers are getting more and more individualized and demanding. They know exactly what they want and what they like. They prefer to travel in one special way—their own way. Personalization is very important not only for travelers but also for every institution in tourism industry. In order to solve this problem, Amadeus is working on improving the search technology to help the online travel websites and metasearch companies offering more personalized results to their customers. Moreover, Amadeus have created a new platform, amadeus.net (Picture 1), where users can plan a tour, book flights and share travel experiences. Within the smartest filter and largest database in the world, the flight searching of the website is incredibly easy to use and can meets every need of travelers. It more likes a community, travelers can share their unique travel experiences or plans with their friends who can modify it again and change it into their own plan. It is a personalized platform for pre-travel, travel and post travel process. However, the website is still in beta testing and lacks of UGC (User Generate Content).

Picture 1. The index of Amadeus.net

Sources: Amadeus.net

A connected travel future

The occurrence of unavoidable disruptions leads to bad experience so that getting instantly informed is always the dream of travelers. In order to make the dream come true, Amadeus started from the idea: “tomorrow’s traveler wants more connected travel, going from door to door to door to door to door.” It means one solution to the whole traveling process. Customer can go from his/her house door, to the door of the taxi, to the door of the plane, to the door of the bus in the destination and to the door of hotel room smoothly and fast. This requires both advanced technology and capable global distribution system (GDS). Amadeus is on the way to get airlines, hotels, car rental companies, trains and shops more connected in their GDS. The most interesting thing is that Amadeus is connecting the airlines with airports (Picture 2). This IT solution will benefit everyone, the airlines, the airports and the ended customers in the short coming future. For airlines, they can maximize last minute seat allocation. For airports, they can provide personalized service and have better perform with limited resources, such as no long queues in security check and boarding; faster luggage pickup and flight connectivity by locating the aero planes accurately. For customers, they can travel more conveniently, such as check-in fast in the airport; choose their “neighbors” on the airplane and easily check real time information of the flights.

Picture 2. Amadeus: connecting airports and airlines

A sustainable travel future

Today, travel companies realize that a sustainable business requires making positive impact on society and environment and encouraging the customers to do something meaningful to the others. Therefore, cooperating with UNICEF, Amadeus provides a technology for travel companies that allow customers to make donations for children in less developed countries. When travelers book flight tickets and hotel rooms online, they can choose to donate a small amount of money to UNICEF by just a simple click. It's more meaningful and practical to customers than those marketing bluff.


Although it seems like a bright future, there still exist some limitations and challenges in the real world. For example, a large amount of money is required to put the idea into practice. However, due to the effect of the global economic crisis, it is difficult for the company, Amadeus, to raise fund from investors. In addition, according to the blueprint of Amadeus, a large number of companies should be involved in, both private and public ones. In some countries, local transportation is run by the government who might not be willing to cooperate with a foreign company like Amadeus. Last but not least, Amadeus, as an IT company, they are lack of ability or experience to coordinate different institutions who are engaged in the project.



Reference
http://www.amadeus.com/web/amadeus/en_1A-corporate/Amadeus-Home/Why-Amadeus/Lets-shape-the-future-of-travel/1319580063667-Page-AMAD_WhyAmadeusPpal
http://www.amadeus.com/blog/21/03/evolving-needs-nextgen-travelers-shape-travel-technology/
http://www.amadeus.com/blog/14/02/video-will-tomorrows-travel-experience-look-like/
http://www.amadeus.com/blog/19/03/teaming-amadeus-shape-future-travel-nigeria/

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Da2wJtC5s#t=60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc8w8AvJzYo

Xiuting & Cong