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Online tools, technologies and apps have already become integral parts of the travel industry and the typical consumer's decision-making path. But how effective are digital technologies at moving the needle on travel buying behavior, and do they help brands foster deeper relationships with travelers? This Analysis examines the impact of and differences between key digital technologies used in travel, including mobile, location-based services, personalization technology and more.
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While the U.S. economy showed clear signs of recovery in 2012, there were enough mixed signals to make vacation decisions difficult for many Americans. Through a longitudinal analysis, PhoCusWright's U.S. Consumer Travel Report Fifth Edition examines traveler behavior along each step of the travel planning process - from the media travelers rely on to make destination and product decisions, to the channels they use to book and share their trip experiences. Key metrics include frequency and duration of trips, travel expenditure and travel component purchases, and travel intentions for the coming year.
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Geographic data and maps are critical components of daily life for people and businesses alike. Today, services based on digital maps and geographic data have become embedded in modern culture. This Spotlight explores the evolution and current status of geo-services, including its underlying foundational elements, and examines various businesses that use geo-services to deliver personal services and rich experiences.
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Nearly two thirds of U.S. online travelers now own a smartphone, one third own a tablet and nearly a fourth own both. Rapid adoption of mobile devices among travelers is impacting every phase of the travel process, and mobile is becoming the new battleground for travel companies seeking to grow market share. This report provides a detailed assessment of the U.S. mobile travel market, including consumer behavior trends, mobile market sizing and projections for key travel segments.
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Brochures can be excellent tools for cultivating brand and selling credibility and capability. E-brochures can transcend the limits of the traditional print model by offering vastly improved navigation, personalization, targeted advertising and customer tracking.
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Until recently, travel companies' online strategies could be comfortably confined to the desktop web. However, the explosion in consumer electronics, mobile technology and social media have transformed the online experience, making it extremely challenging to address the market with a single, mainstream strategy. Mobile devices, tablets and still-evolving social platforms have changed the way travelers connect, plan and share their experiences. PhoCusWright's Traveler Technology Survey 2012 provides travel companies and marketers a comprehensive view of how the latest devices, mobile functionality and social networks are shaping the consumer travel planning process.
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The debut of Siri, Apple's intelligent personal assistant, was initially greeted with enthusiastic reviews. Since then, however, reviews have been decidedly mixed. In the meantime, interest in speech-enabled artificial intelligence has skyrocketed, and developers are now racing to bring new and improved applications to the marketplace. This Analysis considers the strengths and weaknesses of some of the latest speech-enabled intelligent personal assistants, and outlines how these tools should fit into travel companies' mobile strategies.
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Google's purchase of ITA Software prompted many to consider and speculate about the company's plans to enter (and possibly disrupt) the travel distribution landscape. In addition to ITA Software, Google possesses a range of other tools and capabilities it could potentially use to establish itself along various points of the travel value chain. This Spotlight examines Google's possible intentions with respect to travel, and explores the tools at its disposal for building a complete travel system.
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While a strategically managed social media presence has become de rigueur in the travel industry, companies are still struggling to determine how best to harness the medium. PhoCusWright's Social Media in Travel 2012 examines the role of social media in the online travel ecosystem, investigating which types of user-generated content are most influential, how social networking affects referrals to travel sites, and what innovations to expect from social travel startups, among other trends.
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General search engines like Google have become so ubiquitous that many users would be lost without them. In the travel category, top brands compete fiercely for general search traffic, despite their well-established names and websites. This report examines the role of general search engines in the travel planning process, and includes an overview of travelers' search engine usage by brand, motives for using search, travel products searched for and more.
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