While travel as an industry is not generally associated with speed, the behind-the-scenes business of travel cannot afford to think or act leisurely. Ever-advancing new technologies, disruptive and competitive forces, and unpredictable economic factors strain even well-situated players. This article lays out the key challenges for the future of travel, and provides recommendations on how to keep up with the fast pace of change in order to deliberately transform and reinvent.Analyst: Hollis ThomasesTopic: Technology InnovationResearch Type: Report
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Despite rumors of their imminent demise, global distribution systems (GDSs) are still alive and well. The technology that supports the business services they provide will have a profound and lasting effect on travel distribution. Phocuswright posed a series of questions regarding technology and travel distribution to three leading GDSs – Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport. This analysis summarizes the GDS’ key initiatives and strategies, and also includes detailed Q&A that sheds light on their approach to technology and the future of travel.Analyst: Bob OffuttTopic: Technology InnovationResearch Type: Report
While concerns over Brexit have led many cash-strapped travelers to think twice before going abroad, the U.K. travel market continues to perform well overall, with a 6% increase in bookings projected for 2016. British consumers have embraced online channels for travel planning and booking like never before, and improved inbound tourism may well offset the negative impact of Brexit and concerns over terrorism. This report presents findings on the U.K. leisure and unmanaged business travel markets, with sizing and projections from 2014-2020. Additional coverage includes an overview of the broader European online travel landscape, as well as analysis of the U.K.’s key travel segments, distribution dynamics, market challenges and more.Analysts: Krassi Simonski, David JumanTopic: Market Overview & SizingSegments: Air, Car Rental & Ground Transportation, Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel Agencies, Rail, Tours & PackagesRegion: EuropeResearch Type: Report
Each year, Phocuswright publishes its picks of the top business and technology trends that will affect the future of travel distribution. Once a technology leader, the travel industry has had difficulty breaking from its past success and embracing the future. This Spotlight highlights newly emerging trends that have the potential to be game changers in travel, and also revisits previously published trends that are gaining momentum, pivoting or both.Analyst: Bob OffuttTopic: Technology InnovationSegments: Air, Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel Agencies, Tours & PackagesResearch Type: Report
Europe’s economy continues to recover from the recession. Thanks in part to increased consumer spending, the region’s travel industry reached new heights in 2015, driven by exceptional growth in the online market. Phocuswright's European Online Travel Overview Eleventh Edition: Market Size and Trends provides comprehensive sizing and forecasts for total and online leisure and unmanaged business travel in Europe, and examines the key segments, channels and trends shaping the market.Analysts: Charuta Fadnis, Ralph Merten, Friederike WinkowskiTopic: Market Overview & SizingSegments: Air, Car Rental & Ground Transportation, Cruise, Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel Agencies, Rail, Tours & PackagesRegion: EuropeResearch Type: Report
Travel industry segments don’t come much more consolidated than car rental; in the U.S., three parent companies account for 95% of U.S. car rental revenue. Yet this mature market – large and slow-moving – all but cries out for innovation, just as a slew of disruptive upstarts promise to provide it. This report examines the major trends shaping the U.S. car rental market, including market sizing and projections through 2017, the rental and digital behavior of U.S. leisure and business travelers, and the impact of ride-hailing services on car rental use.Analysts: Robert Lovitt, Douglas Quinby, Maggie RauchTopics: Consumer Trends, Market Overview & SizingSegment: Car Rental & Ground TransportationRegion: U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Report
Salesforce is arguably the world’s most popular CRM platform for businesses. Given its success worldwide, it may be interesting to envision what a similar approach to the unique business of travel distribution might look like using a Salesforce-like product designed just for travel agencies and travel management companies. This article addresses the components and implications of a hypothetical “Travelforce.”Analyst: Bob OffuttTopic: Technology InnovationSegment: Traditional Agencies & TMCsRegion: U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Report
India is the world’s fastest-growing major global economy, and has one of the fastest-growing travel markets as well. Strong gains in online travel continue to drive penetration upward, and by 2021, 45% of gross travel bookings will occur online. This report market presents sizing and projections for the Indian total and online travel markets for 2015-2021, along with analysis of the key segments, trends, players and challenges that characterize this dynamic market.Analysts: Coney Dongre, Chetan Kapoor, Deepak Jain, Maggie RauchTopic: Market Overview & SizingSegments: Air, Car Rental & Ground Transportation, Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel Agencies, RailRegion: Asia PacificResearch Type: Report
While the travel industry tends to be preoccupied with what’s happening in air and hotel, it’s the activities on the ground that inspire travelers to go places. Travel activities, the aggregate of in-destination spend on tours, activities, attractions and events, is the third-largest travel segment and accounts for 10% of global travel revenue. This report explores the state of travel activities to assess the market landscape, the challenges ahead and the opportunities for distribution in the broader travel marketplace.Analysts: Alice Jong, Bing Liu, Douglas QuinbyTopics: Destination & Activities Marketing, Market Overview & SizingSegments: Air, Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel Agencies, Tours & PackagesResearch Type: Report
While air and hotel account for more than 80% of global travel gross bookings, ground transportation has quickly emerged as one of travel’s hottest segments. Surging investor interest in taxi- and ride-hailing services has propelled ground well ahead of other segments. This report examines the ground transportation category, covering all startups in car rental, bus, mobile ride-hailing, prearranged car services and shuttles, including both peer-to-peer models and professional services. Coverage includes overall segment funding, key trends around business models, regional variations, booking and payments, and more.Analyst: Chetan KapoorTopic: Technology InnovationResearch Type: Report