Startups and apps are everywhere, especially in the travel industry. Many have great ideas, but few are making the waves they expected. Skift recently took a look at some of the latest travel startups and predicted that five of them have the potential to be truly disruptive in this crowded field:
- FindMyStay: A hotel bidding platform for India that claims to not only help in easy booking but also save guests close to 30 percent on their bookings.
- Lucid Travel: An easy group travel booking site for students, across destinations in the U.S., Europe and Latin America.
- Sweet Inn: Serviced apartments in Europe and Israel with various amenities that work just like hotels.
- SuiteStory: An app focused on hotel suites around the world and the best discounts travelers can get.
- Outsite: An app that aims to connect location-independent professionals and companies. This way they can satiate their wanderlust while working remotely with flexible schedules.
All great ideas that seem to cater to some unfulfilled consumer need, but there is still stiff competition. Larger corporations are offering similar services and more new startups are rising every day to offer these functions and more. It remains to be seen how much impact these apps will make in the long run. Survival is tough in this market, and businesses are finding it difficult to scale despite investing in emerging technologies.
The Internet was the single biggest disruption for the travel industry. Even at the turn of the century, travel agents ruled. Now it's the age of DIY travelers who book their own hotels and flights, and make their itineraries and budgets themselves.
Then came Airbnb, which not only hit the hospitality sector but also heavily impacted travel plans. It is, therefore, no surprise that Airbnb is in the news again — this time with a new loyalty partnership with Delta Air Lines, just like it did with Qantas and Virgin America.
Airbnb bookings will now add more miles for Delta SkyMiles members. They will save on accommodation and travel at the same time. This innovative partnership will not only bring superior travel experiences, but also connect the hitherto parallel segments of the industry.
At a time when earning miles has become rather tough, partnerships like these can be a boon for the traveler.
At South by Southwest Interactive in Austin, Texas, earlier this year, several companies showed some intriguing developments. Disruption seems to be coming in more from future-leaning hardware than the next great travel apps. A quick look:
- Spokefly: A bike-sharing app, emulating the Airbnb model, that is affordable and extremely user-friendly.
- Oculus Rift: This has made major waves, from travel to education spheres. Allowing users to visit far-flung places via VR without really visiting them, is sure to be a hit. It's a winner.
- Robocoin Kiosk: Now, even if you leave your wallet at home, you can use the virtual, all-digital currency to get by.
- Skully AR-1: This motorcycle helmet transcends barriers, blending wearable technology and augmented reality. It's a GPS, guide, driving instructor and phone, all rolled into one.
- Banter: Mobile-optimized chat room app with location-based themes that will allow travelers to get a glimpse of local life and favorites. With temporary chat history, much like Snapchat, connecting with strangers won't feel so weird.
Finally, it's time for artificial intelligence (AI) to make its presence felt in the travel industry. According to a London School of Economics study, AI is all set to become the key disruptive factor over the next decade, especially for the travel distribution industry. It could offer precise traveler information to target consumers, aiding in more personalized experiences.
How will you adapt to these changes?
