New research from Amadeus shows that social media ads, travel influencers and virtual reality are key channels now driving trip decisions for Indians.
New research from technology innovators Amadeus explores what travelers are looking for from a trip and how technology can make those ambitions come true. The report – Travel Dreams – draws on input from 6,000 travelers from US, China, India, UK, France and Germany to understand how they choose where to visit, how they want to book and what factors most impact a trip once they are on the road.
The study finds that the channels now driving travel are changing too. Social media ads and travel influences have risen the most in influence in the last five years, while newspapers, in-person travel agents and TV ads are all seeing fluctuations in importance as a source of inspiration for a travelers’ next destination. In India, 50% of travelers are likely to be inspired by travel influencers, significantly higher than other countries—27% in the US, 21% in the UK, 16% in Germany, and just 11% in France.
Two-thirds of hotel guests (63%) are willing to pay extra for features such as a specific view or floor, to have an Xbox in their room or to have local attractions added to their package. While in India, travelers would pay on average 16% above the standard average daily rate to get the view they want. The research shows these features could add around 12% to the average daily rate (ADR) charged by the hotel, which could increase revenues by over $5,300 per room*, per year, for an average mid-range hotel chain looking to sell these extra features.
Leisure travellers crave the personal touch from hotels, with 50% of travelers saying that receiving a personalized service and welcome would be top of the list in achieving their ideal hotel experience. Over half of the guests (52%) said they would be willing to share personal data in return for tailored deals (with fewer people, 40%, open to doing so for a reduced price). Nearly half (48%) of all leisure guests shared a preference for a traditional check-in desk, with a person to talk them through the hotel amenities. Over half of people from India (53%) say that future trips would be improved with enhanced wellness offerings, such as on-site spas, fitness programs, and mental health retreats.
Business travellers are looking for more technology in their pursuit of efficiency, with 71% of business travellers interested in a form of online or self-service check-in. In India nearly a third (30%) of travellers prefer an online check-in process in advance with keyless access to their room. Nearly a quarter (22%) of business travellers want the option of paying with crypto currency or a digital wallet in the future – suggesting the payments landscape may also be shifting.
Lack of insurance is costing travellers real money. The global travellers surveyed said the average amount they think they have lost due to not having travel insurance stands at an average of US$1,210 per person – a sizeable sum. The average Indian traveller said that they have lost over US$1,000 due to not having travel insurance. While for the average Chinese traveller specifically, they put this figure at over $2,500 per person.
Travelers want to embrace virtual reality and artificial intelligence. 82% of business travellers and 66% of leisure travellers said they would like to explore a destination before arrival with a virtual tour. Among Indian travellers, 85% would like to access to virtual reality to explore a destination ahead of their visit. Half of all travelers said they would now turn to AI to tell them about the best places for dinner at their destination. 18% of travelers said they would even ask an AI assistant to write a review on their behalf about a hotel or dinner they had experienced on their trip.
Commenting on the findings, Francisco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, President, Hospitality, Amadeus, says: “From the moment travelers begin thinking about their trip to the time they return home, our mission is to empower the industry to be able to provide exceptional experiences at every step of the journey.
“Projects of this kind show how diverse people’s needs are, depending on key factors such as the purpose of their trip, their age or where they are from. By combining this knowledge with innovative new technology, hoteliers, destinations, mobility and travel protection, providers have real opportunities to drive profitable demand, create personalized trips for guests and connect the dots across the end-to-end experience for people. Working in lockstep with our customers, together we are transforming travel.
