SINGAPORE, 2 July 2019: Amadeus released on Monday new insights into the state of the business travel industry in the Asia Pacific and key technology trends that are shaping it.
It is estimated that by 2025, business travel spend in this region will double and will account for half of the world’s total the Amadeus latest report on trends stated.
To help the industry achieve its goals, Amadeus released details of five key technology trends impacting the sector.
Customizing business travel
Just like personal travel, business travellers want personalized journeys as part of their overall package. Business travel agencies must equip travellers with access to the information and tools that help them enjoy stress-free and efficient journeys, from booking and beyond. As content is aggregated, business travel agencies will be able to offer more choice to the individual travellers’ profile and allow corporations to control what the traveller sees. This will create a tailored experience right from booking, through to trip, and manage costs for the corporation.
Transparency at every touch point
The travel industry will start to embrace a ‘blockchain principle’, showing every single transaction in business travel (buyer, fleet operator, vehicle, driver, rider, location, routes, feedback, pricing etc.). This will mean business travel agencies will have insight into corporate travellers’ complete journeys – this data will be vital in creating a tailored experience. It also means that corporations will have a record of every journey and be able to use this data for reporting, forecasting and identifying trends.
Millennials capitalize on the b-leisure trip
Expedia Group Media Solutions predicts that 60% of business trips morph into ‘b-leisure’ (business with leisure) trips and with millennials making up a growing share of the workforce, a lot of the b-leisure travel spend will be done by this demographic. Agencies that make b-leisure a possibility for this generation will be harnessing this pool of potential profit by understanding and accommodating their needs. To remain competitive, business travel agencies need to work with corporations on creating business travel trips that appeal to a wide range of traveller expectations e.g. flexibility on dates and travel preferences.
Mobile first
Mobile technology is important in all types of travel agencies, but even more so for business travel. With hectic and time-sensitive schedules, travellers want to be able to communicate issues and manage travel plans at the touch of their fingertips. This requires the business travel agencies’ mobile platform to be fully optimized and connected. Mobile makes personalization easier through mobile apps, gathering and using data, and sending targeted information.
Greater aggregation across the industry
As travel content becomes aggregated and centralized, business travel agencies will be able to access content more efficiently, without changing platforms. This ability will increase further with NDC, because it will give business travel agencies access to the individual’s profile (including needs and preferences), and allow them to control what the traveller sees, creating a tailored experience from inspiration to trip.
A whitepaper on the Future of Business Travel is also available Visit:https://amadeus.com/en/insights/white-paper/the-future-of-business-travel
