The online travel industry is booming and people are relying more and more on the internet to book their flights and hotels However, unlike any other industry, the travel industry has its own set of challenges too. Have a look at those challenges below and what travel agencies and travel software development companies like QuadLabs are doing to overcome them.
The challenges and opportunities in online travel Industry.
The challenges and opportunities in online travel Industry.
Less connectivity
Visitors in Asia (and even in some other parts of the world) have been facing the problem of slow internet connectivity since a long time. Although many people have 4G connections today, there is still a considerable amount of people who use 3G or slower networks. Low or slow connectivity results in people taking the traditional route to booking tickets — the phone call route. There are many who still prefer calling the airline or hotel to book tickets as that seems more ‘convenient’ to them. Business owners now require simpler designs for their websites and mobile applications on all platforms namely Android, Ios, BlackBerry and Windows. Simple designs allow their websites and apps to load faster without compromising on the design or the user experience. Also, network operators are trying to bring 4G technologies to Asian markets on a large scale. It won’t be long until the problem of slow internet connectivity gets solved and more and more people plan and book their travels and hotel stays online.
Negative search experience
Travellers suffer from negative search experience on OTA’s websites or apps. They used to find it difficult to get the type of hotel they wanted. Thanks to technological advancements provided by companies like QuadLabs and the efforts taken by business owners, visitors are now getting a unique search experience. Increasing travel based websites allow visitors to search, compare and book hotels and other Travel products like flights, car rental, Travel insurance, Transfers etc. The overall user experience has changed for better and will continue to do so as travel businesses understand the importance of getting more customers online.
Synergy issues
Synergy between the travel agency and the hotel or airline used to cause many issues in the past. Sometimes travellers used to book rooms that were unavailable or already filled. It was difficult to update the empty rooms in hotels or seats on a plane. As a result, visitors used to view outdated information. This scenario has changed with the advancements in technology. GDS companies and hotels suppliers now provide live XML/API feeds to the travel agents and agencies. It is now possible to see more up-to-date information on travel sites and apps. Businesses are also moving to better software and technologies to make sure their services are always up and running.
Cancellation policies
Different travel agencies provide different cancellation policies. Some demand a cancellation fee on cancellation of tickets. These fees can be as high as a one night room stay fee + taxes. Few travel agencies don’t allow cancellation after the stipulated time. Fewer companies ask their customer to cancel individual tickets, for example, a travel agency might cancel only your hotel room bookings but not your flight tickets if it has given you both a flight + hotel stay package. Some companies might allow cancelling the entire package only! Thanks to the tough competition today, these policies have been less strict and focus more on user convenience. Because customers will usually shift to a competitor if a particular business doesn’t provide convenient services. Travel business owners are now innovating new and more convenient ways to cancel or refund bookings. Discount Coupons, Loyalty vouchers, Payback Points, Attractive refund plans are being introduced for every Travel product.
Inability to know more about hotels
Although all the information is available online on the internet, it is still easier to know what kind of service you will get in a hotel depending on how the person who answers your call speaks to you. You can judge this based on how quickly they answer your call, how they talk to you, their mannerisms, how they listen to your requirements and if they are ready to go an extra mile to provide more convenience to their customers. It is found that a hotel can offer negotiation up to 40% on the room rates. Discount is available once you talk to the salesperson personally. Most travel websites don’t offer the discounted rates as they have to manage commissions. Travel agencies might go the extra mile, there is still nothing that beats calling the hotel directly (except for saving some time). However, many agents are trying to search and innovative ways to make it more appealing to book hotels online.
QuadLabs travel technology system help these travel agents and tour operators to organize and keep track of their bookings, business processes and front and back office data in a systematic manner, thus providing utmost satisfaction to the traveler regardless of the type of the travel. They are highly specialized and reliable travel technology provider who plays a very important role in maintaining a healthy relationship between the travel company and the customer for years.
