Some travel predictions :

- Google will charge fee for Google Maps users (big money)
- Semantic web development in the travel space
- DMO’s will lose the battle with User Generated Content
- Firefox add more travel plugins
- Travel Rants will win some awards

For me, I will lunch a new blog call HoteliTour

All the best for 2008

Claude

Report comment

I agree with the Travel agencies concentrating on online, as when I started my travel agency many years ago, it was launched as an online agency, and its proven to gain us more clients than having just walk-ins ever could. We have a nearly 5 inquiries online-to 0 and maybe 1 walk in/per day ratio everyday.

Report comment

My Resolutions:
-Learn/try something new every day
-Be more open minded
-Have more fun!

Travel Predictions:
-Travel distribution will increasingly be controlled by suppliers
-OTAs will find ways to compete on more sophisticated grounds, other than price. (full dynamic itinerary, activity based bookings ect.)
-The bloggosphere and T-listers will gain huge popularity at ITB!! (more info to come)

All the best for 2008!

Oh and I am not sure about Google and Travel:
http://tourismtide.blogspot.com/2007/11/google-travel-troogle.html

Report comment

hmmm …TUI buying a stake in Facebook would be an interesting one (particularly given some of their recent moves) although TUI would need to stump up a lot of cash for that. Microsoft paid $240 million for just 1.6% stake in Facebook!

However, I would predict Facebook to become increasingly more influential in travel. I believe that social networks will help further evolve consumer purchase behaviour in 2008.

Consider the evolution of consumer behaviour on the internet. First consumers use the internet to compare prices between products/services. Then consumers start to support this research by utilising the internet to research product/service quality by reading 3rd party reviews. This has been more prevalent in travel than any other industry (i.e. Travelsupermarket for price comparison, Tripadvisor for reviews).

Now, with the development of social networks, consumers have the opportunity to research product/service quality by reading reviews from the people they trust most: their friends and family.

I believe that Facebook (or travel providers utilising the Facebook platform) is best positioned to capitalise on this opportunity purely due to it’s high penetration. It is now up to travel providers to develop the applications that will facilitate the usage of Facebook as a travel planning tool. Some such as Sidestep have already tried with modest results but Tripadvisor seem to be really on the ball with their applications and theirs represent some of the more popular to be found on Facebook. We should also not forget WAYN.com, a dedicated travel social network.

Of course no one knows how the social networking landscape will look next year. It’s is still a relative new product and with Google losing out to Microsoft with Facebook, I understand they are looking to acquire and aggregate all the niche social networks to create a super social network! Regardless there is undoubtedly plenty of change ahead in what always seems to be a rapidly changing industry.

Report comment

I’m surprised you didn’t comment more on the nickel and dime-ing of added fees that everyone else is going on about.

I hear you about facebook though. It’s a monster, and travel specific social networking is getting big too…travbuddy is constantly moving, more than i’d have expected.

What do you think is happening re length of vacations? Julia predicted on http://www.gogirlfriend.com that more long weekends would be replacing traditional trips….Personally I prefer it that way.

Report comment

Hate to be the grim reeper but the economic slowdown will really bite. Travelscope and MAXjet have already felt the effects – expect to see more closures, or should I say ‘consolidation’.

Report comment

No recap
No forecasts
Two resolutions:

Getting myself organized and
Getting myself organized

Report comment

I was not sure I agreed with the prediction on Google. If anything they would do that as part of their new wiki initiatve I think.

Although I am not sure I should talk as I went more for humor in my predictions: 7 Outrageous Predictions for Travel in 2008 (href=”http://tripinator.com/2007/12/23/7-outrageous-predictions-for-travel-in-2008/)

—

Chris Christensen
Amateur Traveler podcast – http://AmateurTraveler.com
Tripinator – Travel 2.0 – http://tripinator.com

Report comment

Blogging more!

Report comment

I’ve made 6 new years resolutions, but I don’t think I will keep them all!!

Report comment