Online travel trends are continuously changing and it’s more important than ever to ensure your business is keeping up with these trends and looking at ways you can adapt your business strategies.
Travel trends aren’t something to ignore, they’re a gateway into understanding the minds of your potential customers, how and what they are searching for when it comes to purchasing experiences.
Since the beginning of the pandemic and through the cost of living crisis, we’ve seen customer habits change dramatically.
Discover the current top online travel trends, what they mean for your business and how you can look to maximise your revenue from this.
Video content
Let’s start with an obvious one. Most of us have seen the increase in video content online and a lot of that stems from the popularity of TikTok which has continued to develop into other social platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
Research shows that online videos have an audience reach of 92% worldwide. That’s because it’s so much easier to watch a short video than it is to read a 1,000 word article. Videos are easier to digest and makes it a lot easier for companies to showcase their brand and personality.
Give a walk through of your experience, interview customers, share updates and changes – there’s so much potential for video in your business strategy that it is much more likely to provide better results than your written content is.
That doesn’t mean you should abandon written content and focus all of your efforts on video marketing, however, inserting some videos into your strategy can prove to be a game changer in the long run.
Virtual experiences
Despite virtual experiences having existed prior, the pandemic was a large influence on the influx of virtual experiences. Companies such as Amazon Explore and Airbnb Experiences are actively supporting virtual experiences.
Virtual experiences allow travellers to explore a destination on their own schedule, particularly those who may be unable to travel. It creates a space for inclusivity and caters to an audience who may enjoy experiences but don’t like the act of travelling or are currently unable to do so due to other responsibilities.
2023 is the year to start your company’s virtual experience journey. It could be something as simple as an online course or a virtual tour. Either way, you’ll need to ensure you have a quality camera and it’s always good to have someone who is used to producing a lot of video content.
Once you’ve decided the type of virtual experience you’re going to offer, you can use social media, your website and marketing emails to promote this service.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
What exactly do we mean by artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence at its core is the development of computer systems that are able to perform tasks normally required by humans. We’re already doing this in so many ways, a simple example of that is online booking systems. They allow businesses like yours to focus on the more important, time-consuming tasks whilst providing your customers with 24/7 purchasing service.
Another form of artificial intelligence is chatbots. Chatbots take customer service to the next level and whilst many companies worry this removes a personal element, research shows that the majority of millennials prefer consulting with a chatbot over a real human being. There are many reasons for this, whether that be social anxiety about having to make phone calls or a desire for a quick and easy solution that doesn’t rely on a physical person to give you their time.
Implementing an online booking system and a chatbot on your website will dramatically reduce the amount of calls and emails your staff are receiving trying to sort simple issues and provide your customers with an easy fix.
Solo travellers
Research shows that there’s been a 42% increase in solo travelling bookings between 2020 and 2021. Part of that comes from a worldwide desire to get out of the house and explore because of the pandemic.
Experience providers can often overlook this, catering their experiences to two or more visitors, even going as far as limiting ticket quantity to a minimum of two. By doing this, you’re missing out on a growing trend and could be receiving a lot more bookings by promoting your experiences for solo travellers.
Would you like to hear more about how to respond to online travel trends? Book a free online consultation with us to learn more.
