Connecting the Dots: Travel





According to the article:
The Impact of Technology on Travel Agencies

Posted by TTS on Jul 10, 2014

Use of the Internet by travelers, has both a positive and a negative impact on travel agencies.

Despite constant pressure from third parties and direct vendors having more access to the modern day traveler, travel agency business is neither dead nor in the state of dying. In fact, travel agents are still responsible for almost 77% of the total cruise bookings, 55% of air travel bookings and 73% of travel package bookings. According to travel agents, the growth and advancements in technology have helped to enhance communication, convenience, productivity, speed of business and marketing.


People love having an expert help sort out the complexities of multiple stops and multiple modes of transportation.

It became imperative for traditional travel agencies to modify and alter their strategies in order to adapt and survive in the changing markets.

One of the biggest changes that technology seems to have induced is that travel agents can now keep in touch with their clientele using a variety of mediums (mobile devices are a must) at all times.



The Pros And Cons Of Using Airbnb
By Jean Folger | Updated January 30, 2015
Airbnb is an online community marketplace that connects people looking to rent their homes with people who are looking for accommodations. Airbnb users include hosts and travelers: hosts list and rent out their unused spaces, and travelers search for and book accommodations in 192 countries worldwide. A diminution of "air mattress B&B,” Airbnb has grown from appealing to both couch-surfing budget-conscious tourists and to business travelers seeking a more memorable experience that allows for a different level of collaboration amongst colleagues.

 

While Airbnb has primarily served budget-minded tourists, it has been attracting a larger share of business travelers.


These properties allow travelers to trade in the cookie-cutter hotel experience for one that offers colleagues a unique and comfortable space in which to connect and collaborate.


Despite the benefits, there are concerns for both hosts and guests.


Perhaps the biggest risk for hosts is that their property will get damaged.


The biggest concerns for guests may be that the property does not match the description, or that the host is unresponsive to guest needs. In one case, a man had rented an apartment in a European city through Airbnb, and the apartment's real owner showed up wondering who was in his apartment.

While Airbnb states on its website that "you're unlikely to experience any issues with property damage," their Host Guarantee program "provides protection for up to $1,000,000 in damages to covered property in the rare event of guest damage, in eligible countries.


Of special concern to hosts are state and local laws that may limit or prohibit the renting of property.