The latest advances in tourism technology will be showcased at Arabian Travel Market, which takes place from April 24-27 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Biometric bag tagging solutions, cloud passports, personalised travel, spontaneous travel apps and virtual reality travel are just some of the trends driving the tourism industry, according to a new report produced by Colliers International ahead of the event.
“When it comes to technology in hospitality we have seen a complete transformation of the hotel space over the last decade and that same pace of change is set to continue,” said Simon Press, senior exhibition director, Arabian Travel Market.
“We can expect travel related services to be further developed to enhance personalisation through guest data.
“Dubai is already at the forefront of travel technology and the discussion now is how far we can take that without travellers finding it intrusive.”
Colliers has identified several areas in which hospitality technology is evolving.
One of these is the use of beacons to pilot Bluetooth technology across public spaces, which in turn will create more opportunities for guest personalisation and on demand flash marketing.
The rise in demand for alternative accommodation, with a focus on channels such as Airbnb.com, is now a factor that cannot be ignored by the hotel sector, according to the report by Colliers.
Virtual payment systems and integrated smartphone apps are also expected to become a major part of the hospitality sector in the Middle East.
Press said: “Guests want instant access to useful services and easy solutions to common issues.
“Dubai is set to welcome its first Bluetooth connected property in the near future and alternative payment gateways such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, along with the use of apps to personalise the hotel experience, are beginning to have a significant influence on hotel operations.
“Like the rest of the world, the travel industry is adapting to our highly digitised lives and this is presenting huge opportunities for innovative thinkers to pioneer new solutions. This penchant for change and adaptation will surely set new benchmarks for the industry.”
