{"id":25237,"date":"2016-10-04T20:43:29","date_gmt":"2016-10-04T20:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=25237"},"modified":"2021-10-28T17:11:13","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T17:11:13","slug":"the-future-of-travel-looks-like-science-fiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/the-future-of-travel-looks-like-science-fiction\/","title":{"rendered":"The Future Of Travel Looks Like Science Fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry__header\" data-beacon=\"{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;headline&quot;}}\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\u00a0<em>This content originally appeared on Expedia\u2019s Science of Travel Blog.<\/em><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry__content js-entry-content\">\n<div class=\"entry__body js-entry-body\">\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/images.huffingtonpost.com\/2016-09-27-1474966578-6575284-FutureHolidaysExpediaHP.jpg\" data-beacon=\"{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;entry_text&quot;,&quot;lnid&quot;:&quot;citation&quot;,&quot;mpid&quot;:1,&quot;plid&quot;:&quot;http:\/\/images.huffingtonpost.com\/2016-09-27-1474966578-6575284-FutureHolidaysExpediaHP.jpg&quot;}}\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/2016-09-27-1474966578-6575284-FutureHolidaysExpediaHP-thumb.jpg\" alt=\"2016-09-27-1474966578-6575284-FutureHolidaysExpediaHP.jpg\" width=\"570\" height=\"570\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>By Tony Donohoe,\u00a0Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Technology at Expedia Inc.<\/p>\n<p><em>Originally appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/tony-donohoe\/the-future-of-travel-look_b_12210970.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HuffingtonPost.co.uk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>VR is like something out of <em>Blade Runner<\/em> or <em>Back to the Future<\/em> &#8211; simply strap on a headset and open your eyes in a completely different world, without having to leave the one you\u2019re in. It\u2019s great for gamers and fun for thrill-seekers, but honestly? I think VR\u2019s real potential lies in travel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>The days of relying on teletext for last minute deals are gone. From holiday inspiration to making a booking, <a href=\"http:\/\/expediablog.co.uk\/holiday-of-the-future\/\" target=\"_hplink\" data-beacon=\"{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;entry_text&quot;,&quot;lnid&quot;:&quot;citation&quot;,&quot;mpid&quot;:2,&quot;plid&quot;:&quot;http:\/\/expediablog.co.uk\/holiday-of-the-future\/&quot;}}\" rel=\"noopener\">the future of travel<\/a> lies firmly online. But even this is changing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>I\u2019ve spotted a trend: we don\u2019t simply base our bookings on great deals anymore (though these do help!). Whilst at Expedia, I\u2019ve noticed that more and more holidaymakers want to guarantee they\u2019ll be getting an authentic experience: local produce, authentic digs and adventures they\u2019ll never forget. Traditionally, this is nothing I couldn\u2019t uncover without a good bit of internet trawling, but with the rise of virtual reality, I think I can go one step further.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>Picture the scene: I can pop on a headset and stand on top of Iceland\u2019s Gulfoss waterfall, or, perhaps, Peru\u2019s Machu Picchu. I could even find myself wandering the bustling streets of an Asian city, where the tourist industry may or may not have taken away some of the local charm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sabre.com\/insights\/itb-in-360-how-vr-is-shaping-the-future-of-travel-marketing\/\" target=\"_hplink\" data-beacon=\"{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;entry_text&quot;,&quot;lnid&quot;:&quot;citation&quot;,&quot;mpid&quot;:3,&quot;plid&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.sabre.com\/insights\/itb-in-360-how-vr-is-shaping-the-future-of-travel-marketing\/&quot;}}\" rel=\"noopener\">Fully immersive VR<\/a> has the potential to captivate potential travellers with style and substance, offering true-to-life expectations and matching wearers to their ideal experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>But what happens once I\u2019ve found my dream break? It\u2019s possible that hotels will take advantage of virtual reality technology, allowing holidaymakers to preview their accommodation. Exciting, yes, but still speculative. What\u2019s really impressive is a nifty bit of technology that\u2019s up and running right now: <a href=\"http:\/\/venturebeat.com\/2016\/06\/08\/expedias-first-bot-is-for-booking-hotels\/\" target=\"_hplink\" data-beacon=\"{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;entry_text&quot;,&quot;lnid&quot;:&quot;citation&quot;,&quot;mpid&quot;:4,&quot;plid&quot;:&quot;expedias-first-bot-is-for-booking-hotels\/&quot;}}\" rel=\"noopener\">booking bot<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>If, like me, you\u2019re sick of spending hours searching the internet for your dream hotel, then worry not, booking bot does all the hard work. I begin a Facebook message to Expedia with a friendly \u2018Hi\u2019, input where I\u2019d like to go, when and for how long, and in seconds, I\u2019ll be shown the best deals. There\u2019s little hassle and I could be making a cup of tea in the time it takes to chat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>Booking bot and VR both herald a new age of convenience. With the unavoidable airport check-in experience still lending an element of stress to proceedings, making what comes before and after as easy as possible will be key in the future. In fact, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tumotech.com\/2014\/05\/12\/the-rise-of-robot-revolution-domestic-robots\/\" target=\"_hplink\" data-beacon=\"{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;entry_text&quot;,&quot;lnid&quot;:&quot;citation&quot;,&quot;mpid&quot;:5,&quot;plid&quot;:&quot;the-rise-of-robot-revolution-domestic-robots\/&quot;}}\" rel=\"noopener\">robots with suitcase-packing potential<\/a> enter the mass market in years to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>Once I arrive at my hotel (booked using booking bot), it\u2019s only right that the seamless, space-age experience continues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>\u201cThe modern traveller wants a friction-free, mobile-led experience that offers help when needed,\u201d says Kevin May of Tnooz. Keyless hotel rooms, anyone? Mobile technology is bound to take over from something that\u2019s so easy to lose.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>Some experts are even going so far as to predict the fall of human interaction. Front desk staff replaced by holograms, waiting staff <a href=\"http:\/\/www.travelandleisure.com\/slideshows\/hotel-technology-starwood-robot-butlers\/3\" target=\"_hplink\" data-beacon=\"{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;entry_text&quot;,&quot;lnid&quot;:&quot;citation&quot;,&quot;mpid&quot;:6,&quot;plid&quot;:&quot;http:\/\/www.travelandleisure.com\/slideshows\/hotel-technology-starwood-robot-butlers\/3&quot;}}\" rel=\"noopener\">swapped for robotic butlers<\/a> and smartphone apps: we could soon be living like The Jetsons, after all. Especially when you consider the potential of augmented reality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>You see, I haven\u2019t only seen VR making waves: AR is coming to the fore as a holiday must-have, too. A certain game involving pocket-sized monsters <a href=\"http:\/\/www.recode.net\/2016\/9\/19\/12965508\/pokemon-go-john-hanke-augmented-virtual-reality-ar-recode-decode-podcast\" target=\"_hplink\" data-beacon=\"{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;entry_text&quot;,&quot;lnid&quot;:&quot;citation&quot;,&quot;mpid&quot;:7,&quot;plid&quot;:&quot;http:\/\/www.recode.net\/2016\/9\/19\/12965508\/pokemon-go-john-hanke-augmented-virtual-reality-ar-recode-decode-podcast&quot;}}\" rel=\"noopener\">has already shown<\/a> that augmented reality can reach critical mass faster than VR, but travel-wise? I wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see Google Glass-style specs replacing sunglasses in the near future. After all, I could look up at a landmark and be presented with overlaid fun facts, or browse a restaurant menu from my hotel room to help me decide whether to book.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-list-component mt-paragraph text\">\n<p>Travel is changing, and the future may not be as far away as we\u2019d first thought.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"follow-author\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Just when I thought modern technology was hitting its peak, along comes virtual reality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":25239,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1886,1786,1787,1879,1776],"tags":[],"authors":[2228],"class_list":["post-25237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-company","category-news","category-technology","category-type-of-vacation","authors-expedia-guest-author","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Future Of Travel Looks Like Science Fiction | Expedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/the-future-of-travel-looks-like-science-fiction\/\" \/>\n<meta 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