Note from the Editor: It was mid-2016 when we first started this newsletter and what a ride of realities it’s been! We've followed the yellow brick road of tech in travel wherever it’s taken us......from virtual ➤ augmented ➤ metaverse ➤ extended ➤mixed ➤artificial and all paths in between Our mission has been to illuminate how this changing landscape has affected how we market, sell and experience travel. It seems to us that a lot is coming together in 2025 and we will still be here to help you make sense of it.
Let’s start with an overview
Deborah Reinow, Executive Editor |
Let’s start with an overview
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The Future of Travel: What tech you’ll use in 2025 linkedin.com |
Travel is an ever-evolving industry that continuously adapts to technological advancements, societal shifts, and environmental considerations. As we approach 2025, the landscape of travel is set to be transformed by a host of new technologies and innovations. From smart airports to AI-driven personalized experiences, the future of travel promises to be more seamless, efficient, and tailored to individual needs than ever before. |
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AI is no metaverse
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Not just a 2025 trend- GENAI is the catalyst for a golden age of travel tech innovation phocuswire.com |
Scrolling through the 2025 travel and tech trends content that dominate this time of year, very few seem to understand that generative AI (genAI) is much bigger than a trend. GenAI is already having a fundamental impact on the travel marketing, merchandising and selling value chain for suppliers. It is taking over from legacy search, with conversation AI driving this disruption. |
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Baby steps but kudos to them for trying
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Monterey, CA launches AI-enhanced website to attract meeting planners travelmole.com |
See Monterey aims to transform its meetings and events service with the launch of a redesigned AI powered website and a new meetings campaign, ‘Inspiration Meets Here.’ They aim to position Monterey County as a destination where tech, creativity and nature converge to elevate meeting experiences.
Let the wearable AR glasses war begin |
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need red line copy ??????
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Samsung to launch 'extended reality' headset indulgexpress.com |
South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics has announced plans to release an "extended reality" (XR) headset, co-developed with Alphabet’s Google and Qualcomm, in global markets next year. The XR headset, categorized as a wearable device, will run on Google's new Android XR platform—a version of Android specifically designed for extended reality—developed in collaboration with Samsung encompasses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies. Codenamed Project Moohan, derived from the Korean word for "infinity," the headset will feature Google’s Gemini chatbot for controlling apps through conversational commands and physical gestures. |
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As goes Disney….
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Walt Disney forms business unit to coordinate use of AI, augmented reality businesstimes.com
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Walt Disney is forming a new group to coordinate the company’s use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and mixed reality, as the media giant explores applications across its film, television and theme park divisions.
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AR no longer an outlier for historical site experience
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Augmented reality app shows how Greek sites originally looked in ancient times milwaukeeindependent.com |
Tourists at the Acropolis this holiday season can witness the resolution of one of the world’s most heated debates on cultural heritage. All they need is a smartphone.
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More AI. We need to get used to it!
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AI on track” How Journey Beyond is enhancing productivity and driving innovation in experiential tourism http://microsoft.com/en-au |
Australia’s largest experiential tourism
business, Journey Beyond, is renowned for its immersive travel experiences. With 16 brands under its umbrella, including iconic multi-day rail adventures. The Ghan and the Indian Pacific, the company has a strong global presence. Journey Beyond began turning its attention to AI in mid-2023, driven by the widespread interest in generative AI tools
like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Recognizing that many employees were already using these tools to boost efficiency, the company faced a challenge: balancing the benefits of the technologies with the need to protect sensitive data. |
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Deborah Reinow, Executive Editor . Maria Polk, President & CEO maria@VRTourismNews.com
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