Note From The Editor
Here is a fun fact: Freeman - that company that used to be “exhibitor services” and is now a billion dollar, worldwide, brand experience marketing titan, recently announced its’ entrance into the virtual/augmented reality universe in a big way. They’ve rolled out an impressive suite of new products and services, and even brought-and bought- some AR/VR companies into their fold. They’re sponsoring interactive pavilions at shows like InfoComm and publishing white papers on the subject. Do the words “game changer” apply here? Many think it does You can read more about it here. Tradeshow floors and product launches will likely never be the same!
As always, VRTourism News is focused on what’s happening in our industry and where the VR/AR wind is taking us. We hope you enjoy this issue!
VR in travel and hospitality; is it a fad? Hospitalitynet.org
The narration is familiar - a new shiny breakthrough in tech is announced, inks spill in its honour, and criticism and opinion pieces fly around. Early adopters rush in to lay their hands on it, and in a few months, the circus is dead; inks are scribbling new praises, tech podcasts are singing new songs. Will VR be relevant in hospitality, or a shiny fad? READ MORE
Livestream Your Entire Life with this Pocket-Sized Virtual Reality Camera Themanual.com
Snapchat, Facebook Live, Instagram Stories. We’re fast approaching a Truman Show-esque world where everyone will stream every thrilling and mundane moment of their lives to the Internet in real time. The new DETU Twin 360 degree camera is poised to take us one step closer toward that reality. First debuted at CES 2017, the DETU Twin is now available to the public. READ MORE
VR and Augmented Headsets to Surge to 100M By 2021, Says IDC Barrons.com
Sales of virtual reality and augmented reality headsets will surge by 2021, when 100 million a year of the devices may be sold, according to a new report by research firm IDC. The next six to 18 months will further stimulate the VR market as PC vendors, along with Microsoft, introduce tethered headsets and high-end standalone VR headsets also enter the market. With lower hardware requirements on the PC and lower prices on headsets, VR will be more accessible than ever. READ MORE
Virtual Reality Not Seen As Substitute For Travel Mediapost.com
As virtual reality and artificial intelligence make their way into the travel industry, consumers may not be fully on board. Most adults prefer traditional traveling over VR experiences and more than half say tour guides and hotel staff could not be replaced by AI, according to a new study. The study was conducted by European touring company Italy4Real. READ MORE 
5 Virtual Reality Travel Experiences That Are Almost as Good as the Real Thing cntraveler.com
Virtual reality (VR) is rapidly transforming a range of industries, from gaming to filmmaking to avant-garde art. But travel, though an obvious angle, is still a largely untapped market. Some innovators however are beginning to experiment with how we plan, book, and relieve our wanderlust. READ MORE
The Impact – And Importance – Of Virtual Reality in the Hotel Industry Hospitalitynet.org
Although the AR and VR trend for hotels are still in the early stages, it may not be long before cutting-edge virtual environments that include the feel of ocean breezes or the scent of cooking food become mainstream. Imagine a traveler considering a stay at your hotel. Your potential guest "virtually" walks through one of your luxury suites, exploring all the amenities and even taking in the sweeping view from the window. READ MORE
SeaWorld Orlando Revamp Rollercoaster With VR Vrfocus.com
The Kraken rollercoaster is “better, much better” thanks to VR. Revamping rollercoasters is costly – even a simple aesthetic change is difficult, but to create an entirely new track? It’s an investment theme parks are hesitant to make, but VR could very well change all of that. READ MORE
Tate Modern Uses Virtual Reality to Recreate Modigliani’s Early 20th Century Paris Fortune.com
A new exhibit at the Tate Modern gallery in London is getting some virtual reality love. HTC, the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer and maker of the Vive VR headset, said that it has partnered with Tate Modern on an upcoming exhibit featuring the works of painter and sculptor Amedeo Clemente Modigliani that will be accompanied by a new VR project. READ MORE
Could virtual reality save high street travel agents? Thisismoney.co.uk
The death of the high street travel agent is a forecast that has been made numerous times, but a saviour may be at hand in the form of virtual reality technology. Holidaymakers struggling to make a final decision on where to book a trip are able to 'visit' some destinations in high street travel agents, via virtual reality headsets. And it appears VR has been helping boost sales. Sales of helicopter tours in New York leapt by 28 per cent after holidaymakers were able to take a virtual reality tour, while sales of Royal Caribbean cruises rose by 45 per cent. READ MORE
A $30 Augmented Reality Headset That’s Made From Cardboard
READ MORE msn.com
Augmented reality could be the biggest reason to buy an iPhone8
READ MORE Mashable.com
Future technology: A managed travel tale from 2030 READ MORE Buyingbusinesstravel.com
Demand for Cruises, Virtual Reality Hits All-Time High READ MORE Travelpuls.com
