Online Travel 3.0 aims to keep up the record of the key annual meeting point for the online travel community, increase the attendance of online travel companies, provide start-ups with an opportunity to speak out and showcase their businesses in front of a key market audience, and give partners an opportunity to strengthen ties with their clients, as well as sign new contracts right there at the event.
Online Travel, which is taking place in Moscow on November 12, 2019, is recognized as the premier annual meeting point of key players in the online travel market in Russia & the CIS. Among the participants are heads and specialists of Russian and foreign online travel agencies, meta-search engines, travel start-ups, online travel planning services, social networks, insurance companies, online hotel reservation services, suppliers of IT solutions for the industry, and airlines and airports.
Leading market players starting startup projects, as well as foreign companies, opt for the Online Travel conference. The conference provides an opportunity to get the most relevant analytics and market statistics, exchange news, learn about the latest trends in the industry and meet future partners to increase profits, maintain market share and attract new customers.
Audience - business owners, top managers, and specialists:
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Online travel agencies
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Metasearch systems
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Travel startups
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Online travel planning services
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Insurance companies
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Online hotel reservation services.
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Participate in
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Be among the top managers and opinion leaders of leading companies in the online travel industry
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Find the right contacts for business dating
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Get a high-quality information product that allows you to keep abreast of the latest trends, innovations, analytics and statistics of the Russian and world markets
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Apply the acquired knowledge in business to reach a higher level.
Over the 7 years of its existence, the event has gained a reputation as the main event in the online travel industry in Russia. Today, the Online Travel international conference is the leading discussion platform in Russia for the leading players in the online travel market, including Russian and foreign online travel agencies, meta-search systems, GDS, airlines, and travel start-ups.
Online travel event report
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Tectonic changes in the air transportation sale market
Air Travel Industry in the Modern World is developing rapidly, but the pace of this development varies for different segments of this market. The fastest changes are taking place in the distribution and sales segment air transportation. Airlines are radically changing their place in the modern market – keeping and developing their transport function, they simultaneously begin to play the role of mass retailers, offering a variety of transport and additional services to a huge number of potential customer passengers. These changes would not have been possible without an active digitalization process, which served as the main stimulus for development. Direct sales from airline sites and tremendous activity at the same time aggregator sites, radical simplification of the structure tariffs in combination with the unpacking of the transportation service, allowing you to purchase only the necessary components, for example, on-board meals or baggage transportation.
The internal basis for development is a series of technological innovations, in particular, the NDC standard, which defines new opportunities for the exchange of diverse data between market participants. But outside these changes manifest in radical restructuring relations between all market participants. Airlines are becoming retailers. GDS Providers Turn into Integration Technology Partners sophisticated NDC content. Online travel agencies seek new roles and niches in the market undergoing tectonic changes.
A deep discussion of all these problems and issues took place at the 6th International Online Conference of Travel. The event brought together more than 350 participants, including the most respected industry experts and top management of leading market companies.
Among the trends of the market, both organized and independent tourism can highlight the consolidation around major players, as well as strengthening the role of the state in the tourism industry. This is expressed by the transition of Rostourism to the Ministry's economic development, toughening Central Bank policy about travel agencies, creation, and development of technological platforms of "Electronic voucher" and the National reservation system ... "- Alexander Sizintsev, Deputy General Director of Economics and Finance, Automated transport Information Systems - TAIS
The main thing industry event in the online travel segment in Russia
New Formats
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Online Achievements Awards
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Alley of national tourist offices
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Demo zone to demonstrate innovative products and services
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Masterclasses
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Tech meeting zone
Over the years, the event has gained a reputation as a major event in the online travel industry in Russia. Today international Online Travel Conference is a leading discussion platform in Russia for leading market players online travel, including Russian and foreign online travel agencies, metasearch systems, GDS, airlines, as well as travel startups.
Trends of the Russian market of tourist services that will see in the future, with a high probability will indicate further consolidation and increased competition between players. But most participants will remain in service ... "-Dmitry Migachev, Director of Passenger Insurance, and Alfa Insurance. This is a significant event for the Russian market, since they are discussing what it will be like in a year or two, strategies, innovations. All that will be implemented in 5-10 years, it is discussed at this conference”- RostislavPetrov, RusLine Airlines
According to the International Monetary Fund, Russia’s economy is in the 11th place in the world and is growing faster than the economies of France and the UK. Russia plays a significant part in world tourism. In 2012 Russians spent on holidays abroad 43 billion US dollars enabling Russia to be included in TOP 5 countries in terms of expenditures of their citizens on holidays and travel abroad. In 2013- 2014 Russia held 5th place, but in 2015-2016 it disappeared from the TOP 10 countries due to the currency crisis. In 2017 (+13%) Russia rose from 11th to 8th place and get into TOP 10 again. And in 2018 it came to the 11th position again below Canada and Brazil. The rising international tourism expenditures show economic upsurge.
In 2014-2015 Russia passed through the currency crisis, which occurred due to the drop in oil prices and also economic sanctions over the conflict with Ukraine. As a result, the ruble went down against other currencies, and the economic climate deteriorated, which adversely affected the tourism market. However, in 2017, the market began to grow. According to government statistics, 42 million people left abroad in 2017, including 15 million – for tourism purposes.
Breaking point and new challenges of 2020 for the online travel industry
The major annual meeting of key players of the online travel market took place in Moscow on November 21-22. The 7th International Conference Online Travel 3.0 has proven to be Russia’s leading forum that once again gathered chief executives and experts of national and foreign online travel agencies, metasearch engines, travel start-ups, online travel planning and hotel booking services as well as representatives of insurance companies. Bringing together all participants of a dynamically growing market allowed getting a comprehensive view over-development prospects for the online travel industry, sum up the results of 2019 and set forth forecasts for 2020.
The event audience continues to take a keen interest in the topic and an active role in shaping development trends of the online travel segment. Having started with the overall industry performance analysis both globally and domestically, the participants discussed extra services offered to airlines, online tour packaging and the market of hotel services. The second day of the conference was devoted to marketing, innovations and start-ups. All in all, the forum hosted 8 sessions, 16 presentations, 9 discussions, and 49 speakers. The two days of intense discussions, exchanging news and opinions allowed 180-plus participants to bolster their business development plans.
As the host of the Online Travel 3.0 Conference, ATO Events will continue to follow the news and interact with key players and opinion shapers of the online travel market to successfully grow together and provide our partners with quality products and services. ATO Events is grateful to all market experts who have contributed to the Conference program, as well as participants and our sponsors – AlfaStrahovanie, Sirena-Travel, Travelport and the Renaissance Monarch Moscow Center. Looking forward to seeing you in 2020!
As per the reports from the online travel 3.0, it forecasted the future developments in the travel and tourism industry and searched for the opportunities for travel agents and organizations. They find more predictions in each region of the travel industry with the development of the latest technologies. The ways to strengthen the tourism sector and remedies to grow with the technology in the future were the main discussions.
The most highlighted Trends for the Travel Industry in Online Travel 3.0
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Personalization : Personalization is a hot travel trend these days, especially in marketing, which is increasingly easy in today’s data-driven world. It’s also increasingly important. Personalized marketing takes data regarding a client and uses this to tailor advertising and promotion specifically to that person. A simple example would be the targeted ads that appear in your web browser when you visit certain sites, which use information derived from your browsing habits and prior purchases to show you products that might interest you. A regular traveler might be offered deals on plane or rail tickets, or useful gadgets such as adapters, power banks or noise-canceling headphones.
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Bleisure Travel : Bleisure travel (also known as a “bizcation”) combines both travels for work or commerce and leisure activities. While not the newest of travel trends — extending a business trip to enjoy some leisure time at a destination has been a common practice for as long as business trips have existed — bleisure travel has been enthusiastically embraced by Millennials. For the frugal under-40 traveler, combining work and leisure travel is the most effective way to visit locations that they might otherwise not be able to afford. The most extreme version of bleisure travel is the “digital nomad” phenomenon, where online workers travel the globe with a laptop.
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Recognition technology : Recognition technology is a broad category of devices, systems, and protocols. One branch of this technology uses individual biometrics to identify specific individuals. An example might be the face-recognition technology used in some airports to expedite passport control or simple fingerprint locks on mobile phones and other devices. Another example of recognition technology is voice control, where spoken commands are used to control, for example, systems in a hotel room: lights, heating, entertainment, etc. Voice control can be set up to respond to any speaker; it’s also possible to restrict voice-controlled systems to a particular individual.
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Robots : Automation is one of the key travel trends to watch, with many tasks that were once handled by humans now being taken over by robots or automated systems. A familiar example would be the chatbots that have fallen into widespread use across the industry, which are designed to help people find and book tours, transport and accommodation by asking a set of questions. More sophisticated examples might include the robot “staff” used by a few hotels to run the reception desk or even serve food and drinks. In the future, robots in the form of self-driving cars are likely to be one of the major travel trends.
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Local experience : The days when travelers expected to be cloistered in a resort, consuming the same food they ate at home and interacting chiefly with people from their own country, are drawing to a close. Instead of peering out from a hotel balcony with only the climate to distinguish home from abroad, today’s travelers now crave engagement with the people, cultures, and landscapes of the countries they visit. Local food is a key feature of many trips, with people keen to try new things. Cultural experiences are a high point of many journeys and modern travelers are eager to witness and participate in local traditions.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) : AI systems are becoming one of the top travel trends. Many types of AI are now used all across the tourism industry. There are the aforementioned chatbots which use artificial intelligence to automate and streamline many sales and customer service tasks. As customers require faster response times and more interaction, chatbots bridge the gap when human operators are not available. Although limited in their functionality, chatbots can provide a wealth of useful information for customers. Machine learning allows these systems to learn from every interaction and continually improve. AI is also widely used now in data collection and analysis — important tools for boosting efficiency, security and customer satisfaction.
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Internet of things (IoT) : The IoT has gone from a geeky curiosity to one of the most important trends in the travel industry. Internet-connected and microprocessor-controlled devices (smart devices) have become increasingly prevalent. From dedicated iPad tablets used to provide information for museum-goers to smart hotel rooms where lights and HVAC systems can be controlled using voice commands, the IoT is permeating every aspect of travel and tourism. With Amazon introducing a hospitality-oriented version of its popular Alexa virtual assistant, this trend is firmly set to continue. Guests can use the Alexa for Hospitality hub to control their room environment, book sessions at gyms or spas and ask for services.
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Virtual reality : Virtual reality has made the jump from a leisure activity to a useful tool for travelers. As well as providing fun and immersive gaming experiences, using VR makes it easier to plan trips and explore destinations before setting out. Virtual reality can be used to enrich visits to historic sites by recreating ancient monuments and other structures as they might have appeared. Virtual reality can also be used for “City marketing” to persuade potential travelers to choose for a certain destination. Other examples might include interactive virtual maps or VR hotel tours/ 360 video tours to present your hotel upfront.
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Augmented reality : Closely related to virtual reality is augmented reality (AR). Augmented reality combines virtual elements with real-world experiences. AR travel trends include museum exhibits where visitors can view objects and structures in the real world, then see them overlaid with a reconstruction of their original appearance; for instance, Greek marbles with a virtual overlay of their original colors. Augmented reality can also be used to provide information about the location that a visitor is exploring — cultural or historical data or listings for entertainment and travel. Augmented reality is easily realized using common devices such as smartphones, further driving these travel trends.
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Eco Travel :Today’s customers are more ecologically conscious than ever and current trends reflect that. Airlines, tour operators, car hire firms, hotels and a whole spectrum of businesses across the industry have embraced this trend, which is only set to become more prevalent in the future. Some changes have been small and fairly simple, such as allowing air travelers to purchase carbon credits when they book a flight to offset the environmental impact. Another example would be vehicle hire companies that are now offering, and even specializing in electrical vehicles. Hotels and resorts with an emphasis on sustainable technology are springing up around the world.
Main themes in the conference
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Future of the travel market
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Multimodal Travel- new technologies
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Opportunities and risks- the Russian market forecast
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Smart travel marketing
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Future tech and travel
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Geomarketing as a way for monetization in the region
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NDC – metabookings and virtual interlining
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Passenger experience- monetization and data battle
There are some themes which are more highlighting in conferences
Smart travel marketing
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Branding of smart destinations : Smart transformation processes address the needs and challenges of destinations to become more attractive, livable, connected and sustainable spaces. In line with this, clear and consistent communication of smart approaches to destination management is the key to gaining understanding, commitment, engagement, and support from a destination’s key stakeholders. Place branding can be used as a mechanism to protect the core values of these smart transformation, enhancing their socio-economic impacts as well as influencing image and perceptions of a destination both internally and externally using the concepts of cold and warm place marketing.
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Innovation-led smart destination branding : This special issue will also reflect on and examine smart and innovative approaches developed by destinations to brand themselves. The strategic place branding process involves a multidisciplinary approach aligned with the challenges and idiosyncrasies of destinations and places in general. The use of ICT technologies, social networks, digital platforms, and other smart innovative approaches is a growing field of practice among destinations that want to strengthen their image and perceptions among key stakeholders.
Multimodal travel
The increasing number of travelers in urban areas has led to new opportunities for local government and private mobility providers to offer new travel modes besides and in addition to traditional ones. Multimodal travel provides an especially promising opportunity. However, until now the underlying reasons why consumers choose specific alternatives have not been fully understood. Hence, the design of new travel modes is mainly driven by obvious criteria such as environmental friendliness and convenience but might not consider consumers’ real or latent needs. To close this research gap, sixty in-depth interviews with urban travelers were conducted. To identify the perceptual differences of customers among different travel modes, the repertory grid technique as an innovative, structured interview method was applied. Our data show that urban travelers distinguish and select travel alternatives based on 28 perceptual determinants. While some determinants associated with private cars such as privacy, flexibility and autonomy are key indicators of travel mode choice, costs and time efficiency also play a major role. Furthermore, by comparing travel modes to an ideal category, they reveal that some perceptual determinants do not need to be maximized to fulfill customer needs optimally. A comparison of consumers’ perceptual assessments of alternative travel modes identifies specific advantages and disadvantages of all alternatives and provides fruitful implications for government and private mobility providers.
Geomarketing
Geomarketing gives your company answers to regional questions. Spatial data is the key. Geomarketing allows you to analyze your markets and visualize your company data on a small scale. The basis of marketing is internal and external data that have a spatial reference. This data is used and analyzed on digital maps with the help of a Geographic Information System. This is how geomarketing supports the planning, implementation, and reporting of market activities. The primary areas of application for geomarketing systems are expansion, sales, marketing, and reporting.
