The way passengers earn status for Delta Air Lines is about to change.
25.08.2023 - 13:53 / skift.com / Justin Dawes
As travel habits change and technology gets better, Google is working to adapt its services for both companies and consumers. Finnbar Cornwall, industry sector leader for travel at Google UK, shared some points about the company’s travel efforts during the Skift Future of Lodging Forum on Wednesday.
Consumers are prioritizing more money for travel this year, and they are spending more time on trip planning than the trip itself, Cornwall said, referencing Google research. And 40 percent of travelers are open to new brands, a stat largely driven by younger generations.
“We need to meet consumers where they are, how they’re looking, and what they’re looking for,” Cornwall said.
Cornwall pointed to those trends as a reason why he believes hotels can benefit from a tool that Google is rolling out this month, called Performance Max for travel goals, which is meant to increase revenue and drive more direct bookings.
The tool enables hotels to create digital ads in multiple formats to reach travelers across ad channels, including YouTube, Display, Search, Discover, Gmail, and Maps, with plans for Hotel Ads to be added later this year. Previously, hotels had to create separate campaigns for each of these channels.
“We’ve seen people start to use this getting great results; it’s in very early stages of testing,” he said. “But you can use Google’s AI to take the heavy lifting and setting the bids, finding the right ads, showing them to the right person at the right time.”
In response to the growing popularity for vacation rentals, Google has been adding features to help travelers consider that as an option when searching for hotels. Among features, users can search for properties based on a location and adjust dates based on rental availability. There’s another filter in development that will allow users to filter by distance from a location or by interest.
“The reason for that is our research shows us that about 20 percent of people end up choosing a vacation rental,” Cornwall said. “They never did it because they just hadn’t thought about it before, but actually, it does meet their needs just as well as a hotel.”
Google has also added features meant to help consumers make eco-friendly choices during their travel searches, part of the company’s plan this year to help a billion people make a more sustainable choice, Cornwall said.
That includes showing carbon emission information in Maps and Flights. And hotels are able to share information about their environmental credentials as well as sustainability efforts they are making.
“There’s definitely rising interest in trying to find somewhere to stay that’s more sustainable, and so we’re trying to reflect that, again, in how our products work,” he said.
The way passengers earn status for Delta Air Lines is about to change.
Scott Pauli. (Photo Credit: Island of Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau)
Myrtle Beach is a classic East Coast vacation spot. With the famous boardwalk, scenic golf courses, and white sand beaches, there’s something for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. A seaside motel may have a sentimental charm, but nothing beats the prices and advantages that come from staying in a rental home. Airbnb Myrtle Beach has some amazing properties to choose from.
From inspiring future generations to offering once-in-a-lifetime adventures, there’s no limit to what visitors to national parks can gain from their experiences. And California, with nine national parks, boasts a remarkable range of natural wonders in its parks. That includes the hottest place in the United States, the biggest tree in the world by volume, and a national park accessible only by ferry.
Biden official’s visit to China opens door to increased bilateral travel.
For travelers, nothing produces price anxiety like figuring out when to book flights. Book now or wait for fares to drop? But what if prices rise instead? What if you wait too long and flights are sold out? So much hand-wringing, so much time and headspace taken up.
Clarity Business Travel, a corporate travel agency based in the UK, plans to purchase two corporate travel businesses for £36.5 million ($46 million).
In our weekend roundup, we delve into the pros and cons of Google’s latest foray into the tours and activities industry, providing insights into how online travel agencies might stand to benefit. We also catch up with IHG’s new CEO Elie Maalouf and his ambitious plans for the brand’s future. From AI’s influence on the travel sector to the latest controversies in short-term rentals, keep reading for a comprehensive look at the most pressing issues in today’s travel landscape.
The world’s biggest airline is ready for Thanksgiving, having already battled through several hurricanes in recent months.
Google is one of the undisputed heavyweights in online travel. So when one of the key masterminds behind all of its travel platforms and products talks about where the search giant is heading, it’s worth paying attention to.
Despite recession risks and inflation impacts, the travel industry has in fact plenty of significant upsides.
Mastercard is planning to make a minority investment in Conferma Pay, a fintech company acquired earlier this year by Sabre Corporation.