Very interesting interview with Dutch Business woman Gillian Tans, previous C.E.O of Booking.com on how travel technology is evolving. Booking.com is at the forefront of travel Search Engines for Lodging reservations worldwide, and expanded to transportation offerings to Hotel.
The Booking.com App is a very user friendly app, and a great way to manage multiple hotel booking reservations, and offers loyalty discounts called "Genius" for frequent users of their services.
Virtual Reality Travel Experience. Enjoy the Journey!
Quantas. (2016.)Visit Hamilton island in 360 virtual reality with Quantas. [Online video.) Available at:https://youtu.be/lJype_TafRk[Accessed 24th Feb 2020]
Travel is all about the experience, but what if you could experience no cost exploration of an exotic location ,without even getting of your couch?
Businesses operating within the travel industry has been especially quick to adopt virtual reality technology and for good reason. Typically, their customers are looking to purchase experiences, rather than products, and virtual reality offers an effective way for marketers to give them a taste of what they can expect.
Travel customers usually require lots of information before they book a hotel room. This may, for instance, require them to read descriptions, view images, look at videos, read customer reviews or seek opinions on social media. Through intelligent use of virtual reality, however, this process can be shortened significantly.
Many hotels and travel companies are now providing virtual reality elements on their websites or apps, allowing users to experience a digital version of a hotel room, or even take a look at one of the nearby attractions. This immersion enables those in the travel industry to provide a kind of ‘try before you buy’ option for the first time.(revfine.com)
Virtual Reality (VR) Technology Explained
To experience Virtual Reality, it typically involves the use of a V.R Headset that uses Visual imagery, sound and other physical sensation, instantly transports the use into a virtual world. The gaming industry is a popular use of Virtual Reality, as well as allowing users to experience 360 degree experiences and much more.
Leading suppliers of high quality V.R. Headsets are Sony and Samsung, and there are lower cost options available with Google. Amazon.com offer a wide range of Virtual technology. Check out their website: Amazon.com
I have attached a website link below, that looks at some of the main applications that the hospitality industry are introducing into their business model to enhance customer experience in the travel industry. Check out Webisite:https://www.revfine.com/virtual-reality-travel-industry/
Refine.com. (2020).How virtual reality (V.T) is transforming the travel industry. [online]. Available at: https://www.revfine.com/virtual-reality-travel-industry/
Room with a view.
(Own Photo, Lanzarote, April 2019)
Welcome back. I'm so glad to see you have "Stayed Curious" and joined me for the revelation behind the inspiration for my Blog page "My Charming Story" so here goes!
Well, as previously mentioned ,I am now a "mature Student" since Nov 2019. So here I find myself 3 months later, working on my next assignment due "Create a blog!"
The first Non-I.T. challenge was to decide on a theme for my blog. Trust me, my dreams were filled toying with blog ideas for 2 weeks! Thankfully my "light-bulb" moment struck as I was getting ready for a night out, when I was putting on my Pandora charm bracelet. https://www.pandora.net/en-ie/stores/ireland/co-galway/pandora Instantly, I was transported back to the day I bought my very first charm bracelet, on our first mother and daughter trip abroad to Lanzarote, and it ignited such fond memories.
Ironically, the date we flew out to Lanzarote, marked my official exit date from the bank after 21 years ! As the plane hit the runway, I turned to my daughter and said, "Here's to the next chapter in my life, on-wards and upwards, let the adventures begin!"
Blue sunny skies was a good place to start!
A few days into our trip, after laborious, sun-bathing hours put in by the pool, serious cabin fever set in. We concluded that with the celtic skin tones we were blessed with, our golden glow realistically was only ever going to be achievable from a bottle! We wrapped up the towels!
Two hours later, we find ourselves on hired bikes. With the help of google maps. https://www.google.com/maps we plotted our coastal cycle route . Not a care in the world, casually dressed in our penny's shorts and tank-tops.
On high alert after our coffee and ice-cream fix. We steadily cycled back towards the main shopping strip and we spotted the Pandora shop. We parked up our bikes and checked out the alluring store.
One hour later, I had made my first impulsive Pandora purchase, a rose gold bracelet. Spurred on by my daughter, we choose my first charm that would mark a moment in time. Two halves of a heart, one engraved "Like mother" the other with "like Daughter".
Although the charms are miniature the memory is embedded in the inscription and our minds forever. The perfect end to a perfect day.
I now have 3 more charms added to my bracelet, each one with their own charming story. The second charm, a silver suitcase, was given to me by my daughter for my birthday after our trip. As a reminder of our Lanzarote jaunt together and the joy of traveling with loved ones. The third charm I bought for the sheer joy of making an impulsive purchase. It cheered my spirits up one wet, miserable afternoon in Galway. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pandora/303603603031544 Retail therapy! My fourth charm, was a gift from my daughter at Christmas. So that's my charming story, and I hope you enjoyed it, as it got me thinking of the joys of planning a trip, and the ways technology has transformed our travel experience. I have attached a YouTube clip of the highlights that Lanzarote has to offer, to transport you momentarily away from reality, through the medium of technology, to blue Sunny skies. For my next blog, I will be transitioning from the past to the future, and look at Travel Technology trends. In the meantime, Check to see if you are a smart traveler and view the attached slideshow. Enjoy! https://www.slideshare.net/mjasra/the-future-of-the-connected-traveler-smart-travel-experience?from_m_app=ios I do hope you will come back and join me. Chat Soon,
Ekpictures. (2016). what to see and do on the Lanzarote [Online Video].Available at:
https://m.youtube.com.[Accessed 23rd Feb 2020]
Hi there and welcome to the first post of "My Charming story."
Don't worry, all will be revealed behind the inspiration for my theme so stick with me!
Firstly, let me thank you for following your instinctive curiosity that lead you to be reading this right now. For that alone, I am most grateful to know that my Title ignited some curiosity from at least one person out there and gives me a glimmer of hope I must have done something right!
So who am I? Sometimes I'm not even so sure I know the answer to that myself!
The facts I do know! I'll keep brief! Meet my Hubby in local Drama group in 1993, married 4 years later, joined the bank, had two kids, now 17 and 19.
I'm starting to even bore myself now so enough "Me" facts!
If you are still curious, click on this link for more "About me!"
Having worked successfully
in the Financial services industry for 21 years, when the voluntary
redundancy opportunity presented itself, I thought long and hard and decided it
was time for change, it was now or never. Was it an easy decision? No. There was the financial implications for one,
with two teenagers, and a mortgage .The sheer fear of venturing into the unknown, leaving a stable job, and the self doubt and fear of going back out there
applying for new roles in my late forties. Had I the capability still? Was I too old? But I followed my gut instinct, and with the backing
support of my Hubby to "Just go for it" I signed the dotted line and
bowed out on the 30th April 2018. Did I regret it? Absolutely not. Yes, I
missed the regular income on the 23rd monthly, the shopping trips were
curtailed, and luxury items something I now admire in Magazines, but the benefits
of a slower pace of life, the reduced stress, a new opportunity to re-invent myself, and being there to
support my family far outweighed the financial loss.
I decided I was going
to take six months out to enjoy the novelty of my new found freedom, and used
this time to reflect and evaluate what I would like to do in this next chapter
of my life. One thing I was sure about was I wanted a career change, and a move away from the Financial services sector. I Wanted to use this opportunity to
explore new career opportunities, and find work in an area where I would really love what I do, make positive changes in
people's lives and feel very rewarded at the end of my working day.
Last October, My husband arrived home and said " I think
this might be of interest to you." He went on to tell me about a retired work
colleague that he had meet who informed him about a Community development
degree course he had completed locally.
The next day, I found myself on the phone to Equal Ireland,https://equalireland.ie/ an application
in the post by the end of the week, and sitting in my first lecture 6 weeks
later. The rest as they say "Is History."
So that's a little insight into me.
I hope you enjoyed my charming story so far.
As promised, my next blog will let you in on the inspiration behind my Blog Theme, so I do hope you will "stay Curious" to quote our great President, Michael D, and come back to find out!
Finally,thank you for sharing my first public Blog post experience with me and I would love your feedback, good, bad, or indifferent.
