MetaTourism: August News, Trends & Events
MetaTourism: August News, Trends & Events
All of the latest news from MTA Members and the Future of Travel
Welcome MetaTourists,
We are excited to bring you the latest news from MTA members and give you insights into some of the travel technology trends we are seeing today. Thank you for sticking with us as we navigate the hybrid future of tourism together. This month Skift released their latest travel research report so we will take a closer look inside. This month we are also thrilled to welcome SITE Network and Mintpass Travel to our 2nd in a series of discussions around the future of travel & technology. This promises to be an exciting and informative discussion.
Congratulations to two of our founding members and supporters. Firstly to Site Network and Graeme Stevens who have secured their crypto license for their utility token Xpedition (XPED) for their ambitious project that will spearhead a global initiative that merges Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to redefine tourism.
Also, congratulations to Mintpass Travel who have joined the Onchain Summer campaign with Coinbase. This marks a significant step in bringing travel related projects into the spotlight of Web3 communities. Create your onchain postcard of your favourite travel memory here for the chance win a free cruise package from Virgin Voyages including a Rockstar Suite.
We had some great conversations this month around the importance of forecasting trends and understanding how the geopolitical landscape can help to shape how comfortable people feel about travelling to certain destinations.
We also spoke about how to add layers of gamification into experiences without disrupting the existing joys of travel. The general consensus among a group of six tour sellers was that automation is helping but hindering the overall experience. Scanning QR codes has become the norm in many restaurants, Australia and Spanish resorts mentioned. This may save time and staffing resources, however forcing tourists to constantly interact with their phones when on holidays may lead to unwanted interactions with technologies and negative reviews. It is critical to always leave room for dialogue and at the MTA we love to talk so feel free to schedule a virtual coffee to discuss the future of travel and tourism anytime.
IN THE NEWS
How Google’s Monopoly Ruling Impacts Travel Search, read more
From mobile to metaverse: Big Techs Strategy to Dominate Digital Wallets, read more
Short term rentals feeling the pinch with Overtourism backlash, read more
Want to ruin a destinations appeal? Take a selfie, read more
Latest Booking.com Sustainable Travel Data Reveals Ongoing Challenges & Opportunities - 83% of travelers confirming that sustainable travel is important to them, read more
Digital hospitality: blending reality, AI, and the metaverse – the panel discussion, read more
SKIFT Travel Research Report
The travel industry stands at a fascinating crossroads. With the pandemic behind us, travelers are prioritizing experiences over goods, driving demand for both "bleisure" travel and for luxury and eco-friendly options. Skift State of Travel Report is a great read for anybody interested in travel trends. Digital engagement is now critical, with virtual tours and social media content heavily influencing travel decisions.
The growing role of AI in personalizing these experiences hints at a future where data quality will dictate success. The leisure travel industry’s resilience will be tested by how it can adapt to changing consumer behaviors and the ever increasing expectations to exceed the needs of everyday tourists. Some key takeaways are as follows:
Online sources dominate trip planning, with 82% of travelers relying on them. Social media channels (32%) are the top source.
Loyalty isn’t what it used to be as more and more personalization takes its place. Mixing business and pleasure is a growing trend that is on the rise. More people are maximizing their trips for both work and pleasure.
The report underscores a significant shift towards experiential travel, with younger travelers prioritizing memorable experiences over material possessions, even at a higher cost. This reflects a broader societal trend valuing experiences over goods
Travelers engage with a significant amount of online travel content, with an average of 141 pages viewed over the 45 days prior to booking a trip. The engagement peaks at 25 pages viewed on the day of booking, indicating a substantial opportunity for targeted marketing. Digital engagement peaks pre-travel - The report highlights that travelers are increasingly engaging with online content, including virtual tours and experiences, as part of their trip planning.
Virtual tours and experiences are also being influenced by social media, with travelers often inspired by what they see online to explore destinations virtually before booking physical trips.
Visual content, such as photos (26%) and videos (20%), plays a crucial role in influencing travel decisions online. Reviews and testimonials also have a significant impact, influencing 21% of travelers.
MTA Business Directory
At the MTA we are in the process of developing our business directory of Metaverse service providers, virtual tourism suppliers and all businesses working in the Web3 travel space. The directory will be offered to all members and act as a go-to resource for travel professionals and organisations interested in exploring or creating the future of travel. Please get in touch via email to metaversetourismassociation@gmail.com with a brief bio of your company and we will add you to the directory.
UPCOMING EVENTS
30 August MTA LinkedIn Live Series - The Future of Travel & Technology - FREE webinar - Speakers from SiteNetwork and Mintpass Travel Register here
16 Sept Towards networked Local Digital Twins in the EU (Online) Learn more
29 – 30 Oct AWE EU 2024 (Vienna, Austria) - MTA Founder Lisa is Chairing a track at this conference so please connect to learn more. Learn more
20 - 21 November Slush Founders Summit - Register here
4 - 6 Dec Immersive Tech Week - Rotterdam
RECOMMENDED READS
Book Matthew Ball - The Metaverse: Building the Spatial Internet
Skift State of Travel Report 2024
Better Internet for Kids - EU Placing a spotlight on Virtual Worlds
METAVERSE & WEB3 TRAVEL JOBS
Seedworld - Senior 3D Stylized Environment Artist
Decentraland - Part-time partnerships co-ordinator
Ready Player Me - 3D Software Engineer
JOIN US
At the MTA we believe in the hybrid future of tourism and want to help carve out what that may look like. We welcome all who are interested in the business of travel to join us at the MTA and work together to ignite, inform and inspire the hybrid future of travel. The MTA is committed to exploring and developing a greater understanding of the potential that advanced technologies offer when creating new tourism business models and enhancing existing travel services.
Feel free to share your Metaverse or Travel news. We love to hear from members and people thinking about the future of travel.