Top 5: the top stories and tips you may have missed in August

Tapping tours and activities, making the most of predictive analytics, how Hertz is harnessing technology to keep its customers happy, how to handle branded fares and more

For those based in the UK, we hope you have a happy and dry bank holiday weekend. Before we say hello to autumn here are the stories you may have missed this August.

1.  Tours and activities: the money is in the plumbing

Tours and activities are the talk of the town right now, but where are the big opportunities? With TripAdvisor bedding down its acquisition of Viator with the launch of the first self-service platform that will allow suppliers to load their products, are competitors flogging a dead horse? Competitors there are aplenty. Just two newbies this year are Vivaster and Tourboks. But there is a growing view that the real opportunity lies not in taking on Viator but in sorting out the backend – the plumbing. Get in touch if you think the opportunities are structural. Better still why not join us inLondon for The Connected Traveller (October 22-23).

2.  Hyperbole vs actual business fact: what is the reality of predictive analytics?

A lot is said about big data and analytics but what is the reality? EyeforTravel puts some questions to CitizenM’s Lennert De Jong who has some real nuggets of insight for hoteliers. Among those:

  • To look at guest behaviour and to listen to their youngest employees and then to challenge themselves as to whether or not they are truly open to operational change.
  • Live by the grace of guest feedback each and everyday.
  • Can’t find what you are looking for? Create it.

3.  4 ways that Hertz is keeping a finger on the customer pulse

In another exclusive interview, Brian Casebolt, Vice-President of Merchandising & Ancillary Revenue, Hertz tells us how a nearly century old company is moving to keep pace with the connected traveller. In the end it really is all about analysing customer data and doing high quality consumer research. He’ll be speaking more about this at TDS North America.

4.  How to handle branded airline fares in a competitive context

Branded fares are a great way to upsell but it’s also crucial to define your strategy within your own competitive context, wrote guest columnist Tom Bacon early in August. He takes a look at two of the most recent additions to the ‘branded fares’ arena name jetBlue and Lufthansa, which operate in completely different environments. Another notable point is that when it comes to branded fares, the optimum offering changes over time as the market responds and should consider both customers and competitors.

5.  Destination sun, sea and surgery – a healthy market for online travel players 

Healthcare is big business and with people increasingly travelling abroad to have anything from a nose job to a heart bypass, online travel companies have spotted an opportunity. Hardly surprising given Transparency Market Research’s stab at the size of the market; it puts the potential at $32.5 billion by 2019 against $10.5 billion in 2012. Searching via all the major international OTAs, writes Sally White, brings up links to medical centres around the world. Airbnb, for one, offers accommodation handily near to medical facilities. For the moment China seems ahead of the game but others are following.

Want to learn more about all aspects of the travel industry. Join us at one of our upcoming EyeforTravel events

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