Virtual reality (VR) is revolutionizing more than gaming:
With the development and launch of cutting-edge VR hardware from companies like Facebook, Samsung, and Google, VR offers infinite opportunities for luxury travel and experiential marketing.
Here are 7 ways luxury travel will be changed.
1. Far off places become next door neighbors.
Imagine experiencing Machu Picchu, the Great Wall, or Antarctica all from the comfort of your living room. Seeing the world gets a whole lot easier, convincing travelers where to go on their next trip.
2. Hotels will offer virtual walk-throughs from anywhere.
No longer limited to two-dimensional photographs and flat tours with descriptions, luxury travellers will immerse themselves in a hotel, taking in all the amenities, meeting spaces, F&B outlets, sights and sounds, prior to arrival.
3. Room types can be showcased like never before.
This immersive experience allows luxury travellers to understand the difference between room types before they arrive at the hotel. Additionally, hotels can showcase premium rooms to entice guests to upgrade their room.
4. Travel advisors will literally show you the world.
Deciding between different remote destinations becomes easy from the comfort of a travel advisor’s office. Hayman Island? Mnemba Island? Necker? Luxury travellers can see them all and decide which destination is perfect for their discerning tastes.
5. Smartphones will become even more ingrained in the travel research process.
Via techradar
In addition to all the apps that assist luxury travellers with their travel research, smartphones will be transformed to VR devices as well. Samsung Gear VR is leading the pack, but Sony and HTC are close behind.
6. VR Goggles will become a mainstream sales tool.
With all the added experiential components, VR headsets will replace the iPad as the main sales tool at travel industry events and conferences like International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) and Virtuoso Travel Week.
7. Traveller expectations will rise.
Because VR gets a potential guest closer than ever before to “being there without actually being there,” traveller expectations will be properly set before they book. It’s then up to the best luxury hotels to WOW them with the unexpected experiences when they arrive. Sipping an exceptional Burgundy, shaking the GM’s hand, smelling the ocean air " the things that can never be virtualized.
Brand Karma creates virtual reality experiences for the world’s most-admired hotels and destinations. To learn more, email us at info@brand-karma.com
Brand Karma is the only marketing cloud services company focused on the hospitality and travel industry. Brand Karma was founded in 2006 by former Microsoft executives who pioneered linking online community postings to revenue and brand favorability. We are thought-leaders in the digital marketing space, presenting at conferences (e.g. HICAP, ILTM) and supplying data to industry researcher organizations (e.g. PhoCusWright, Cornell, and Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne).
We partner with companies like TripAdvisor and have the most data sources in Asia. Those sources include China’s Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo, which help us provide reports,products and consulting services to increase the profitability of travel brands.
www.brand-karma.com
