Airlines

Why are brands like Apple, Disney and Nike are among the world’s most valuable? Because they’re able to embody a lifestyle, offering consumers access to an emotional connection that goes well beyond their product offering. As more travel companies look to redefine their offerings around the lifestyle brand concept, often with limited resources to do so, what strategies will they use to grow and thrive?

Social media plays an increasingly central role in the customer service efforts of hospitality brands, requiring a hotels and airlines to respond more quickly, personally and publicly to customer issues. Successful brands have embraced social care, not just to solve problems, but to elevate the travel experience.

The on-demand economy is on the rise, but what does on-demand mean, exactly? In this report, a look at the nature of a technology-driven sea change in consumer behavior and the business models emerging to meet it in the travel industry.

As consumers increasingly embrace wearables, those in the travel and hospitality industry are turning to this hardware to reach and engage their audience, and improve the customer experience. From technology that lets guests unlock their rooms to boarding passes displayed on your wrist, wearables are becoming an important part of the traveler’s journey.

Content has historically put airlines at the cutting edge of the travel sector, with carriers setting many content management precedents, well ahead of grounded brands. While the world's leading carriers and flagship brands have always been content producers, they have become more sophisticated introducing innovative approaches to content production and media utilization.

Leading visionaries of aviation industry cabin design share their views on class structure, the challenges and complications of designing for the needs of a variety of travelers, as well as insights into the misconceptions of what is happening behind the scenes of the aircraft interiors design industry.

With a the growing amount of technology platforms to reach brands, social media has become an important space for customer service. In order to keep up with the popularity of these platforms and increasing amount of social interactions, brands are adapting by structuring their teams and departments to deal with volumes of inquiries in a personalized way.

In-flight entertainment is a hotly contested sector of the cabin interiors and inflight services sectors. Over the past twenty years it has evolved into from a one-size-fits-all entertainment platform to a highly customized and personalized multimedia entertainment experience, and it’s only just getting started. The evolution of the theatre in the skies is a trend to watch closely in years to come.

Loyalty programs have become a multi-billion dollar revenue stream for travel companies, yet this success has come at the expense of their original purpose: forging stronger connections with customers. How can marketers capitalize on new innovations in technology and shifts in traveler behavior to build more genuine customer loyalty and larger profits in the future?

The line between airports and the destinations they serve has blurred. Once regarded as purely utilitarian infrastructure, airports are now becoming more integrated with their surroundings and hosting new experiences for passengers and non-passengers alike.