5 ways technology is evolving travel

The pandemic has pushed the travel industry to use contactless technology. Digital room keys, virtual queues, contactless payments and even robots – when you travel these days, you’re far more likely to use unfamiliar technology than ever before. Here are some of the top travel technology evolutions.

1. Delivery apps to replace room services:

Have you ever been in a very cheap hotel, but still had to pay over $15-20 for a small bowl of noodle soup? Forget about that. Right now, you can use different delivery apps such as DoorDash or UberEats to get that same size of food for one half of the price. 

Hotels are also leaning on others to provide services. For example, Hyatt and Gopuff had a partnership program launched in 2021 to deliver prepackaged and hot meals to Hyatt Place locations. The hotel’s spokesperson said that the program has been a success, and they were aiming to expand it to more properties worldwide. 

2. App-powered car rental: 

Getaround cars can be booked on an hourly basis now! Instead of having to spend hundreds of dollars on Uber or traditional car rentals, you can rent a car for much less without having to meet up with the owners to exchange keys. Apps provide car services such as car booking and payment. And guess what, apps like Getaround have expanded to multiple states and countries, including Hawaii! 

3. Apps for booking hotels and picking your rooms: 

Booking, Agoda, or Trip have been around for years, and everyone’s so excited to book there for cheap hotel deals. But guess what, most large hotel chains are now having apps with booking, live chat, and points redemption! So if you’re a fan of hotel chains, you’ve got it! 

Last summer, Hilton launched a new feature on their app that lets you book and instantly choose the rooms you want, as well as displaying the hotel’s map and allowing you to locate where your room would be – weather it’s the one furthest from the elevator or the one on the highest floor for better views. Traveling and booking hotels have never been easier!

4. Virtual queues:

With COVID-19 still going on, many people are cautious of who they’re standing next to in line. But no worries, Whyline and Clear got you! There has been a rise in virtual queuing, which lets paying customers bypass certain queues at busy areas like airports and museums. They check vaccine status or allow customers to access airport lounges instantly without being stopped.

Disney also developed a feature in its theme park apps called Genie, which analyzes current lines and crowds, and suggests efficient itineraries for visitors. 

5. Robots:

Here comes the most exciting thing: Robots! There are testing services at airports where you don’t need to physically come to the store to grab whatever you order. Instead, robots bring it to you. Los Angeles International Airport has robots roaming around, bringing food directly to your gate. Now you can enjoy your food without worrying about missing your flight!