Automatic

📱 Amuda Goueli, co-founder of Destinia, reflects on 30 years of digital revolution in travel. From early 2000s, the online booking experience has radically changed; with a few clicks, travelers can now reserve flights, hotels, rental cars, and tours. Online check-in and facial recognition at security have streamlined airport processes. Big data and AI have personalized travel, predicting user preferences for tailored recommendations. Technological consciousness has evolved from rejection to acceptance and addiction, with the next 30 years promising even more transformational advances.

🚀 Expedia, Booking.com, Priceline, and Lastminute.com emerged as disruptive travel distribution partners in the 1996-1998 period, initially underestimated by traditional agencies. In Spain, online travel agencies (OTAs) like eBooking.com (1997), Viajar.com and eDreams (1999), Muchoviaje.com, and Rumbo (2000), and Destinia (2001) developed alongside internet penetration surpassing 50% by 2005. The 2008 financial crisis impacted travel, but OTAs thrived by offering economical options. By 2013, traditional agencies adopted omnichannel strategies to compete. OTAs like Expedia and Booking.com invested in mobile technology to enhance user experience, leveraging artificial intelligence and big data by 2018. COVID-19 in 2020 caused a severe downturn, leading to adaptations such as flexible cancellation policies. In 2021, Logitravel merged with Viajes El Corte Inglés. In 2023, eDreams ODIGEO surpassed €500 million in revenue over nine months and launched an OPA at €6.90 per share. The future of travel distribution appears resilient, with technology playing a key role.

🌍 In summer 2024, Spanish travelers are eyeing international destinations like New York, La Habana, Bangkok, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, and Cancún, fueled by an increase in demand for international travel. Jetcost, a flight and hotel search engine, noted these cities for their unique cultural and adventurous experiences, from New York's vibrant culture to Cancún's paradisiacal beaches. These destinations offer escapes from daily routines and deep dives into diverse cultures.