Future Travel Experience’s Post

Digital Transformation is reshaping the way business is done. Consumers continue to require a more seamless guest experience – and travel, hospitality, leisure & entertainment leaders need to innovate and adopt new technologies to meet the expectations of this new tech savvy breed of customer. At Guest Xperience Tech Summit & Expo 2024 we will gather the world’s brightest minds, the boldest innovators, and the most influential executives to drive the future of the industry. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to drive the ultimate guest experience by providing the most comprehensive and cutting-edge guest tech content available. This is not just another congress — it is a platform where global experts will present ground-breaking ideas and solutions that will reshape the world of travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure, and entertainment. Join us as we unlock the potential! www.gxt-summit.com #ICCAWorld #EventProfs #MeetingsIndustry #GXT #InAbuDhabi Kenes Group ADNEC Group Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)

ACI and Passengers don't fall for cheap propaganda. I was looking for the most "successful" airport in Europe as per propaganda (TIA/Tirana) to be on the list, but no one cared about the passenger experience there; money was the management's only goal. For them, passengers are money cows to be milked. Increasing numbers are not the success story. As the only port of entry, passengers don't have any other way to enter Albania, so by force, they will pass through. Opening coffee shops doesn't improve the passenger experience; building banal structures is also a failure. Long lines at security and police control, lack of explanatory services, Information Desk almost empty, low quality of check-in staff, no clear flow in the terminal, the entrance of trucks in the terminal while is packed with passengers, lack of papers in toilets these screams unprofessionalism. with 19th century mentality, we will not see the airport on that list for a long period, SADLY.

Very important BA reading here:

What did British Airways announce at its big investment event last night? Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur return for a start, so jump in TODAY if you have a stack of Avios as a seats will be bookable on every flight from November to late February 2025. FREE MESSAGING - you will be able to send WhatsApp messages (not sure what else) for free, irrespective of what cabin you are in, as long as you are an Executive Club member. You can look forward to constant pinging during the night as 300 phones go off every 2 minutes :-) This launches in early April. NEW SHORT HAUL SEATS - we posted an exclusive picture of these last night on LinkedIn. The middle table is back in Club Europe. Plugs are gone, replaced by USB-C sockets. AI STUFF - there was some AI stuff talked about, probably because its obligiatory these days! I won't spend any time on it .... NEW LOUNGES - now we're talking. The Dubai lounge is being moved in early 2025 (to the old Qantas space?) and will be the first lounge globally to feature the new BA lounge design. This is necessary as the existing space is far too small now an A380 is used here. Miami will follow. HEATHROW LOUNGES TO BE GUTTED - you won't read this anywhere else, because it's not in the press release, but it was confirmed to us one-to-one that a five year process to rebuild all Heathrow lounges will start this year, starting with the Arrivals Lounge in Terminal 5. NEW LARGE LUGGAGE BINS ON SHORT HAUL - starting next month, new deliveries will have Airspace bins which allow suitcases to be stored 'long way in'. This adds 60% to bin capacity. It isn't clear if these will be retrofitted. NEW FIRST CLASS - confirmed, launching at the end of 2025 as the A380 fleet is refurbished BANGKOK RETURNS - 3x weekly from Gatwick (so old business class) from November KUALA LUMPUR RETURNS - daily from Heathrow, to compete with oneworld partner Malaysia Airlines There is lots more on Head for Points today in THREE separate articles, all sitting at the top of our home page. The lounge article in particular contains a lot you won't read elsewhere. (If you're not one of the 2,200 people who subscribe to our free weekly LinkedIn newsletter for UK travel trade professionals, click into my profile.) #britishairways

Exciting news from the aviation world! ACI World - Airports Council International recently unveiled their 2023 Airport Awards 🏆, introducing categories like “easiest airport journey” 😎 and “most enjoyable airport” 😄 for the first time. This got me thinking 🤔: what’s changing in airports, and who's driving them? Airports remain an important part of the journey across all generations, with quick check-in and efficient security 👮 as top priorities. 🚨 But what’s changing is that people want more retail options at airports. This trend is expected to keep growing too, as it's led by Gen Z. According to @GWI, They're more likely than baby boomers to want: - More food options 🍟 (+50%) - More retail stores 👕 (+83%) - More luxury stores 🛍️ (+113%) It aligns with the forecast of ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira who said: “The future success of airports hinges on the unwavering commitment to delivering a stellar customer experience at every touchpoint. In an era where passenger expectations are evolving rapidly, excellence in customer service isn’t just a goal; it’s the key to ensuring airports remain not just gateways, but memorable destinations in themselves.” If you're curious about the opportunities GWI Travel can unlock for your brand in this changing landscape, feel free to reach out to me or contact sales@gwi.com. Let’s explore the possibilities together! ✈️🌍 #AirportAwards #AirTravel #AirportExperience #GenZ #CustomerExperience #TravelTrends #AviationIndustry #RetailTrends #LuxuryShopping #FutureofTravel #TravelInsights #ACI2023 #AirportsOfTheFuture #DigitalTransformation #GWITravel

🛩 We're seeing more discussions about how #airports are becoming crucial #touchpoints in consumers' #brand #journeys. 🛍 Below, William (Billy) Lawrance-Thorne, our #expert in GWI Travel #data, has written an #insightful piece highlighting this shift, which should have a lasting impact. 🤙 Reach out if you have any questions!

🌏 Exploring #Asia's Airport F&B Scene: Dive into the Rapid Routine of Singapore Changi and Taiwan Taoyuan Airports! ✈️ Fact of the Day: Did you know that Singapore Changi and Taiwan Taoyuan airports boast over #30 lounges, catering to the needs of busy travellers seeking comfort and relaxation on the go? 🌟 Wondering what the best way is to attract rapid routine travellers? As operators catering to the bustling terminals of these world-class airports, it's crucial to recognise the #preferences of rapid routine travellers. These travellers prioritise #efficiency and #convenience, making it essential to offer amenities that align with their needs. In our Asia Report, we provide valuable insights and data to help you formulate the best strategies for catering to this demographic, ensuring an enhanced airport experience for all. Have some questions? We hope so, send us a message! The Moodie Davitt Report tRetail Labs #TravelerIntelligence #AirportFacts #FAB #DataDrivenDecisions #BidIntelligence #CompetitorIntelligence #SpendIntelligence #nRture

Dubai, Frankfurt and Doha are the top layover cities for intercontinental flights from APAC. These insights are from BCD's Cities & Trends APAC 2023 report, based on BCD flight data across various APAC markets. ✈️🚘 Download the full report to see which other cities made the list: https://ow.ly/j2V430sF9jG #BusinessTravel #TopDestinations #DestinationRankings #TravelTrends #BCDTravel

Yesterday at Meliá Hotels International Genova we held our semi-annual meeting focused on embracing the winds of change – seeing every shift as a chance to grow and innovate. During our gathering, we delved into key topics such as: 🚀 #TechnologicalInnovation: aiming to boost the productivity of our client companies through digital transformation and business intelligence. 🌍 #Sustainability: committing to environmentally sustainable practices in our operations.  🎆#MICE Department Growth: enhancing our event management capabilities, integrating logistics, creativity, and communication to deliver exceptional event experiences. We also reflected on our journey, acknowledging the #strengths of our #team and our commitment to overcome new #challenges. 💪🌀 As we look forward, we are excited to reinforce our market position with clear #goals and robust #strategies, ensuring #TravelDesk remains a leader in the business travel and events industry. 🚀🏆 More updates will follow as we continue to navigate these exciting times. Stay tuned! #TravelDesk #Teamwork #Innovation #Sustainability #DigitalTransformation #BusinessTravel #TravelManagementCompany #EventManagement

Learn about the future of airport operations at the 2025 ACI World Airport Experience Summit, hosted by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.