How to Improve Your Tourism Business Using Immersive Technology

February 29, 2020June 29, 2020 Hiverlab 0 Comments 360, AR, augmented reality, beacon technology, celebrity, customer engagement, destination, disney, experience, experiment, facebook, game, google, hotel, immersive technology, Marketing, revenue, rooms, smartphone, tablet, tourism, travel, trends, virtual reality, virtual tour, VR, vr booking

Immersive technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are the fastest emerging innovative trends around. These innovations are igniting new business marketing ideas in the tourism industry. For a tourism business, these technologies can help immerse potential customers deep into your hotel or a travel destination.

The Vital Role Immersive Technology Plays in the Tourism Industry

Most sectors in the tourism industry are beginning to embrace immersive technology and implementing them into their business marketing ideas. AR and VR can deliver observational data that triggers various senses within potential clients.

Travellers desire experiences. The experiential data of AR and VR allow hotels and other players in the tourism industry to inspire customers to explore their hotel and local destinations. Consumers can experience an exact replica of a hotel room they are interested in renting. Also, they can get a taste of the local sights.

Today, travellers research more than other consumers. This research can be time-consuming. Reading reviews and recommendations on various websites and watching videos can take hours or days to complete. However, immersive technology decreases this research time. As a result, it shortens the buyer’s journey.

Virtual and Augmented Reality in Action

The use of immersive technology in the tourism industry is still developing. However, several companies are starting to leverage on this innovation and making good use of it. If a tourism business wants to compete and thrive, AR and VR technology can pave the way. Below are some productive applications of Virtual and Augmented Reality in action.

Experiential Hotel Elements and Virtual Tours

Currently, hotels use Augmented Reality to introduce observational elements to their rooms. These experiential components give hotels and similar businesses the ability to furnish guests with additional information on demand. As a result, they are improving their overall experience.

For example, some hotels in United Kingdom are using AR to place wall maps in their rooms. When the guests viewed them through a smartphone or tablet, they learnt additional information about local destinations. The benefit of this tourist tool is that guests do not have to turn to the concierge for advice.

Hotels use VR to create virtual tours of their premises and rooms. This platform offers more transparency than still images of the hotel. The potential guest can visualize and “experience” the room before arrival.

Guests and potential guests can experience these tours on hotel websites or the website of the distributor. Usually, the viewer will need a VR headset. However, Facebook’s 360 video innovation and Google Cardboard allow people without headsets to experience these virtual tours.

VR Booking

Some businesses have ignited their business marketing ideas with VR booking. These companies offer a complete booking process and provide customers a full user interface experience with a VR headset. This approach eliminates the need for a computer to book a hotel or a flight.

Also, the customer can view at different rooms and make comparisons, explore local sights, and discover relevant information and facts. The customer can do all this in one sitting. As a result, the consumer has a seamless booking experience.

AR Tourist Destinations and VR Travel Experiences

Other companies in the tourism industry are creating AR apps. These apps allow tourists to point their smartphone at a restaurant to get reviews or menus on the spot. They can also aim their tablet at a historic landmark and receive data about its history. This technology creates a complete enhanced travel experience and provides tourists with information on the go.

VR lets tourists immerse themselves in the main attractions that initially drew them to a specific place.

For instance, a Paris hotel can provide a virtual experience being atop the Eiffel Tower. A hotel near a theme park can provide an experiential roller-coaster ride.

AR with Beacon Technology

Hotels are using AR to apply beacon technology and enable precise functions when guests arrive on their premises. This technology lets customers unlock their hotel room as they approach their door. Hotels also use beacon technology to send relevant maps, reviews, menus, special offers or discount vouchers to users.

Gamified AR

The tourism industry is beginning to leverage AR’s link to the gaming world. Hotels use AR apps to incorporate fun elements to the customer experience.

Some hotels create a treasure hunt-style element to their premises. Meanwhile, children can interact with Disney characters at their hotel. Adults can have a virtual celebrity visit their room.

The advancements of VR and AR will continue to amaze and inform business marketing ideas. The possibilities of immersive technology for a tourism business are boundless. This technology gives hotels the ability to use robust experiential data to sell rooms, travel agencies to sell flights and travel products. As a result, increase customer engagement and revenues.