21 Digital Travel Trends We’re Tracking at Skift This Week
Every week we post hundreds of stories across various sectors in travel, connecting the dots across various global trends. We’re now highlighting the posts that tackle these global trends pointing towards the future of travel. This one looks at top travel technology and digital trends. For all of our trends roundups, go here.
- Digital travel trends overview: The Six-Page Guide to All Things Sexy in Digital Travel
- Social media marketing: Eight Unexpected Instagram Accounts From the Travel World
- Social media marketing: What a 19-hotel road trip looks like on social media
- Social media marketing: As Facebook growth slows, hoteliers integrate other social platforms in it
- Social media marketing: 5 Hotels using Instagram's new videos to show off their products
- Social travel marketing: Would You Choose Your Holidays Based on Hashtag Suggestions?
- Users still want offline maps: Google reverses course in Android Maps app and restores offline maps
- Mobile mapping: Venice is Finally Captured -- by Foot -- on Google Street View
- Early stage startups in travel aplenty: Five travel startups for speaking foreign slang and finding friends abroad
- Strange startups in travel: Share a hotel room with a stranger? New site pairs guests for hotel discounts
- Travel planning still getting funding: Travel-Planning Startup Vamo Gets $1.6 Million in Funding
- Wi-fi in travel: Going without Internet is travelers' biggest stress, according to survey
- In-flight wi-fi & calls: As U.S. Still Dawdles, Philippine Airlines Rolls Out In-Flight Calls & Wi-Fi
- Wi-fi at airports, best on coasts: 10 Most Wi-Fi-Connected U.S. Airports and 10 Least-Connected
- Bring your own entertainment trends: Google Billboard at Airports Enables Media Downloads via NFC and QR codes
- Collaborative consumption meets vacation rentals: HomeAway Gets Closer to Airbnb-Style Rentals With Control of Asia-Pacific Site
- Parks using tech to foster community & visits: National Park Pairs Live Video Feed With Brown Bears to Reach Distant Fans
- Last minute become an in-built feature: Priceline updates iPad app with emphasis on hotel deals tonight
- Hotel-tech: Hotels Are Becoming Another Venue for Apple Vs. Samsung Battle
- Hotel-tech: The Rise of Bring Your Own Entertainment in Hotels
- Reviews giant spreads its wings: Tripadvisor Plans Major TV Ad Push, Hires Brand Strategy Head
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