Innovation Propelled the Travel Sector Forward Despite the Pandemic

Crises prompt innovation, and that's been true of the travel sector during the coronavirus pandemic. A theme of Skift's reporting in the past year was an innovation surge. The crisis compelled companies and destinations to seek inventive fixes to problems. As the world laps a year of drama, we're pausing to recall some representative modernizations, sector-by-sector. "One surprise about the trajectory of travel tech innovation in the past year was that the spirit didn't just come from startups," said Máire Walsh, senior vice president, digital technology, Enterprise Ireland. "The industry overall became more open to new solutions." Exhibit A: In November at the Skift IDEA Awards, we highlighted brands defining the future of travel through innovation, design, and experiences. See: Announcing the Winners of Skift IDEA Awards 2020. Some of the willingness to experiment came from a painful collapse in revenue. "We see today an enormous appetite in certain parts of the hotel market fo