Sean O'Neill, Skift
Google's voice-powered assistant now lets you check in for United flights. Nice. The tech giant is also working with Hyatt and other hotels on testing a translation device at front desks. The early word is that the translations need to improve.
8 months ago
Seth Borko, Skift Research
Amazon to the rescue? That is narrative you don't often hear associated with Jeff Bezos' company. But advertising is collectively one of travel's largest expenses and few can break free of the Facebook and Google duopoly. Amazon might just be able to succeed where many others have failed.
9 months ago
Hannah Sampson , Skift
Voice search isn't ubiquitous for travel yet, but as consumers grow more comfortable with the technology, travel brands should be making major inroads too.
12 months ago
Deanna Ting, Skift
IHG CEO Keith Barr’s take on how we’ll be using technology now and in the future is both contrarian and perhaps more pragmatic than the views of some of his travel industry peers.
1 year ago
Andrew Sheivachman, Skift
The big global travel management companies have pivoted to become more like technology companies in recent years. Despite the usual bromides about innovation and user experience, they're unlikely to invest in voice-powered automation right now. Personalization needs to come first.
1 year ago
Deanna Ting, Skift
Disruption in the travel industry is a universal constant, and we can certainly expect Amazon and Google to continue that tradition. An even more interesting question to ask ourselves for the moment: Why aren't Google and Apple doing more to get their smart devices into hotel rooms like Amazon is?
1 year ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
What do Amazon's Alexa, personalization, and the tech arms race have in common? They were common refrains overheard this week at our inaugural Skift Tech Forum in Silicon Valley.
1 year ago
Colin Nagy, Skift
Voice will change the current travel marketing funnel much faster than we think. Savvy marketers and technologists should begin thinking about ways to make an impact on this burgeoning channel.
2 years ago
Deanna Ting, Skift
It was only a matter of time before the big brands started rolling this smart-room technology. But what will be even more interesting is seeing which brand's approach works better in a hospitality setting, and is more appealing not only to guests but to hotel owners, too.
2 years ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Kayak is the first online travel player to let shoppers book hotels via Amazon's smart speakers. While the concept has promise, its price comparison process still has to improve before it becomes useful to the average traveler.
2 years ago
Deanna Ting, Skift
Like Marriott and other hotel companies, Best Western is figuring out if there's a home for Amazon's Alexa in the hotel guest room.
2 years ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Despite the hype, neither the Amazon Echo nor the Google Home is delivering the goods yet for voice-command travel research. Google's effort has the most promise, though.
2 years ago
