Margot Ladiray

🎮 BIG event by BPI France highlighted virtual and immersive tourism experiences. Naïma Aidi, a researcher from Gustave Eiffel University, described a hybridization of tourism, emphasizing supplementing rather than replacing traditional tourism. Dreamcities, founded by Jérôme Duval, plans to launch a virtual travel solution in early 2025, targeting diverse audiences, including those with disabilities and limited finances. Bruno de Sa Moreira, CEO of Histovery, focuses on interactive 3D experiences for museums, emphasizing affordable and easy-to-use technology. Naïma Aidi views virtual tourism as a differentiator in a competitive market, with developed countries benefiting more. Frédérique Rousseau, innovation director at Atout France, sees immersive experiences as a lobbying tool, aiding in sustainable tourism and territory service through technology, including VR and data collection. Bruno de Sa Moreira notes the potential for French expertise and cultural heritage in international markets.

🚗 Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, plans to replace buses with robotaxis designed to transport multiple people, with costs equivalent to a bus ticket. However, Tesla's autonomous driving technology lacks maturity, requiring driver supervision, and regulatory approval for public transport use is stringent. Skepticism remains as the real cost of such transport has not been verified, indicating buses will still be on roads for years to come.

✈️ By 2040, global air travel demand is expected to hit 8 billion passengers, growing at 3.4% per year. As of 2023, 90% of travelers use technology for trip planning via mobile. 67% of passengers in 2024 are comfortable with biometrics for airport processes, while over 50% still worry about data privacy. Adoption of Digital Travel Certificates (DTCs) is high at 85%, with 60% willing to pay for them. Eco-consciousness is rising, with 64% of passengers willing to pay extra to offset carbon emissions in 2024, up from 53% in 2023, capped at 10.8% of the ticket price. 81% would travel with less luggage to reduce carbon footprint. Technology leads the way in greening the industry, with passengers willing to partner halfway for zero-emission aviation.

📌 Priceline introduced Penny, an AI-generated voice assistant using OpenAI's technology, in March 2023 after testing since June 2023. Penny, part of Priceline's Trip Intelligence suite, assists with hotels, flights, and car rentals, focusing on streamlined and personalized booking experiences. Upcoming updates to Penny Voice will enable real-time vocal responses to complex queries and interaction throughout trips, with plans to enhance customer support and reservation modifications.