New research published by Deloitte this week claims the U.S. leisure travel market could grow to nearly $381 billion by the end of 2017.
In total, their research predicts a six percent jump in growth, as consumer spending continues upward. A strong labor market is contributing to the greater free flow spirit of travel, and that in turn is contributing to gains in the technology and lodging sectors.
Technology is a sizeable contributor to the market’s current success.
“Rising technology stars are challenging established industry incumbents for a dominant position in the marketplace,” the report said. “2017 will be a pivotal year where ground transportation players have something to prove. Late in 2016, ridesharing receipts exceeded traditional ground transportation for the first time ever among business travelers. While this might lead many to believe that ridesharing is now the standard, the space remains open to competition. The ridesharing economic model is a complex balance that connects a healthy supply of non-contract, transient labor looking for the highest wage with demand from consumers looking for the lowest fare.”
A case in point of this ground travel technology advance is a new partnership between FlitWays Technology Inc. and HotelsByDay, which will allow corporate travelers to schedule preferred vehicles to transport them to and from their hotel space. Flitways has also formed a partnership with Roomstorm to help travelers get to re-accommodations in the wake of travel issues.
“As a travel agent and tour operator for 15 years, I personally faced the problem of feeling the pain of travel combined with rigid check-in and check-outs for my clients and for myself,” Founder and CEO of HotelsByDay Yannis Moati said. “I wanted to use modern tech tools to solve this problem, and turn hospitality hospitable again. We turned to FlitWays as we are constantly seeking to ease the pain of travel.”
Other impactful travel news includes a plan by Airborne Wireless Network to create a high-speed broadband airborne wireless network based on connecting commercial aircraft in flight, the acquisition of India’s largest independent corporate travel services provider by Yatra Online, Inc., and a new web page for luxury brand-shopping customers launched by Ominto, Inc.