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Technology is advancing at warp speed, zipping travelers all over the world in the process.
In 2014, there were plenty of intriguing developments that figured to change travel in 2015 and beyond.
Want to shoot overhead video of a destination but don't have a helicopter?
No problem.
Lost every form of ID and payment during your travels?
Don't worry, everything's fine.
Worried about current marketing practices violating your privacy?
You won't be once you book that dream vacation to that dream destination you dreamed of the other night…in your dreams.
Not to worry fellow travelers; you can travel like never before in 2015.
It's going to be a techno-tastic year (complete with fabricated technology terms).
Drone Video
The development of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has led to the blossoming of a new type of travel photography and videography.
Now your average traveler can buy a drone with a high-definition camera attached for under $1,000 and create video that was previously only possible via helicopter or airplane.
The result? A stunning array of destination footage from around the world, and a new generation of tech-minded photographers that are changing how we view the world. Just check out TravelByDrone.com if you don't believe me.
In short, the world never looked so good.
New Payment Technologies
The brilliant minds at Apple unveiled Apple Pay in late 2014, perhaps changing the way the consumer pays for travel products forever.
Currently available on select Apple devices, Apple Pay allows travelers to pay for travel products with their fingerprint. Just enter your payment information into the Passbook app and then press the Touch ID button with your finger to pay for services. This payment method ensures that travelers can still pay their way around the world even if they lose their credit cards and other means of payment during their travels.
Bitcoin is another payment system that has opened up the world to travelers. Bitcoin also allows travelers to use their fingerprint at kiosks to deposit and withdraw money without needing ID or traditional payment methods. On top of that, Bitcoin is not managed by a middleman like a bank, which allows for more freedom with transactions (and less waiting time).
Wi-Fi Availability
Not only is free Wi-Fi going to be offered at more hotels moving forward (as several already have), but the availability of Wi-Fi is also going to widespread across the travel industry.
Hospitality companies and brands have already taken note, with major companies such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood and the new Virgin Hotels declaring free Wi-Fi at many of their properties. But moving forward you're also going to see more airlines and cruise companies offer Wi-Fi service, which is incredible considering how far away from major Wi-Fi networks airplanes and cruise ships travel. Virgin America became the first airline to install Gogo's enhanced ATG-4 Wi-Fi across its entire fleet to close out 2014.
You can now be in the middle of the ocean or tens of thousands of miles up in the air and receive reliable Wi-Fi service. Safe to say, travelers are connected these days.
The Development of Apps
Mobile apps have never been so cool or so helpful.
Travelers can do anything from check the wait times at airports to get roadside assistance in 15 minutes to unlock their guest room doors via smartphone apps these days. MiFlight is a great app that generally displays accurate airport security line wait times. Roadside assistance apps such as Urgent.ly and Honk are challenging AAA. And companies such as Starwood and Hilton are allowing guests to simply press their smartphones up to their room door and open it.
Whatever you need when you travel today, chances are there will be an app to help you along your journey. Apps have advanced technologically at a rapid rate. There are also many more of them, making competition fierce and, thus, apps even better.
Sure, apps do generally ask for quite a bit of personal information, but when you're stranded and one single app saves the day, you probably won't care, either. The "cool kids" aren't the only ones downloading apps anymore; everybody is getting in on the craze, and enjoying the ride in the process.
Personalized Marketing
OK, so some of you aren't looking forward to global companies knowing exactly who you are, but recent surveys have shown that more travelers are doing away with privacy in exchange for specialized offers and discounts.
The world of personalized marketing-if you can get past all the techno jargon-is truly fascinating. No matter where travelers are these days (geographically and on the Internet), companies are loading them up with ads specifically designed for them. To many travelers and travel agents, it's a rather handy development, considering it significantly cuts down the time needed to research destinations. By analyzing your search history and terms you use when chatting online, companies can deliver offers targeted specifically to you on sites you frequently visit and even trail you as you search.
"OK, guess I'll check out that dream destination now. Give me a few hours world…"
"Oh, what? There's a special offer for me right on my Facebook page?! Imagine that!"
Dream destination booked. Mind eased. Future here.
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