2024 is earmarked to be the first year that travel volumes return to growth since 2019, the start of the COVID 19 pandemic. With demand for travel ramping up, demand for mobile travel apps continues to rise in tandem as travelers look for more functionality from their mobile devices while on trip. Venture capital to travel startups is poised to match 2023’s dollar level which is 10 year low but total dollars invested could be higher (SKIFT) as a wave of AI related startups come to the marketplace. Travel technology development for 2024 focused on:

Enhancing traveler experiences by maximizing device functionality

Technology that related to revenue generation

Delivering extended conveniences to travelers through their devices

Artificial intelligence based technologies were the main priority of VC’s and entrepreneurs and development of AI infrastructure in the above priorities will continue to be a major focus in 2025.

Maximizing Revenue and Controlling Costs

MEWS is a brand new property management platform that raised over $100 million in 2024. Deferring to the cloud, MEWS provides complete property management services to both individual owners and branded groups. Their all-in-one solutions offer back-end operational support and consumer facing technologies to maximize booking and guest revenue while identifying efficiencies and cost savings opportunities. MEWS also offers an embedded payment solution which integrates seamlessly with accounting and guest services infrastructures. With travel volumes returning to growth, property owners and hotel groups are looking to maximize each guest opportunity and technology that provides revenue generation ability with guest management capabilities are highly in demand.

AI Technology Helps Short Term Rental Owners

Short term rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO continue to see strong demand as STR’s become more of a viable option for travelers looking for flexibility and localized experiences. Unfortunately, the peer to peer nature of STRs brings challenges and one of them is screening and background checks of potential guests. TrustD (website: trustd.ai) is a travel technology startup that is using the latest in AI machine learning and data processing to screen potential guests across various platforms to help STR owners make better choices in regards to their bookings. TrustD looks at previous guest stays from different STR platforms in addition to standard screening checks to evaluate guests. For property managers and owners with STR properties, TrustD provides a valuable tool as safety and security becomes more of a priority in the STR market.

Simplifying Medical Travel

Continually rising medical costs is driving the medical travel category as consumers seek cheaper healthcare options abroad. Planning complex itineraries and using foreign health care systems can be highly stressful but mobile app technology can offer conveniences and functionality that can assist in the successful execution of medical and wellness travel. medTOUR+assist, an in-house project from TravelTechnologySolutions.net, delivers effective assistance and capabilities for planning and executing medical trips as well as support after the journey is complete. medTOUR+assist is a complete trip planner and is designed to extend functionality of smartphone and mobile devices:

Complete trip planning and organization

Localized healthcare resources and recommendations

Appointment reminders with in app navigation

Pre and post medical trip checklists ensuring any aftercare is completed

Document storage and access

medTOUR+assist is an all-in-one mobile travel app that relieves some of the stress involved with planning and executing medical and wellness travel.

Meeting Increasing Expectations

Travel volumes are finally returning to growth after global lockdowns decimated the market and travel consumers have higher expectations more than ever before. Both leisure and business travelers have come to rely on mobile devices to deliver conveniences and benefits before, during and after the trip. Travel providers are prioritizing technology that can drive revenue and control rising operational costs with the goal of increasing overall profitability and elevating guest experiences. Innovations that utilize Generative AI can give travel providers an edge in a crowded marketplace and technology development companies are focusing on AI based infrastructure. Travel and technology have always paired well and the industry is quick to adopt new tech that can drive business and save costs, ensuring consistent demand for new innovations.