Things that will Revolutionize Travel beyond 2020

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Things that will Revolutionize Travel beyond 2020Tired of listening to complaints from employees burned out on lugging heavy baggage through the airport as they rush to make connecting flights? For those wishing for a better travel management solution, the future holds promise. Thanks to the invention of self-driving car technology, ‘autonomous travel suites’ may soon follow on the horizon. These self-driving hotel rooms could revolutionize the way we travel.

Autonomous Hotels

Customized, comfortable, and time-saving, these hotel rooms on wheels could eliminate a host of travel headaches, making business travel a lot less stressful. And consumers can’t wait to board – top travel management companies will be vying to be among the first to offer access to such cutting-edge accommodations. The brainchild of Steve Lee of Aprilli Design Studio in Toronto, this revolutionary idea was inspired by a hospitality industry design competition, winning this year’s Radical Innovation Award.

In it for the Long Haul

Lee, who viewed self-driving vehicles more as a mobile room than today’s typical car, designed the autonomous travel suites (ATS) in range of sizes to accommodate a host of traveling scenarios: Solo passengers, couples, families, and even pets. Featuring many of the elements found in a hotel room, they are bedecked with memory foam beds, work stations, small kitchens, an entertainment zone for gaming and movies, and even a toilet and sitting shower. Travelers can enjoy the view through a vehicle’s panoramic smart glass window encasements, or dim them for privacy. Drive-through, selecting start/end points, or plan stops at gyms, restaurants, and sights along the way, traveling in comfort for 6 to 10-hour journeys.

Amazing On-Suite Amenities

‘Parent suites,’ static units featuring amenities such as swimming pools, gyms, restaurants, and meeting rooms will be available for docking by mobile ATS units for overnight stays. Problem? Owners of ATS travel chains will offer critical on-road services including roadside vehicle maintenance, water provision, and waste removal. If vehicles are powered by electricity, service vehicles will replace batteries when juice is running low. If hydrogen-fueled, longer potential driving times between stops could be possible.

When Can You Book a Stay in these Hotel Rooms on Wheels?

The technology necessary to produce fully-autonomous vehicles is predicted to be available as soon as 2021. However, though business travel agents have customers ready to book a suite yesterday, the infrastructure necessary to support ATS units on the public road system will not be in play for at least a decade. Where will they hit the road first? East and West Coast areas where infrastructure will be integrated soonest. Cities such as Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and Washington D.C., where air and road-weary travelers are yearning for relief and a more comfortable, less stressful, time-efficient mode of transportation.

Tired of the same old same old? Open the door to a whole new world of travel opportunities with the help of the best business travel agency in Philadelphia. Contact GTI Travel today.

How to Prevent Falling Victim to Travel Scams

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How to Prevent Falling Victim to Travel ScamsIn light of Australia’s Bestjet fiasco, which left thousands of consumers with empty pockets after plane tickets previously booked went up in a puff of smoke alongside refund dollars following the company’s collapse, travelers are increasingly wary of travel scams. In a world where even seemingly legit businesses leave travelers bereft, is there any way to truly protect oneself when securing travel services?

Ensuring Protection Against Travel Scams

The thought of travel scams is enough to make anyone sick. Sadly, travel fraud rose 16% in 2017, from airline to hotel booking scams and credit card data theft. It continues to accelerate at a rapid pace alongside the popularity of online booking services, not all of which are legitimate. Making oneself aware of common types of fraud, however, can help travelers guard against these increasingly common troubles:

  • Investigate the Legitimacy of ‘Discount Travel’ Offerings
    Oftentimes, a simple internet search on the legitimacy of an online travel agency or foray onto the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or Trip Advisor website can point you to the legitimacy of online travel firms.
  • Watch for ‘Instant’ Travel Discounts
    Discounted vacation offers from third-party firms designed to lure customers into making impulsive buys for airfare, lodging, cruises, and other travel fare are best avoided. These companies often pocket the charges customers pay via credit card and shirk on offerings.
  • Realize there’s is No Such Thing as a ‘Free Vacation’
    These types of scams are aimed at stealing money from your bank account. In real life, they just don’t exist. To identify a fraudulent deal, be on the lookout for trips to exotic locales – with no mention of airlines, hotels/resorts, specific dates, or fees.
  • Push-Back on High-Pressure Tactics
    A legitimate travel management company will never put pressure on you to close on a travel deal. Pushy sales consultants are banking on the FTC’s 60-day dispute rule: You must dispute a bill within 60-days of receiving the first charges. Oftentimes, by the time consumers realize the travel company is ripping them off, it’s too late. Again, looking to the Better Business Bureau or Trip Advisor will often reveal such scams.
  • Circumnavigate Residential Home Vacation Rental Fraud
    Shady apartment dwellers and homeowners offering deep discounts on travel rentals, with the caveat of an immediate down payment on homes that later turn out to be derelict or nonexistent, are becoming increasingly more pervasive. This is easy to avoid, however, by shopping the right sites and avoiding anonymous sites, such as Craigslist. Reputable websites such as Airbnb won’t release funds to owners into renters check-in, and HomeAway provides secure payments, as well well as money-back guarantees.
  • Beware of Currency Exchange Scams
    Make sure your business travel solutions include information on currency exchange rates when traveling abroad. Street-based storefront currency exchanges often charge excessive fees or misguided exchange information that favors retailers, banking on traveler ignorance. Look to accredited and bank exchange services, or use a credit card instead.

Protect yourself from travel scams with the help of a trusted business travel agency. Contact GTI Travel, learning more about how our services can help you guard against travel fraud today.