HTM 598 Consultancy Project The status quo and future of information technology development in small and medium travel agents in Hong Kong Chen Po Lun, Vincent (15107729G) Tsoi Ka Yan, Suki (15040936G) Wang Xiao Ying, Sharon (15108024G) Wong Wing Yin, Winnie (14126059G) Sun Xuehua, Snow (15106661G) 1 1 Table of Content – 1 Introduction--Winnie 2 Background -Winnie 3 Previous Study - Winnie 4 Methodology--Winnie 5 Result--Vincent 6 Recommendation--Snow 7 Conclusion--Vincent 2 Introduction 2 3 • Pilot Scheme • Better Understand Hong Kong Based Travellers • Give SMEs a guideline for better utilizing resources • Stay Competiveness in Hong Kong Market 4 Background 5 6 Key trends in Next Gen Traveler 1 • Social Media Young traveler perceives social media as their “personal assistant” on travel 2 • Personalization Different from “typical tourists”. 3 • Valued added service and experience • Amadeus is a leading IT Solution provider of travel and tourism industry • Conducted a “Trending with NextGen travelers” research • Young traveler: - Relied on internet usage - Active on social media 7 Objectives • To improve the technological service experience of travelers with SME travel agents in Hong Kong • Understand the need of technological services in SME travel agents in Hong Kong from travelers’ perspective • Provide guideline and suggestion for the SME travel agent business operations where information technology can be used to enhance competitiveness and efficiency 3 8 Previous Study 9 10 11 12 13 Methodology 14 Secondary Data Interview Content Analysis 15 • Sample Size: 20 Interviewees • Semi-structured, Open-end Questions • Hong Kong Citizens / Residences Group A Age ≤ 30 Group B Age > 30 11 9 16 Interview Scope • Prior Experience • Traveling Pattern: Searching Habit, Booking Pattern, Experience • Expectation of IT applications: Functions & Attributes • Demographic: Gender, Age, Occupation Result 18 Travel More Frequently Why blog? Interviewee A: “I believe in blog more because it is very personal story with many real life experience.” Interviewee B: “I love to read blogs because they provide me the real experience from others.” Interviewee C: “I love to book things separately like flight ticket and hotels to have more flexibility.” Interviewee D: “I prefer to use direct booking, because it is more reliable and flexible to book directly from hotel, airline or rental company…. I personally prefer my trip will not go wrong.” Blogs lead Travelers to the platform for Booking Less Flexibility • • Convenient • Multi-Destination Fast • Security Interviewee E: “I am not a person who always go for big brands, I choose depends on their expertise, I always decide the destination first then start to choose who is the best travel agency on that.” Interviewee F: “Some of my friends would seek SMEs for special occasions, for instance, wedding. Travel Channel, a SME, provides professional wedding travel to the Territory of Guam and Maldives, which large travel agent or online travel agent cannot provide much attentive services to them.” Loyalty Human Touch Emotion Price Sensitive Good Value of $ It is a Business Flexibility Itineraries Regulations Change of Schedule Cancel Policy Group B Interviewees Low Fare Online Payment Interviewee G: “I want to see the pictures and animation of the destinations to rise my willingness to really want to visit there.” Interviewee H: “Really specific information for a private site can attracts me. e.g. like some remote island picture in HK.” Interviewee I: “ Probably is the big banner with attractive color at the top of the page.” C “I don’t really care where I go or how I go. I only care I am with my family and I always let my son / grandson to do the arrangement.” Recommendation 42 Integration between APP and Website 1. At least a website 2. Unified design 3. Website adapts to mobile 4. Resource Integration Design Outlook 1. Simple & Tidy No pop-up ads No all content in home page Clear function zone Unified and Integration 2. High quality images or video Eye catching Reliability 3. User Friendly Easy to learn for all generations Easy to find needed information Rich in content Content Recommendation User Friendly 1. We Media :Travel Plan & Blog Becoming Influencer 2. Security : Clear statement of policy and qualification Payment method 3. Promotion Information highlight : Discount/Coupon Function Recommendation 1.Price Comparison 2. Flexibility in booking, amending, cancelling 3. Social Media extension : connecting to WhatApp/WeChat/Facebook Fan Page 4. Personalized one-stop service + segmentation service Conclusion 49 Blog Flexibility A Integration B Human Touch Price Sensitive Lets See an Example 52