Cutting Edge Technology Helps Travellers Take Off

Cutting Edge Technology Helps Travellers Take Off

The internet is fast becoming the preferred tool for travellers seeking the ultimate trip according to a recent survey by travel company Look Before You Book.

The Auckland based firm specialises in producing and promoting videos online for hotels, resorts, destinations and activities around the world. It features more than 450 travel videos on its website, ( http://www.lookbeforeyoubook.com) showcasing destinations as far flung as Europe and North America to neighbours Australia and the Pacific Islands.

After nearly 10 years in the business, Look Before You Book recently conducted its first online survey and found more and more travellers are choosing, and booking, holiday and business destinations with the aid of a mouse.

Look Before You Book managing director, Peter Tanner, says nearly 75% of respondents are viewing destination videos at home on the net and nearly 64% feel comfortable enough with what they see to make a booking.

“Respondents said they felt better informed about a holiday destination after seeing the videos. Many said they found the videos “very helpful” and liked being able to ‘walk through’ a hotel and view its rooms, restaurant, surroundings and activities. Overall respondents felt this gave them a better feel for their holiday choice as opposed to solely seeing static images in a travel brochure.”

The online survey drew responses from 280 countries with 42% stating they now book travel online and a third reporting they book via a travel agent. The remainder book directly with either an airline or accommodation provider.

Mr Tanner says the findings indicate travellers are becoming increasingly comfortable with computer technology.

“Interestingly most of our survey respondents were aged between 20 and 60 years old which indicates the age gap is widening in terms of users.”

Respondents were also happy with Look Before You Book’s site content with nearly half describing it as “good” and a further 20 per cent describing it as “very good”.

Mr Tanner says the company is continually updating the site with new video footage taken at destinations across the globe.

“We also have an increasing number of distribution partners including national tourism offices, airlines, hotels and wholesalers, linking their sites to ours which only further benefits the would-be traveller.”

Recent examples include Fiji Visitors Bureau, Go Holidays, House of Travel, Singapore Hotel Association, Tourism Queensland and Tradewinds. Even credit card companies and supermarkets are taking advantage of Look Before You Book’s video clips and linking them to their own sites.

Look Before You Book is now in the process of developing a multilingual application and intends launching a test site in the next couple of months.

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