How VR is changing the future of travel
James South, founder and CEO of Igoroom and Gecko Digital, talks about how VR is changing the way consumers travel.
When the pandemic forced us all to turn to our devices for travel hits, virtual reality really stepped into the foreground. Now that we’re coming out the other side of the Covid crisis, it’s becoming clear that VR and AI-powered technologies are here to stay.
Millennials and Gen Z in particular have been eager to embrace it across myriad industries from fashion to dining. Applying VR to travel gives early adopters an opportunity to stand out and elevate the customer experience throughout the entirety of a consumer’s journey.
A number of tech-savvy luxury hotel brands have already begun adding VR tech to their own platforms as added value for customers but at Igoroom, we decided to bring it into the booking process. As a result, we’re building loyalty and transparency while bringing a healthy dose of fun and excitement back into the planning stages of a holiday.
Our own forward-thinking VR360 travel booking app, launching in 2023 is a world first. It provides users with fully immersive, 360-degree virtual reality hotel and resort tours. With our gyroscopic VR content, consumers can use their devices to check out the features and views that really matter to them, whether that’s the layout of their room, the bathroom amenities, the views from the sun loungers… even the underwater landscapes of the resort’s house reef.
In a post-pandemic world where personal space is the new luxury, VR is key to giving customers exactly what they desire. The tech allows customers to get a completely transparent view of what they are booking, with no room for negative surprises on arrival. This honesty builds trust as guests get a much better perspective of a property than they would from a static photo which only shows one angle.
Take the example of a Jacuzzi in a bathroom where guests have a narrow view out to a beautiful lake. From a static photo, you couldn’t possibly understand that such a small window could offer such a striking perspective until you’re physically sitting in the tub. To achieve that viewpoint in 2D, you’d have to take two photos with a wide-angle lens which could distort the view. But with a fisheye lens in 360 degrees, as is used in VR, you get a much more realistic understanding. It’s also a more honest medium than the leading narrative of cinematography. As with self-controlled VR, you have the power to explore and experience a space for yourself.
A number of world-leading brands have already recognised its potential and we’re delighted to have signed up a plethora of exciting launch partners, including global giants Hyatt and Kerzner International; iconic luxury hospitality brands Six Senses, Shangri-La and Soneva; landmark properties like Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm; and exciting Maldives newcomers Cora Cora and Joali.
Essentially, we’re making a land grab for the hospitality sector. We’re pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo, so people think, ‘I can’t go back to the old normal.’ We hope soon everyone will think there’s something fundamentally wrong with the way we book rooms. We’re disruptive – and that’s something we're really excited by.
https://www.igoroom.com