How the Travel Industry can use A2P Messaging
A few months ago, I wrote a blog about travel agents using SMS messaging to respond to changes in travel due to world events. It turns out that the travel industry can also benefit from the fastest growing SMS sector: Application to Person (A2P) messaging.
According to a recent report from Research and Markets, the “Rapid increase in the growth of mobile phone subscribers coupled with increasing mobile marketing activities is driving the global A2P SMS market.” They predict that the market will grow to $62.1B (~£50B) by 2025.
The travel industry accounts for some portion of that, but not very much currently. Another report by the Mobile Ecosystem Forum found that only 10% of consumers had received or sent SMS messages from companies about their travel.
That means there is plenty of room to grow for the industry. The use of mobile devices isn’t going to slow down anytime soon, and travellers will begin to expect the convenience of SMS messaging (if they haven’t already). A2P can make it easier for travel agents and companies to contact their travellers. Here are some examples.
Last Minute Sales
There are almost always rooms that haven’t been filled, empty seats on planes and trains, or cabins on cruises. While travel agents can certainly call their most active clients to offer last minute deals, that takes time. With A2P messaging, a message with a great last minute deal could be sent automatically out to those customers. This would let the agent contact more people than they could using voice calls, and probably get a higher – and quicker – response than using email.
Reservation Information
One of the most common uses of A2P messaging is booking confirmations. But there are other uses as well.
Last minute schedule changes, flight delays, transfer information or even hotel changes can also be sent automatically. These types of alerts need to reach the client fast so they can prepare or make the necessary changes quickly. SMS messaging is guaranteed to arrive within seconds. It also is preferable to email because internet access is not required.
While this sort of service via SMS isn’t standard yet, mobile based customers will likely see it as a differentiator when choosing a travel agent or booking site. It’s just more convenient for them.
Customer Service
While some travellers are out just looking for a good deal, most want to experience the best customer service during their trip. Providing up-to-date information on itinerary changes is a valuable service. But you can go beyond that too.
Providing weather updates, especially if there are unexpected forecasts for the climate, could be incredibly helpful to travellers. Sending links or information on the local fare or activities might be just what someone needs to decide on what to do that day.
Giving clients the ability to complain or compliment about their stay via SMS will give important feedback about the destinations, activities, and their preferences. Follow-up surveys after they return home give an additional opportunity to provide even better service in the future.
Some of these things are probably already being done via email or voice calls. But using SMS has advantages. The largest of these is the immediacy that no other channel can provide. It is also a very personal channel, allowing you to provide great service – automatically via A2P – to clients who will remember it the next time they book a trip.
To find out more about how SMS and A2P can help the travel industry, download our special report, How to Use SMS Messaging for Marketing, Booking and Customer Support. You can also ask our experts questions via live chat, email or by phone.
Related Articles
Travel Agencies Love SMS Messaging
For travel agencies, SMS messaging allows you to connect with travellers on a one-to-one, or one-to-many basis, yet still be personal. How can that be? People guard their mobile numbers and only share them with the people or businesses they really want to hear from. It's their personal number after all, and they won't hand it out to just anyone.
Drive Up Attendance During Festival Season with SMS Messaging Part 2
Festival season is upon us! Experienced festival organisers predict that to be successful you need more than just music. You’ll need to offer an experience to your attendees. In the last blog I covered some of the reasons for that, and ideas on how to start building your SMS marketing list before your festival begins. In part 2, we’ll take a look at how to use SMS to create engaging experiences for attendees while they are at your festival, and even after they leave.
Travel Agents Should use SMS Messaging During the Off Season
Now that the peak travel season is over, how can travel agents stay top of mind in their customers? If you look around, you’ll notice everyone seems to have a mobile. That means SMS is the perfect way to reach them and make sure you’re not forgotten.
The Art of SMS Marketing for Bars, Pubs and Clubs
SMS marketing can be a double-edged sword, which is why it's crucial to ensure that each one of your campaigns is well thought out, immaculately spelt, financially accurate (i.e., the prices listed are correct), and, perhaps most importantly, the time and date is 100% accurate. Only once you have triple-checked each one of the components should you then consider sending out a batch.
How Travel Agents Can Compete with Online Booking Sites by Using SMS Messaging
The lure of quick, easy and cheap travel arrangements online has revolutionised the way people find and book travel. Travel agents offer so much more than search, click and book, but still find themselves facing competition from online booking. But none of the major online booking sites can offer the personalised service an agent does.
SMS Marketing for Hotels – Upsells and Cross-Sells
With the summer peak season fast approaching, now is the perfect time for hotels to keep in touch with their guests and take advantage of upselling and cross-selling techniques to increase revenues. In this article, we demonstrate how to use SMS marketing to make the most of the opportunities in both and unlock added value for your business.
5 Ways the Travel Industry can Make Use of SMS Marketing
In order to appeal to new customers and interact with existing ones, businesses are always looking for new marketing methods. Whilst many companies are using traditional and online marketing techniques, these aren’t always effective. Email filtering, for example, means that many recipients may not even be aware that they’ve received contact from your company. As many email hosts provide in-built spam filters, it’s easy for email marketing content to be overlooked or ignored completely. SMS marketing, however, overcomes many of the obstacles associated with online and email marketing. Whilst potential customers may not see your company emails, SMS messages aren’t filtered in the same way. The delivery rate is, therefore, far higher for SMS messages in comparison to marketing emails.
