Mobile Trends and Stats in 2015 That You Need to Know

Mobile devices have completely revolutionized the way that we live. It’s rare that we sit down to check our e-mail on our laptop computers, as we can just as easily keep updated on our phones.

Our tablets are wonderful for viewing photographs and interacting with family members and friends. And now, these same mobile devices are changing the way that we travel and book our vacations.

As a tour and activity provider, you should understand the power of mobile technology and the trends that are taking shape in 2015.

1. Mobile is bigger than desktop

For the first time in 2014, mobile travel bookings increased while bookings on desktop computers began to decrease.

This means that more people are using another device than their pc at home to research their upcoming trip, but also to book it. You will want to have an online booking system that can be optimized for mobile platforms, ensuring that consumers can conveniently book your tours and activities.

2. Mobile adoption varies according to location

While mobile booking is on the rise, tour and activity providers need to understand that the popularity of booking on mobile devices varies based on the location of the consumer.

Northstar conducted the 2014 Expedia/Egencia Global Mobile Index survey, in which about 8,800 employed adults in 25 different countries were asked if they booked a hotel, tour or activity on a mobile device.

In the United States, about 24 percent of respondents had completed a reservation on a smartphone or tablet, while only 11 percent of respondents in the United Kingdom had used their mobile technology to book travel arrangements.

In India, mobile booking is quickly rising in popularity, with 55 percent of respondents stating that they had used their smartphone or tablet in order to book a reservation.

3. Mobile adoption varies by age group

There are generational differences when it comes to mobile booking.

A Google Consumer Survey provided to 3,300 general Internet users over the age of 25 found that just 19.1 percent of the respondents had booked travel arrangements on their smartphone devices in the last year.

Of those who had booked travel on their smartphone, 27.1 percent were between the ages of 25 and 34 years old, while 19.5 percent were between the ages of 35 and 44 and 15 percent were between the ages of 45 and 54.

4. Advertising has gone mobile

Mobile ads will play an important role in marketing this year, with spending on local mobile ads to increase by about 54 percent in 2015.

Tour and activity providers may find that mobile ads are the best way to target their potential customers and motivate them to book their tours.

Do you cater to the mobile traveler?

You need to invest in an online booking system that understands the unique needs and desires of your customers. You want a system that is flexible and customizable, and that can be optimized for desktop bookings as well as smartphone and tablet bookings.

Rezdy is an online booking software system that can be tailored to meet the needs of your individual business, and can help launch your company into the 21st century.

In order to see how Rezdy can integrate with your website and optimize it for all platforms, begin your free trial today.

You can also download our ebook on going mobile for tour operators.

Sources: Skift State of Mobile Booking 2015 & Leonardo’s 7 Digital Trends for 2015.