Breaking Travel News reporting live from ITB Berlin 2014

Innovations set trends in the tourism industry too, which is why ITB Berlin is devoting a part of its show to these products. From 5 to 7 March 2014 in Hall 7.1b, visitors can find and take a look at tourism innovations and also try some of them out themselves. In collaboration with Multivisio and the experts from TrendONE the world’s leading travel trade show has gathered 100 tourism trends which visitors can vote for online at www.itb-innovators.de until 5 March. At the ITB Berlin Convention Nils Müller, CEO of TrendONE, will host a live multimedia show presenting forward-looking innovations in the tourism industry. Admission is free for trade visitors and exhibitors.

For visitors interested in finding out more about the innovations of the future, ITB Innovators in Hall 7.1b is the right place to be. Among the exhibitors will be evolaris from Graz. The company has developed software called Smart Ski Goggles, which provides skiers with useful, live information on an integrated display in their skiing goggles. In addition to information on speed, altitude and distances travelled the evolaris software provides live data on ski-lift waiting times, weather conditions and ski lodge availability. The company has also developed demo software for Formula One spectators. Trials are taking place to feed the same amount of information as a TV programme to a Google Glass worn by trackside spectators.

Demand is growing in the tourism industry for aerial drones capable of taking impressive photos from above. AIR SCENE from Hamburg has recognised this trend. A leading supplier of high-end drones with film and photo capabilities, the company produces promotional films which look at products and indoor/outdoor areas from completely new angles. This enables tourism companies to give customers a unique impression of their product. The Salzburg-based company PP Medien has an innovative presentation tool featuring multi-touch control called pi Touch, which can display any kind of information content in an impressive and easily understood way. It also features an independent and easily operated smart content management system.

Virtual Reality is also taking its first steps in the tourism market. The company’s Oculus Rift computerised glasses let holiday seekers experience a destination even before departing. Travel agencies can make use of this innovative product to give customers a virtual impression of various destinations before they make their final choice. The agency THIS IS! Digital Media Group will be showcasing the capabilities of these glasses at ITB Berlin. 3D printers represent another trend currently making its way onto the tourism market. Formicum, a new company, is using its technical expertise and design talent to market printers which produce 3D images in full colour. Manufactured by the Irish company Mcor Technologies, their globally unique 3D printer prints physically shaped 3D images on A4 paper. At ITB Berlin visitors can see for themselves how 3D images are created on paper.

On Wednesday, 5 March 2014 from 11.30 a.m. to 12.15 p.m., visitors keen to get an overall picture of the most important tourism trends can obtain valuable information at a live multimedia discussion with Nils Müller, CEO of TrendONE, who will be holding a keynote speech on ’The world in 2025 – a journey into the future’. Together with ITB Berlin innovations were chosen which in future are likely to have a long-term impact on travellers’ behaviour and on structures in the world of tourism.