In a March blog post, we discussed the rise of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics throughout the travel tech landscape. Today, findings from our most recent report – The Future of Travel Booking and Payments – look at another rapidly-changing dynamic: the potential entry of outside tech leaders and new booking technologies into the travel market.

We asked more than 2,000 travelers which social and consumer platforms they would consider booking with, if offered the option. The big winner was Amazon, with 44 percent of travelers saying they would consider booking travel with the e-commerce giant. The next most viable alternative, based on the travelers surveyed, was Facebook, where just 14 percent of the population said they would be willing to book – 30 percent less than Amazon. Other social media platforms – including Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn – did not fare as well.

Beyond the specific providers, the future of how travelers book is also evolving:

• 28 percent of travelers say they are comfortable booking through an automated chat agent on a website
• 25 percent are comfortable booking through mobile assistants like Siri and Okay Google
• 20 percent are game to book via text message
• 9 percent would be comfortable booking through social messaging apps, like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp

Given the size of the online travel sales market – it’s expected to reach $817.5 billion by 2020, according to Statista – change and disruption are a formality. And while direct bookings with hotels and airlines, and the popularity of online travel agents, will continue to lead the pack, the field is changing.

OAG’s latest report – The Future of Travel Booking and Payments – evaluates this disruption and so much more, including the integration of modern payment methods like Bitcoin and Apple Pay, the evolution of blind booking and the opportunity for a smarter, more connected booking ecosystem. Get your copy today to stay ahead of the shifting market.