Relavanti and the Connected Trip
The "connected trip" is a concept in online travel that's been around for many years and talked about by the big OTA's since at least 2019. The definition is quite vague, as a "connected trip" can mean anything to anyone, depending on the perspective. Usually, the "connected" part refers to integrating multiple service-types in the same booking, as is the case with Booking.com. My guess is every OTA is planning on such integration, one way or another.
The concept is then carried further into the during-travel stage, whereby a change in one element of the trip results in automatic changes to other elements. About 15-16 years ago, while working on the GoScopia project (intermodal passenger transportation), we had discussions on how to create a ripple effect on all segments of the journey, should the schedule of one of the segments change.
What differentiates Relavanti is that the Connected Trip plays a role in the exploration and planning stages of the trip, rather than the booking or during-travel stages. The software is being developed to connect each element to other elements, and eventually will also connect the elements to the user (personalization). This is all done in an attempt to enable the creation of the Connected Trip by the user in an easy and efficient manner.
Usually, in online travel, the term "element" refers to services such as flights, hotels, ground transportation, cruises, activities and the like. This is also true about Relavanti...with an added twist, which I think is quite cool: Relavanti's back end is designed to accept any type of service or non-service and turn it into an element of a trip, connected to other elements. A cruise is an example of a service while an event, such as a festival, is an example of a non-service. This means a user can throw any of these elements into the trip-planning mix or turn any element into an "anchor", around which the trip can be planned.
An example of a search would be broken down like this. The elements in the search are bolded.
- Show me cruises that depart any port within 200 km of London, UK.
- Cruises should visit ports of call where we can enjoy at least one of these activities: (a) winery visit (b) cooking class and (c) hiking trail starting near the port.
- At least one of the ports of call must be in Venice during the Venice Carnival (mask festival).
As you can see, there are at least 9 elements in this query, and that's without counting the cruise ports of call, each of which is an element in its own right. And remember, each element listed above is an entire universe of other elements that are connected.
In summary: Relavanti's Connected Trip can handle just about any type of element thrown into the equation during the trip planning stage. It is the way holistic relevance is created, mimicking the way people plan travel. It may sound complicated but is actually designed to make travel planning easier and simpler.
For further reading and viewing:
- Skift Article (2019) - What Does Online Travel Really Mean by a Connected Trip.
- YouTube Video (2023) by Booking.com - The Connected Trip Explained.
- YouTube Video (2021) by PhocusWire - Understanding the Connected Trip and what it means for travel brands