The travel & tourism industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by a greater desire from consumers for personalized offerings that heighten the traveler experience, and the growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Internet of Things, and cloud. In the last three years alone, there have been over 14,000 patents filed and granted in the travel & tourism industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Artificial intelligence in travel & tourism: AI in travel personalization. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 11,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the travel & tourism industry, there are 10+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
AI in travel personalization is a key innovation area in artificial intelligence
AI in travel personalization refers to the use of artificial intelligence technologies to personalize and enhance the travel experience for individuals. It involves analyzing user data, preferences, and behavior patterns to provide tailored recommendations, optimize travel arrangements, and improve customer satisfaction.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each AI in travel personalization and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established travel & tourism companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of AI in travel personalization.
Key players in AI in travel personalization – a disruptive innovation in the travel & tourism industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to AI in travel personalization
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Yanolja | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Amadeus IT Group | 53 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zhuhai Unicook Technology | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China South Industries Group | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sabre | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Alibaba Group | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| PCI Technology Group | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Guest-Tek Interactive Entertainment | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Trip.com Group | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Uber Technologies | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China United Network Communications | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Gurunavi | 27 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shenzhen Saiyi Technology Development | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| eBay | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Chi Information Technology | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toyota Motor | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Unicom (Hong Kong) | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zte Ict Technologies | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zhejiang Koubei Network Technology | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ant Group | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Didi Global | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Beijing Mafengwo Network Technology | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kingdee International Software Group | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| NEC | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Alphabet | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toast | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| SITA | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Meituan | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Joyu Culture Communication | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Airbnb | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tencent | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Trip.com Group is one of the leading patent filers in travel personalization. It was granted three patents in July alone, including one for computer program products for inferring which fare classes are available. This helps to show class availability for a specific flight or flights. Airbnb is another leading filer, with two relevant patents granted in August 2023, including one for a system and a method that are disclosed for optimally ranking and indexing accommodation listing information based on a set of constraints corresponding to a travel activity goal input on a client device. Some other key patent filers in the travel & tourism industry include Amadeus, SITA, and Sabre, all of which are travel tech specialists.
Personalization is becoming increasingly important for companies in the travel and tourism industry, and is, in fact, a central part of any thriving travel company’s strategy as consumers strive for ever-more-unique and personalized experiences over a commoditized travel product. Unsurprisingly, travel intermediaries and travel tech players lead the way, thanks to their operation of both front and back-end travel platforms.
In terms of application diversity, Amadeus IT Group leads the pack, while Sabre and Meituan are in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Yanolja held the top position, followed by Amadeus IT Group and Zhuhai Unicook Technology.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the travel & tourism industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Travel and Tourism.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
