Smart Tourism Solutions are the Next Game-Changer for Travel and Tourism Industry

LAS VEGAS, July 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The global aviation, travel and tourism industry is expected to see a colossal growth in the next decade, thanks to digitization. According to the World Forum research, the industry is expected to create up to $305 billion of value through increased profitability, migrate $100 billion of value from traditional players to new competitors, and generate benefits valued at $700 billion for customers and the wider society through reduced environmental footprint, improved security, cost and time savings for consumers. Additionally, the research forecasts a net displacement of current jobs in the industry, partially offset by the creation of next-generation skilled jobs inside and outside the travel ecosystem.

The way 21st-century travelers experience, consume and share information has changed drastically from the previous decades. The unprecedented shifts in their expectations, new technologies and trends are compelling the industry to adapt their business and operating models that enhances tourist preferences, logistics, and economic prosperity.

Tourism is one of the top contributors to sustainable economic growth and social development. With an increase in mobile penetration and technological advancement, the industry today is ready for a new wave of digital transformation.

Leveraging IoT (Internet of Things) based solutions will not only help in improving the operational efficiency but also enhance the city services and provide relevant solutions for tourists. Smart tourism is the next evolution that will bring this wave of revenue and business opportunities, even to more undeveloped cities.

Meylah Corporation, a US-based premier cloud service provider and Microsoft Gold Partner, sees this as a perfect opportunity to leverage cloud, AI and IoT technologies to drive digital access, economic prosperity and job creation in local communities in cities.

The company, in collaboration with Microsoft, HPE, Aruba, and Bosch, has engineered a Smart City Tourism IoT Solution to empower the tourists and elevate their overall travel experience, as well as help local merchants to increase business opportunities and generate more revenues.

Kapil (Kap) Sharma, Senior Director, Intelligent Edge, IoT, and Data Platform - Strategic Alliances, Microsoft, at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), is excited about the role of HPE is playing in delivering a pay-as-you-go scalable solution for cities and towns to easily adopt smart city tourism IoT.
According to Sharma, the smart city tourism pilot was engineered by Meylah, leveraging hybrid IT technologies to create a modern place where citizens and tourists can visit, work, live and play.

Scott Guettinger from Microsoft believes that their partnership with HPE and Meylah has been powerful.

In his view, this is a truly innovative and smart solution, where HPE brings all hybrid IT solution such as Wi-Fi, edge IoT, and Public cloud through Azure cloud solution with integrated support to deliver Smart City Tourism IOT to places like Grays Harbor in Washington State in the US. The solution, which is marketed and sold through HPE and Microsoft through their marketplaces, can be easily replicated in many other cities.

Developed as a public-private collaboration that includes Greater Grays Harbor and Washington's Department of Commerce, the Smart City Tourism IoT Solution was designed to create digital access via WiFi solutions and integrates tourism services such as smart parking, a smart itinerary, online retailing, with real-time insights to manage tourists experience.

Deployed on Azure AI, IoT and Cloud Services using CSP licensing model, the solution addresses core areas of tourism planning and development needs. The Smart City Tourism IoT package includes solutions for public Wi-Fi, parking management, itinerary builder and an online marketplace for local merchants.

For Glen Jones, CEO, TechPower Solutions, Inc., an HPE/Aruba Platinum Partner, the HPE platform with brilliant IoT technology from Meylah and Microsoft, makes navigation and digital access easier for tourists, merchants, and citizens.

Excited about the collaboration he further adds that it's amazing to see the impact of connecting tourists with restaurants, retail stores, sights, and attractions. TechPower's partnership with Meylah will help build Smart City Tourism Solutions for the future.

According to Chaitra Vedullapalli, CMO, Meylah, collaborating with partners like Microsoft and HPE has enabled them to package and deliver the Smart City Tourism IoT solution in SaaS model for places like Grays Harbor to increase tourism revenue and online retailing.

Speaking about how the solution will benefit the tourism industry, she adds, "Tourists can now easily plan their travel using Smart Itinerary Builder that can be accessed via mobile, web or onsite kiosks. HPE Smart Parking has made it easy to find parking space. Aruba Wi-Fi hotspots have enabled visitors to digitally engage with local businesses. The online marketplace has made it possible for local merchants to access local and global customers."

The Meylah Smart City Tourism IoT solution aims at increasing the tourist traction by making their traveler's experience hassle, secure and more engaging. It will, therefore, benefit the locals and the city administration with new business opportunities and greater revenues. The company has plans of engagement to expand solutions to the US, Canada and India in next 12 to 14 months.

The HPE-Microsoft-Meylah team including Chaitra, Scott and Kap showcased the Smart City Tourism IoT solution at the Microsoft Inspire 2018 in Las Vegas. Learn about building a smart city and smart tourism solution to ignite economic prosperity for towns and cities by visiting http://www.smartcitytourist.com

SOURCE Meylah Corporation