On The Radar

What’s on the itinerary for avid travellers in 2017? Artificial intelligence, digital detoxes, extreme stargazing and more

- 

RADHA VYAS

CO-FOUNDER, FLASHPACK.COM

TRENDING: 360° CAMERAS Forget selfies—2017 is all about 360° cameras and ‘surroundies’, which capture the entire scene around you.

DO IT: The Ricoh Theta camera (Theta 360. com) takes great 360° shots, and the Nixie (Fynixie.com) goes one step further with the ‘wrist drone’, a wearable camera that can also take pictures while hovering above you.

JENNY SOUTHAN

FOUNDER, GLOBETRENDERMAGAZINE.COM AND FEATURES EDITOR, BUSINESS TRAVELLER

TRENDING: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

A new era in computing is taking us from science-fiction to science-fact, and Apple’s Siri is just the beginning.

DO IT: Online travel companies, such as Kayak.co.uk, Expedia.co.uk and Sky scanner. net have created ‘chatbots’ so you can book holidays through Facebook Messenger. Self-driving taxis (Nutonomy.com) have hit the roads of Singapore, and robots are delivering room service: Aloft Hotels (Starwoodhotels.com / aloft hotels) has Botlrs, and Hilton (Hilton.com) has Connie. What Starwood is calling the world’s first voice-activated hotel rooms are being trialled at Aloft Hotels in Boston and Santa Clara—say ‘Goodnight’ and the lights will go out. In Japan, the new Hennna Hotel (H-n-h.jp/en/guidance) is staffed entirely by robots in human and dinosaur form. Plus, you won’t need a key to your room: doors are unlocked via facial recognition.

CLAUS SENDLINGER

CEO AND FOUNDER, DESIGN HOTELS