Time

Agenda Item

Lead

Notes

5 min

• Start recording

• Welcome & antitrust notice

• Introduction of new members

• Agenda review

Chairs

• Antitrust Policy Notice: Attendees are reminded to adhere to the meeting agenda and not participate in activities prohibited under antitrust and competition laws. Only members of ToIP who have signed the necessary agreements are permitted to participate in this activity beyond an observer role.

• New Members:

55 mins

Discussion of Mail Goal

All

Meeting Summary: June 25, 2024

Attendees:

• Neil Thomson

• Steven Milstein

• Carly Huitema

Key Points:

1. Introduction to Travel Profiles (Neil Thomson)

   • Overview of travel profile data structures and requirements.

   • Emphasis on personal preferences, special needs, and lifestyle-related information.

   • Discussion on controlling the disclosure of data within the profile.

2. Importance of Personalization (Neil Thomson)

   • Different types of information are required for personalizing travel experiences.

   • Examples of types of preferences include airlines, rental vehicles, accommodations, food/cuisines, and activities.

3. Challenges with Group Travel Preferences (Neil Thomson)

   • Managing preferences for groups with varied needs, such as wheelchair accessibility.

   • The complexity of catering to both individual and group preferences.

4. Implementation and Control (Steven Milstein)

   • Corporate travel profiles could include policies that limit personal choice.

   • Discussion on how organizations might control travel preferences through imported policies.

5. Pros and Cons of Travel Profiles (Discussion)

   • Pros:

     • Enhanced personalization of travel experiences.

     • Improved service offerings based on detailed traveler preferences.

     • Potential for reduced repetitive data entry for frequent travelers.

   • Cons:

     • Risk of misuse of personal data for targeted advertising and price discrimination  

     • Concerns about data privacy and the potential for increased costs based on preferences.

     • The challenge of keeping data current and accurately reflecting traveler preferences (which can only realistically be solved if traveler profile data is under the control of the traveler vs. with travel services)

6. Potential Abuses of Travel Profile Data

   • Benefits:

     • Better tailored services and offers.

     • Increased convenience for travelers (seamless travel).

   • Abuses:

     • Price manipulation based on personal preferences.

     • Excessive targeted advertising.

     • Potential data breaches and misuse of sensitive information (particularly if travel service providers retain personal data beyond their immediate use requirements)

7. User Experience and Data Minimization (Steven Milstein and Carly Huitema)

   • Discussion on reducing friction in capturing preferences, including reviewing past trip choices and experiences and updating the profile based on preferences.

   • Concerns about the accuracy of inferred preferences and the risk of unwanted ads.

Agreed Actions:

1. Further Development of Travel Profile Standards (Neil Thomson)

   • Work on defining the metadata for travel preferences.

   • Explore ways to categorize and refine traveler preferences.

2. Feedback Mechanism Implementation (Steven Milstein)

   • Develop a system for feedback to refine and update traveler preferences over time.

   • Consider mechanisms to ensure preferences accurately reflect traveler behavior (e.g. feedback actual travel experience and in-travel choices vs stated preferences).

3. Privacy and Data Control Measures (All)

   • Ensure that data minimization principles are applied.

   • Provide travelers with the ability to control and manage their preferences and the data shared.

4. Collaboration with Travel Industry (Neil Thomson)

   • Engage with industry stakeholders to establish common standards and practices for travel profiles.

   • Address concerns related to data privacy and security.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to follow up on the outlined actions and continue the discussion in the next scheduled meeting.