A new report published by travel industry research group PhoCusWright has revealed that emerging new technology has had a profound effect on the way travel service users behave.

The survey, entitled The NEXTgen Traveler, is co-authored by PhoCusWright and Ypartnership and was conducted in March 2008 with 2,559 adults.

All survey respondents were ‘active users’ of the latest computer, entertainment or consumer technology and took at least one overnight trip requiring the use of commercial accommodation within the last year.

According to the survey, these ‘next generation’ travellers are highly educated, affluent and equally likely to be Echo Boomers (18-28 years old) as Baby Boomers (43-61 years old).

They spend, on average, 50 per cent more on travel services annually than those less technologically proficient.

Seven out of 10 use the internet to search for travel information, while 41 per cent have taken a virtual tour of a destination and 38 per cent have built a trip online. One third of respondents have also written and posted a travel review online. Details: phocuswright.com