The number of people using messaging apps is set to hit two billion by 2018, so it’s no wonder brands want to get in on the action. Major tech players are touting chatbots as the next big thing, but can they really revolutionise online interactions, or are they just part of an industry-driven pipe dream?

Brick-and-mortar travel agents were among the first casualties of the internet age. But considering the stress involved in finding the right seat for the best price, the old ways of arranging a trip now seem simple. With its new app, Virgin America aims to make booking flights as easy as it once was.

As travellers, we’re now more savvy and time-precious than ever before. We love short city breaks more than two weeks in the sun and prefer living like a local to holing up in hotels. Our holiday habits have changed dramatically, but how has our approach to booking a vacation shifted?

From Airbnb to TripAdvisor, digital tools have changed the way we plan holidays. Now, instead of relying on a guidebook, you can use Google Trips to build customisable plans to explore your destination. Is this the pocket pal that the new generation of travellers has been yearning for?