Biometrics promise faster airport and hotel travel
Airport checks and hotel arrivals could move faster through biometric technology and digital identity, Amadeus chief Luis Maroto says. Speaking at the Forbes Economic Summit in Madrid on Tuesday, he said the aim is to speed up travel without weakening security or privacy. Amadeus has bought Vision-Box and made an offer for Idemia as it builds that capability.
Maroto said security checks must not become bottlenecks. Biometrics and digital identity, also being promoted in Europe, could make the flow through airports and hotels quicker and smoother.
Trust at the centre of AI
For Maroto, technology is a tool rather than the end goal; the traveller’s experience comes first. He said artificial intelligence, including generative AI, must be used with the greatest care because of the volume of information involved.
Amadeus works with Google, Microsoft and Anthropic to bring services together. Maroto said trust depends on technology providers handling data reliably, neutrally and responsibly.
€1,400 million a year for innovation
Travel is growing at close to 10% of global gross domestic product, Maroto said, faster than the world economy. He described Amadeus as a neutral, behind-the-scenes infrastructure linking the different parts of the travel industry.
The company invests €1,400 million each year in research, development and innovation, he said. Nearly 95% of its employees are engineers, and Maroto said Spain must keep investing in training and retaining technology talent.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com