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Online Travel

The Luggage Industry Keeps Adding Tech Gimmicks to Boost Sales

Sean O'Neill photo
Sean O'Neill
travel goods show 2017

Photo Credit: The annual International Travel Goods Show opened in Las Vegas on April 5, 2017 with much news about tech-enabled bags. Travel Goods Association

Skift Take

At this year's annual travel goods industry conference, it's obvious that the hot trend among manufacturers is to add USB ports, battery packs, and location-aware beacons to their luggage.

As the U.S. Travel Good Association's annual show takes place April 5–7 in Las Vegas, it is apparent that many manufacturers are doubling down on the industry's bet that consumers want luggage that is tech-savvy. The bet is understandable. Ever since Bluesmart, the maker of high-tech luggage, more or less pioneered the "internet-connected luggage" category in 2014 and sold 40,000 units (to date), the concept has been widely imitated by other manufacturers — in bits and bobs. The gimmicks seem to work. Last year luggage sales in the U.S. rose four percent, according to market researcher NPD Group. That was a better showing than the sector's average during the

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