Everybody has a different maturity spot when it comes to their tech.
Quote from Rashesh Jethi, SVP of engineering for Americas and head of innovation for Airlines at Amadeus IT Group, in an article on PhocusWire this week.
Why innovation starts with the travel experience
What is so fascinating about the travel sector, at least from a technology perspective, is that we see the continued juxtaposition between old and new systems.
The question posed to Jethi earlier this week was around the challenges that the industry faces when there's a lot of legacy technology and brands are trying to innovate on top of it.
He argues many travel suppliers are making investments in "innovation" and now moving to open systems - a process which encourages brands to think outside of the box.
This is undoubtedly true, yet it has taken a long time for such openness and ease of access to come to the fore.
His own company, like others at the sharp of travel distribution, until recently at least, had not been so collaborative.
They were considered the gatekeepers of the industry when it comes to fares and ticketing for airlines, for example - a process that they rarely opened up to the outside world unless under strict commercial terms that ultimately benefited them.
Say what you like about travel startups but they have managed to ensure that the gatekeepers have changed their ways.
As that rush of new business that entered the sector at the turn of decade wanted to access vital tools and services, there was a strategic rethink by many of the guardians as to what their role should - or could - be.
Sure, there are still terms and conditions attached, but that travel startups can now try their ideas out on existing technology and platforms means that the gap between legacy and innovation has narrowed to a level not seen before.
In turn, those operating in the legacy environment have probably learned a lot more from such collaboration than they ever had.
The suppliers that Jethi notes above have now become the ones to benefit the most, which is perhaps the best outcome of all as it it those airlines, hotels, car rental companies and those at the customer-facing end of the industry that have the opportunity to provide the experience required for a successful trip.