They can perform many of the tasks confirmed so far to a human travel agent, but they also support the client in motion and make real -time suggestions: AI attendees are in the process of revolutionizing the tourism industry, on the Internet and beyond.
A desire of Mexico, without a clear idea in the region, the route or the period? In a few seconds, Mindtrip generative artificial intelligence created a custom course with suggestions of hotels, restaurants, visits and activities, at simple written applications. Once the options have been chosen, all the stages of the trip can be reserved, directly in the application or in partners that open on the right page.
“This is just the beginning”
Other new companies, empty in particular, have also positioned themselves in this niche. Some, like Navan, are dedicated to companies.
The generative giants of AI, Google with Gemini, Openai with operator or anthropic with Claude, also promote their assistants to prepare a vacation. Historical Internet reserves players are beginning to do the same, with more or less enthusiasm.
Expedia launched its Romie assistant in 2024, but only for certain planning stages, mainly for group trips. At the end of October, its great rival Booking.com presented smartfilter, which allows you to request, for example, a hotel recommendation in Amsterdam overlooking a channel
Instantly reconfigure your trip
The generative AI allows “relevant answers to questions in everyday language,” he emphasizes, “which strengthens the” between the user and the platform. Club Med gradually display a WhatsApp functionality, through which customers can ask practical questions, described to AFP Henri Giscard d’Esting, president of the group.
“When it was a human answer, I was taking an average of 1.5 hours,” he continues. “There, it is instantaneous and is a productivity tool for us.” In addition to its consumption application, Mindtrip offers versions adapted to communities, hotel groups or tour operators.
These sites of a new type “capitalize on the fact that people want personalized services,” says Jukka Laitamaki, a professor at the University of New York, specialized in tourism economy. And AI can go far beyond preparation and reserves.
Slow adoption
Even if AI agents are already available, “their large -scale adoption will be slow,” warns Eva Stewart, from the GSIQ consulting firm, “because the tourism industry is mainly composed of small actors, hotels, tour operators and regional agencies, which do not have infrastructure to integrate the AI on a large scale.”
Jukka Laitamaki sees a significantly different table on the consumer’s side. “They already know how to use a chatgpt,” recalls the academic, anticipating the increase of these digital travel agents in the next two years.
If the new companies are pioneers, Eva Stewart sees that the great historical platforms recover the advantage, in the long term, thanks to “their vast resources and their technical capabilities.” “They have a great advantage,” adds Jukka Laitamaki, “because they have a customer base.”
For Jukka Laitamaki, Airbnb could also get out of the game, with its differentiated offer. Responsible for the development, Dave Stephenson indicates that Airbnb wants to take his time to evaluate what an AI agent would contribute to the housing reserve platform. “Pasteing a simple chatbot on the site is not the correct solution,” he told AFP.
At the other end of the spectrum, human travel agents, which still constitute a considerable part of the world tourist ecosystem, seem weakened. “This will not necessarily have an impact on the richest customers,” who will always trust a physical agent, anticipates Jukka Laitamaki, “but will play in everyone else.”
Source: BFM TV
