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AI in Travel

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the dominant topic of the future in travel, and we’re keeping a close eye on it at Skift.

Breakthrough generative AI technology was released publicly by OpenAI last November, and a number of big-name travel companies have already responded. Expedia, Kayak, and more — including multiple startups — have started releasing experimental technologies that could lead to transformations in the way users discover, plan, and book travel.

Skift’s own Ask Skift AI deep search tool gives readers extensive insight into the business of travel by training artificial intelligence on the complete archives of Skift, Skift Research, Airline Weekly, Skift Meetings, Daily Lodging Report, and Skift Live events.

Podcasts

Labor Day Surge, Middle East Bump, and Amex GBT and AI

Today's podcast looks at a Labor Day travel boom, using AI to support business travel, and a surge in Middle East tourism.

Rashaad Jorden | 4 weeks ago

Online Travel

Trip.com on How China’s Older Travelers Are Shaking Up the Travel Scene

As more seniors chase unique, quality experiences, you can bet other travel companies will want a piece of the action too.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 4 weeks ago

Tourism

Faster Visas, More Direct Flights: What India-U.S. Tourism Needs – India Report

Travel is growing between India and the U.S. but there is a lot of room for growth. The key will be knocking down barriers and making travel easier.

Bulbul Dhawan | 4 weeks ago

Business Travel

Amex GBT Blends AI With Agents to Win Business Travel Share

The travel-management giant is using AI to read and respond to trip requests via emails. The goal is to free up human agents for more critical tasks, like perhaps explaining to executives why they can't expense that "team-building" trip to Vegas.

Sean O'Neill | 4 weeks ago

Venture Capital

The New World of Travel Startup Funding

Skift has covered hundreds of travel startup funding rounds over the past few years, and we’ve spoken with numerous founders and investors about the state of venture capital. They all tell a similar story: There’s money to be had, but the bar is much higher now.

Justin Dawes | 4 weeks ago

Airlines

Ask Skift: How Are Airlines Using AI?

It’s still early days, but most of the experiments with AI are focused on improving customer service and increasing the efficiency of flight operations.

Rashaad Jorden | 4 weeks ago

Travel Technology

Concur Founder, Former Expedia Execs Back Business Travel AI Startup: Otto

Steve Singh is continuing to build and fund an ecosystem that he hopes will bring about a more high-tech experience for the next generation of business travel. Otto will have to work out the rough edges of other AI trip planners to date.

Justin Dawes | 4 weeks ago

Free Read

Airlines

Enhancing Customer Service With the Best of AI and Human Empathy

Delivering seamless digital interactions across every touchpoint is more critical than ever in today’s travel landscape, especially during major travel disruptions. Using AI tools behind the scenes can help travel brands enhance — not replace — human talent and personal empathy.

Teleperformance + Skift | 1 month ago

Experiences

Airbnb-Backed Tiqets Talks AI, Profits, and Scaling Travel Experiences

Tiqets CEO Laurens Leurink says sales of travel experiences are booming. Gen Z and Millennials want cultural engagement, not checklist sightseeing. So with some help from AI, Tiqets has recently quadrupled its sales without adding staff.

Jesse Chase-Lubitz | 1 month ago

Airlines

Flyr Just Raised $295 Million: CEO Alex Mans Tells Us What’s Next

Flyr CEO Alex Mans isn't afraid to call out the old guard as he harnesses AI to shake-up the antiquated world of airline technology.

Gordon Smith | 1 month ago