The killer app for AI in travel
The future of search in the travel industry will be more free-form, resembling a conversation with a travel agent
Current travel apps are overly optimized for purchases, the industry could do better in the “dreaming” phase of travel, which social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have largely taken over, says Spencer Rascoff, a venture capitalist who co-founded Hotwire among others.
Key takeaways
- “The dreamy aspect of travel still feels pretty wide open, because dreaming doesn’t monetize well. Transactions monetize well. Where people dream of travel is not a booking engine, it’s not a hotel website, it’s Instagram and TikTok," he said at Skift Global Forum Europe;
- "Future AI powered travel apps will know your preferences, where you’ve been before and where you haven’t been, and work with you to make it a much better travel experience," Rascoff said;
- Companies like Booking, Expedia, and Amex Travel have been investing in AI for years, giving them a significant advantage over startups, making it difficult for niche AI travel services, who are at risk of becoming obsolete before getting off.
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