5 Ways AI Has Changed The Travel Landscape

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that AI has been making the headlines.

A LOT.

And for good reason.

It’s rapidly transforming various industries and has even revolutionized the way we travel.

From personalized recommendations to enhanced security measures, AI has brought more efficiency, safety, and convenience to the travel space than ever before.

With all of that in mind, let’s delve into some of the ways AI has changed the way we travel. . . 👇

1.    Leveraging data analytics to uncover valuable insights.

The travel industry generates massive amounts of data every second.

And this data is the key to unlocking valuable customer trends and insights - like personalized travel recommendations.

But, with so much information to sift through, it’s a job that’s almost impossible for humans to tackle alone. That’s where machine learning algorithms come in. By helping travel companies analyze the data from travelers’ previous trips, they can easily identify hidden gems and suggest similar destinations, accommodations, and experiences.

This tailored approach ensures every traveler has a more enjoyable and memorable trip, with recommendations specific to their tastes, needs, and preferences.

Take the Dorchester Collection hotel, for example.

By leveraging its AI platform, Metis, to process and analyze customer feedback, reviews, and online polls, they were able to identify an area where they were falling short: customer loyalty. Armed with this insight, they were able to make changes that better met the needs of their guests and improve their overall performance.

Through identifying customer trends and devising better solutions to fulfill their needs, businesses are using AI to take the guesswork out of travel planning and making every trip a memorable one.

2.    Improving customer service with AI-powered solutions. 

In the travel space, delivering exceptional customer service is paramount for companies to stand out. Luckily, artificial intelligence is changing the way customers interact with brands – for the better.

The rise of AI-powered chatbots has been a game-changer, with companies adopting them on social media platforms, websites, and instant messaging apps. These bots can quickly respond to customer inquiries, provide valuable information, and also assist travelers with bookings and changes to travel plans – even when customer service reps are unavailable. As customers demand faster response times online, AI has enabled travel brands to deliver on those demands without skipping a beat.

And let’s not forget that these systems are built with accessibility in mind, particularly when it comes to language support. Chatbots and AI break down language barriers by making it simple for international travelers to communicate and receive assistance (at the touch of a button).

But robots aren’t only helping customers online.

They’re also transforming face-to-face customer experiences in remarkable ways.

For one, there’s the robot at London Heathrow airport that guides passengers in terminals.

And let’s not forget about the incredible robot concierge, Connie, at the Hilton McLean in Virginia. Powered by IBM Watson AI program and Wayblazer, Connie uses Natural Language Processing to understand sentences and answer human queries related to hotel features and provide recommendations on local attractions.

Think that’s cool?

Connie’s arms and legs move to show guests directions and expresses various human emotions by lighting up with different colors.

And if you order room service at the InterContinental Group’s Crowne Plaza San Jose (in Silicon Valley), you’ll be met with Dash – a delivery robot created by AI entrepreneur Savioke. Dash attends to 300 rooms and suites in the prestigious Californian hotel.

With AI revolutionizing customer service, perhaps it comes as no surprise that a report published by Vero Solutions said that robots will replace humans in the check-in process by 2030.

3.    Increasing security measures with facial recognition.

Artificial intelligence is also revolutionizing the way we experience air travel by making it more efficient and safer than ever before.

One of the most significant ways is through facial recognition technology.

While the use of this technology in airports isn’t a new concept - airports have been using it for several years now – recent advancements in AI have given it a facelift.

Now, the accuracy and speed of facial recognition technology has improved significantly. Leading to a wider adoption across the travel industry.

And the benefits are clear – from speeding up the security process and reducing the amount of time passengers spend in lines, to improving the accuracy of identification and reducing the chances of errors and false positives.

Another advantage is its ability to detect suspicious behavior, since AI-powered security cameras can identify individuals that are acting fishy – like loitering in a restricted area or attempting to access secure areas without authorization. This prevents security breaches, identifies potential security risks, and helps enhance airport safety.

4.    Enhancing travel planning through AI assistants and tools.

Planning a trip can be an exciting – as well as daunting – experience. Luckily, AI assistants and tools have made travel planning more efficient and convenient, helping travelers plan their trips with confidence.

Of course, leveraging data from previous trips is one of the most significant advantages of using AI assistants – as mentioned in the first point.

But AI-powered tools also help travelers to make bookings and reservations.

With just a tap of a button, travelers can book flights, hotels, and car rentals, as well as make reservations at restaurants and purchase tickets to local attractions.

Plus, chatbots offer users a more personalized booking experience.

Travel booking leaders like Booking.com, Skyscanner, and Expedia all use chatbots. 

Skyscanner’s chatbot lets travelers search for flights, hotels, and car rentals, and receive personalized travel recommendations – all based on their unique preferences.

Essentially travelers could plan their entire trip without ever leaving their messaging app!

5. Making travel insurance more accessible.

Perhaps the biggest impact that AI has had on the travel industry is how much easier it’s made the process of applying for (and getting) travel insurance.

AI algorithms have been used to analyze a traveler’s data (like age, gender, medical history, and travel itinerary) to create personalized policies that fit their specific needs.

That means travelers can get the cover they need, without unnecessary expenses.

24/7 AI chatbots will give customers answers to questions and help solve their travel insurance-related problems – anywhere in the world – without having to wait for a person to be on the other end.

It’s also automating the claims process. AI can quickly analyze and verify claims using machine learning algorithms, providing faster payouts to policyholders.

But it’s not just policyholders that are benefiting.

AI can analyze huge amounts of data in short periods of time, offering accurate risk assessments on different locations, and allowing insurers to change their policies accordingly.

AI has, undoubtedly, changed the way we travel.

With its ability to process massive amounts of data and offer real-time assistance, AI is enabling travel companies and insurance providers to offer more personalized, efficient services, improving the overall experience for travelers.

But this really is just the beginning. 🤖

As AI continues to develop and advance, we’ll undoubtedly see even more innovation and improvement within the travel industry, and ultimately help establish a more seamless, enjoyable, and accessible travel experience.