Artificial Intelligence

PhocusWire’s in-depth coverage of generative AI including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and other solutions and how they are being used across the travel industry.

Gen AI is transforming the travel industry by enabling new levels of automation, personalization and decision-making. From AI-powered chat interfaces to dynamic content creation and predictive analytics, PhocusWire explores the growing influence of generative and agentic AI in travel—and what it means for suppliers, intermediaries, and travelers alike.

How AI tools are reshaping travel and tourism operations

Our coverage tracks how travel companies are implementing AI across customer service, marketing, product development, and internal workflows. Whether it's conversational commerce, itinerary generation, or fraud detection, generative AI is unlocking new operational efficiencies and guest experiences throughout the industry.

 

The trust gap in agentic commerce and AI booking
News / Technology
The trust gap in agentic commerce and AI booking
By Morgan Hines | April 9, 2026
Payments architecture is evolving as AI giants, travel brands seek to enable AI-powered booking. Read More
Staynex Group acquires Sleap.io, adding booking tech and European reach
News / Online
Staynex Group acquires Sleap.io, adding booking tech and European reach
By Cathy Walsh | April 8, 2026
The deal adds Sleap’s hotel booking platform to the company’s offering ahead of planned token launch. Read More
TPConnects adds MCP layer to Iris content platform
News / Distribution
TPConnects adds MCP layer to Iris content platform
By Michael B. Baker | April 8, 2026
With its MCP layer, airline content can be turned into machine-readable protocol that is easy for AI agents and automated tools to understand. Read More
Mirai rebuilds booking engine for conversational, agent-driven travel
News / Technology
Mirai rebuilds booking engine for conversational, agent-driven travel
By Cathy Walsh | April 8, 2026
The platform reflects a shift toward AI-ready infrastructure as travel systems adapt to conversational booking and AI interactions. Read More
FCM's AI strategy is about guardrails, trust in corporate travel
News / Technology
FCM's AI strategy is about guardrails, trust in corporate travel
By Linda Fox | April 8, 2026
FCM's John Morhous shares how the travel management company is using AI internally as well as for its corporate travel customers. Read More
Kayak's Peer Bueller and Matthias Keller on what's ahead for the tech giant
News / Technology
Kayak's Peer Bueller and Matthias Keller on what's ahead for the tech giant
By Robert Silk - Travel Weekly | April 7, 2026
Kayak's newly appointed CEO Peer Bueller is overseeing an AI transformation at the metasearch brand. Read More
Chinese OTAs deploy AI for global push
News / Technology
Chinese OTAs deploy AI for global push
By Phocuswright Research | April 7, 2026
Chinese AI services are not just following this global path, they are transforming interactions with consumers—and delivering a high degree of itinerary control to users.  Read More
AI pulls travel brands deeper into commerce media
News / Technology
AI pulls travel brands deeper into commerce media
By Matthew Parsons | April 7, 2026
As AI compresses the path to purchase, travel brands are expanding commerce media to capture high-intent demand. Read More
The 3 phases of AI adoption—and why some travel companies fall short
Opinion / Technology
The 3 phases of AI adoption—and why some travel companies fall short
By Ragnar Fjölnisson - Kaptio | April 6, 2026
Ragnar Fjölnisson, the co-founder and CTO of Kaptio, explains why integrated platforms bringing together data, workflows and decision logic will win the next phase of AI development. Read More
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Amex GBT, Google, Agoda and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Amex GBT, Google, Agoda and more...
By PhocusWire | April 3, 2026
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Travel funding deal volume hits new low in Q1 2026
News / Startups
Travel funding deal volume hits new low in Q1 2026
By Linda Fox | April 3, 2026
Travel startup funding was mostly made up of Series A rounds in Q1 2026, with total investment sinking lower compared to the same period in 2025. Read More
Acai Travel, Lumo bring predictive disruption tech into AI service workflows
News / Technology
Acai Travel, Lumo bring predictive disruption tech into AI service workflows
By Cathy Walsh | April 2, 2026
The integration enables TMCs, OTAs and airlines to prioritize impacted travelers, automate rebooking tasks and communicate across channels as disruption volumes increase.   Read More
Travel marketing's AI identity crisis
News / Technology
Travel marketing's AI identity crisis
By Morgan Hines | April 2, 2026
Industry leaders at Phocuswright’s Travel Marketing AI Summit shared varying perspectives on the future of the funnel. Read More
South Africa’s $2.5B online travel market attracts new wave of homegrown tech
News / Technology
South Africa’s $2.5B online travel market attracts new wave of homegrown tech
By WIT | April 1, 2026
Web in Travel's Online Travel Tracker traces South Africa startup activity, surfacing homegrown innovation built to address the market's unique challenges. Read More
Startup Stage: Drifter targets AI discovery gap with visibility platform for destinations
Interview / Technology
Startup Stage: Drifter targets AI discovery gap with visibility platform for destinations
By Cathy Walsh | April 1, 2026
The startup monitors how destinations, hotels and attractions appear across AI platforms and offers tools to improve visibility. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026