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.

 

Airbnb continues hotel push: 'Stepping on the gas'
News / Finance
Airbnb continues hotel push: 'Stepping on the gas'
By Abby Crotty | August 6, 2026
Airbnb’s hotel business performing is “significantly better than expected,” CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky said. Read More
Google Maps updates Ask Maps with hotel, event discovery
News / Online
Google Maps updates Ask Maps with hotel, event discovery
By Linda Fox | August 6, 2026
Hotel and event discovery is being rolled out in the U.S. on Google Maps' Ask Maps conversational interface. Read More
Sabre ups 2026 guidance as Q2 exceeds expectations
News / Finance
Sabre ups 2026 guidance as Q2 exceeds expectations
By Linda Fox | August 6, 2026
Sabre's adjusted EBITDA for the quarter came in at $143 million, up 21% year over year, helped by a decrease in labor cost. Read More
Tripadvisor sees dip in revenue, net income in Q2
News / Finance
Tripadvisor sees dip in revenue, net income in Q2
By Abby Crotty | August 6, 2026
The company said the sale of TheFork is progressing, with the transaction still expected to close by the end of the year. Read More
Expedia Group is investing in AI that doesn't convert yet
News / Finance
Expedia Group is investing in AI that doesn't convert yet
By Linda Fox | August 5, 2026
Expedia Group upped its 2026 guidance on the back of its Q2 results and discussed where AI is having the greatest impact. Read More
Trivago ramps internal AI spend fivefold
News
Trivago ramps internal AI spend fivefold
By Abby Crotty | August 5, 2026
The company said it spent five times as much on AI in the first seven months of 2026 as it did in all of 2025. Read More
AI and technology investment driving business travel growth
News / Distribution
AI and technology investment driving business travel growth
By Linda Fox | August 5, 2026
Figures from the GBTA Business Travel Index Annual Global Report and Forecast revealed spend is predicted to increase 7.2% in 2026 while the volume of trips will increase 1.3%. Read More
Faye secures $50M for geographic expansion, AI developments
News / Finance
Faye secures $50M for geographic expansion, AI developments
By Linda Fox | August 5, 2026
U.S.-based Faye anticipates AI will resolve more than half of all claims by the end of 2026. Read More
Booking Holdings: AI visibility is up, but referrals stay under 1% of room nights
News / Finance
Booking Holdings: AI visibility is up, but referrals stay under 1% of room nights
By Abby Crotty | August 4, 2026
Traffic from LLMs accounts for less than 1% of Booking Holdings' room nights, CFO Ewout Steenbergen said during the company's second-quarter earnings call. Read More
Startup Stage: Bizey wants to streamline T&E
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: Bizey wants to streamline T&E
By Abby Crotty | August 4, 2026
Mumbai, India-based Bizey wants to eliminate manual expense workflows with automated processes. Read More
Navigating the future of OBTs in an AI-driven travel industry
News / Technology
Navigating the future of OBTs in an AI-driven travel industry
By Mark Frary | August 4, 2026
Business travel has reached an "inflexion point" on the use of AI, with companies determining how to best incorporate the technology. Read More
Report: Travelers want AI personalization, not unchecked autonomy
From Our Partners / Technology
Report: Travelers want AI personalization, not unchecked autonomy
By Amadeus | August 3, 2026
Amadeus’ Tailored Horizons report explores how U.S. travelers want AI to personalize trips, where they trust the technology and why control and transparency matter. Read More
How Nikhil Ravishankar is navigating Air New Zealand’s 'perfect storm'
News / Online
How Nikhil Ravishankar is navigating Air New Zealand’s 'perfect storm'
By WiT | August 3, 2026
Air New Zealand has rebuilt its team since the pandemic, with 70% of its 12,000 staff members joining since COVID. Read More
Meeting travel agents where they are: Why conversational chat decides agentic AI adoption
News / Technology
Meeting travel agents where they are: Why conversational chat decides agentic AI adoption
By Ami Goldenberg - Oversee | August 3, 2026
Oversee CTO and co-founder Ami Goldenberg argues that agentic AI in travel operations succeeds or fails on adoption—and what decides adoption is the interface agents touch every day. Read More
Engine acquires Options Travel to build modern OBT
News / Technology
Engine acquires Options Travel to build modern OBT
By Abby Crotty | July 31, 2026
Engine and Options Travel started working together nine months ago, with Engine now developing an AI-native OBT for TMCs. Read More