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.

 

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
CEO Spotlight: Nishank Gopalkrishnan of Dreamlines
Interview / Online
CEO Spotlight: Nishank Gopalkrishnan of Dreamlines
By Linda Fox | April 1, 2026
Nishank Gopalkrishnan stepped into the CEO role at Dreamlines in mid-2025. He has spent time getting to know the cruise sector and opportunities to grow the business. Read More
Don’t ban AI pricing—improve transparency instead
News / Technology
Don’t ban AI pricing—improve transparency instead
By Timothy O'Neil-Dunne - T2Impact | March 31, 2026
Timothy O'Neil-Dunne, principal of tech consultancy T2Impact, argues that proposed AI pricing rules are misguided. Read More
Ensuring AI benefits everyone in travel
News / Technology
Ensuring AI benefits everyone in travel
By Linda Fox | March 30, 2026
A session at ITB Berlin focused on how AI-generated direct answers and recommendations bring ethical challenges, potential regulatory issues and bias. Read More
Fliggy launches "flyai" travel skill for AI agent workflows
News / Technology
Fliggy launches "flyai" travel skill for AI agent workflows
By Cathy Walsh | March 27, 2026
The plug-and-play skill enables developers to embed travel booking into AI agents without complex integration. Read More
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Savanta, Bilt, RMS and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Savanta, Bilt, RMS and more...
By PhocusWire | March 27, 2026
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Experience Columbus pilots AI platform to unify visitor experience across destination
News / Technology
Experience Columbus pilots AI platform to unify visitor experience across destination
By Cathy Walsh | March 27, 2026
By deploying AI agents across local partners, the program aims to surface more accurate, real-time information drawn from first-party data. Read More
Uber continues robotaxi push with Verne, Pony.ai partnership
News / Technology
Uber continues robotaxi push with Verne, Pony.ai partnership
By Morgan Hines | March 26, 2026
Uber has been aggressive in its autonomous ride efforts, announcing partnership after partnership over the last several months. Read More
Travelport shareholders inject $50M to boost AI development
News / Distribution
Travelport shareholders inject $50M to boost AI development
By Linda Fox | March 26, 2026
Travelport laid out three strategic priorities going forward including expanding AI capabilities and improving content supply.   Read More
Vuelo lands £56M for travel booking and payment platform
News / Startups
Vuelo lands £56M for travel booking and payment platform
By Linda Fox | March 26, 2026
The company said it plans to use the funding to build an artificial intelligence (AI)-native travel platform. Read More
Navan turns cash flow positive, talks up AI
News / Technology
Navan turns cash flow positive, talks up AI
By Linda Fox | March 26, 2026
The company says it is displacing legacy players through its user experience, cost savings and AI. Read More
From Autobahn dreams to AI travel: Saad Saeed’s bet on escaping travel’s startup graveyard
News / Startups
From Autobahn dreams to AI travel: Saad Saeed’s bet on escaping travel’s startup graveyard
By WIT | March 26, 2026
An AI-driven travel startup is betting that advances in data, social content and machine learning can finally solve trip planning—an industry challenge long considered a “graveyard” for innovation. Read More