Multimodal travel, AI and the changing definition of access

Travel planning has become less about choosing a destination and more about navigating how to get there. As traveler values shift and sustainability, accessibility and resilience move higher on the agenda, mobility itself is becoming a defining part of the travel experience. 

In a Changemaker session at The Phocuswright Conference, Rome2Rio CEO Wendy Olson Killion explained how transportation choices, technology and infrastructure are reshaping the way people discover and experience places they visit.

Killion explained the growing role of multimodal travel, from trains and buses to ferries and other ground transport options that are increasingly influencing traveler decisions, particularly on shorter journeys. Following her remarks, she sat down for an interview with Phocuswright analyst Robert Cole. Drawing on global data and real-world examples, the discussion touched on climate considerations, destination stewardship and the practical realities of helping travelers move beyond major hubs to lesser-known places.

The session also examined how artificial intelligence is being applied behind the scenes, not as a replacement for expertise but as a way to connect fragmented data and make complex travel decisions easier to understand. Watch the full session below.

Later, Killion continued the discussion in the PhocusWire studio with executive editor Linda Fox.