The Rise of Personalised Travel: Exploring How AI Systems Enhance Trip Itineraries
In the world of travel, it is crucial that brands continuously evolve in order to meet their clients’ needs. While traditional, one-size-fits-all tour packages were once the norm, today’s consumers are looking for customised trip itineraries that can be tailored to their specific preferences.
Personalised travel is here to stay, and Artificial Intelligence is a travel technology trend that can help brands to create more personalised trips for their customers. AI recommender systems are revolutionising the industry, providing high levels of customisation and simplifying the entire travel planning process.
Read on to find out how AI recommender systems are transforming the future of travel.
Understanding AI Itineraries and Recommender Systems
AI recommender systems use the power of machine learning and advanced algorithms to analyse large amounts of user data. This data can be based on customers’ preferences, past behaviour, demographics, and even real-time information such as weather conditions and local events.
Systems then use this information to provide tailored suggestions for travel itineraries, including recommendations for flights, accommodation, and activities.
Personalisation in Travel Planning
Personalisation has become a key aspect of travel planning in recent years, and this trend is continuing to grow. Today’s travellers are no longer looking for generic travel packages, they are seeking travel experiences that can be tailored to their individual preferences and values.
According to a report by Mckinsey, 71% of consumers expect companies to offer personalised interactions. Consumer expectations are rising, and travel brands must go the extra mile to meet this high demand.While personalisation can lead to increased conversions, Skift explains that the focus should be on providing customers with a thoughtfully designed experience that accounts for their circumstances and adapts in real-time.
However, creating highly personalised itineraries can be a challenge. Manually integrating multiple travel providers and different products into an end-to-end itinerary while taking into account each travellers’ needs is a time-consuming and complex task.
This is where AI comes in. AI in travel can help brands to provide personalised recommendations that are catered to each customers’ needs.
Enhancing Trip Itineraries with AI
Many travel brands are already harnessing the power of AI to streamline a variety of tasks. The most prominent AI system on the market is Chat GPT, which is now being used by travel brands such as Expedia, Kayak and Nezasa to assist with the trip planning process.
These types of systems are not a replacement for tour operators; rather, they are tools that can help travel professionals plan their customers’ trips in a faster and more efficient way.
AI can generate highly personalised recommendations, offering off-the-beaten-track or local experiences that a traveller may note have found on their own.
And, AI is not only useful for the travel planning process. Generative AI systems can also assist throughout the entire travel journey, providing customers with real-time updates during their trip.
AI recommender systems offer many benefits for tour operators, including:
- Saves time
The travel industry is highly competitive, and brands must offer the most timely solutions possible. AI saves time that would be spent manually researching and compiling a customers’ itinerary, freeing up time for tour operators to focus on other important tasks.
- Increased convenience
AI systems are convenient for both brands and travellers themselves. With AI, large amounts of data can be efficiently analysed and a customers’ personalised itinerary can be created within seconds. The dynamic and flexible nature of AI-powered itineraries also means that aspects can be easily modified according to a clients’ preferences.
- Customer satisfaction
Data Art explains that higher levels of personalisation lead to stronger connections and customer loyalty. This is key in today’s market, and can result in increased sales and revenue and allow brands to gain a competitive advantage.
- Real-time adaptation
AI recommender systems continuously adapt and refine their recommendations based on user feedback and evolving preferences. This real-time adaptation ensures that travel brands can stay responsive to changing market dynamics, trends, and customer preferences, in turn allowing them to provide more relevant offerings.
As the trend of personalisation continues to grow, travel brands must adapt their offerings to meet high customer demand and expectations.
It is clear that AI is going to be a key part of the travel industry going forward, and brands should integrate AI recommender systems now in order to foster higher levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
