AI’s Risk to Travel, TUI's Local Product and Qatar Airways' AI Agent

Skift Daily Briefing Podcast

Listen to the day’s top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, February 25. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Substantial improvements in artificial intelligence on cell phones could result in more consumers turning away from third-party travel apps. That shift could pose problems for travel companies, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.

Laurence Tosi, founder of investment firm WestCap, said while AI could help travel companies provide better search experiences, the technology could also threaten the industry. Tosi believes that consumers wouldn’t go to an individual travel site if they could rely on AI built into their phone that could access all travel sites.  

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Next, Europe’s largest travel operator TUI has announced it’s partnering with entertainment platform Fever to launch activities geared toward locals, writes Global Tourism and Experiences Reporter Jade Wilson.

TUI Musement, the company’s experiences division, has unveiled “Experiences for Locals,” which seeks to attract customers with activities in their home cities. Wilson notes the new product will include options outside of the typical tourist experiences, such as Afrobeats-themed brunches and Sicilian cooking classes. 

Finally, Qatar Airways unveiled plans on Monday to launch an AI-powered travel agent, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. 

Qatar Airways’ new tool is an extension of Sama, the carrier’s AI cabin crew. Customers will be able to ask Sama about flights and destinations appearing on Qatar Airways’ app and website. Vice President of Marketing Babar Rahman told Skift that the travel agent would remove the need for travelers to scroll through flights, fare classes, and seating options.

However, the AI travel agent will initially only be able to plan round-trip and one-way flights for individuals and groups.