AI in Travel

The idea of hotels partnering with ex-Googlers and DirectBooking trying to undercut OTAs is not without its ironies. Still, the concept of hotels working more closely with LLMs is one that could gain traction.

In today's pod we look at travel talent and AI, New York City's climate challenges, and Uber's female-friendly update.

AI is transforming travel tech, but to truly benefit, hotels need to modernize their payment systems.

AI won’t replace frontline travel roles, but by supercharging developer productivity, it’s reshaping how the entire industry hires, innovates, and grows.

Answers to questions like how do companies envision leaning into AI and how can it disrupt business will determine what initiatives the travel industry gets behind.

Andrew Jordan arrived at Travelport six months ago with a mission to reduce the frustrations travel management companies have with the software their agents use.

Raffles and Fairmont, two of Accor's flagship luxury brands, are undergoing thoughtful changes that go beyond marketing. Under Claudia Kozma Kaplan’s leadership, the focus is on preserving each brand’s legacy while embracing a new chapter of storytelling, service, and growth.

As airlines embrace the promise of next-generation retailing, they’re discovering that strategy alone won’t get them there. The real challenge lies in execution, integrating fragmented systems, aligning internal teams, and scaling customer-centric experiences.

AOL co-founder Steve Case says his new Waldorf Astoria resort reflects more than just a real estate play. His hope is that the future of high-end tourism lies in community connections rather than resorts that are literally walled gardens.

Agentic AI is inching closer to transforming travel, but even strong advocates of the technology say it’s still more potential than performance.