The AI Travel Race Among Booking Platforms: Expedia, Kayak, and HomeToGo

The travel industry is seeing a significant transformation as major booking platforms like Expedia, Kayak, and HomeToGo integrate generative AI tools into their services. While these tools are not yet perfect, the early adopters are making notable strides compared to their competitors.

Expedia has introduced several AI-powered tools to enhance various stages of travel, from planning to customer service. One of the standout features is Romie, an AI-powered travel agent and assistant accessible via WhatsApp, text, or the Expedia app. Romie can answer queries about destinations and suggest options for flights, hotels, and activities, linking directly to the Expedia app. Additionally, the app now includes an itinerary builder and a comparison tool for destinations, as well as AI-generated review summaries to help users make informed decisions.

HomeToGo, a Germany-based vacation rental platform, is developing its AI capabilities through a project called "Super AI Sunny." This AI assistant aims to aid users in search, booking, and post-booking support. Currently, HomeToGo has implemented AI Sunny for customer service, significantly reducing the need for human intervention by about 40%. The platform also plans to merge AI Sunny with its AI Mode search tool to create a comprehensive assistant capable of understanding natural language searches, answering specific rental inquiries, and providing location-based tips.

Kayak, another key player in the AI travel race, launched "Ask Kayak," an AI-driven tool that simplifies travel planning. Users can input queries in everyday language, and the tool responds with comprehensive options for flights, lodging, and car rentals, along with detailed information about destinations. Kayak has also integrated a plugin with ChatGPT, allowing users to get flight information and links directly from the AI. Additionally, the company introduced a feature that scans flight fare information from screenshots to find better prices.

Overall, while these AI tools are still evolving, their implementation marks a significant step forward in the travel industry, offering users more efficient and personalized travel planning experiences.