Dive Brief:
- Expedia Group debuted several new AI-powered travel tech features and launched EG Labs, a product-testing service, in its “Fall Release” last week.
- U.S.-based travelers can access a beta version of Project Explorer, an experimental AI-powered solution that recommends destinations and creates itineraries. Travelers can also sign up to be notified of future beta releases.
- Though Expedia announced plans to integrate ChatGPT into its platform in April, the fall release offers more details about how tech will be used — and what directions further experiments will go in.
Dive Insight:
EG Labs’ first beta app, Project Explorer, uses AI to recommend destinations and create itineraries based on travelers' preferences. The resulting itineraries include recommended activities and hotel options.
The feature starts by asking users some simple questions, including about what time of year they’re hoping to travel, budget, interests and preferred regions.
Users can also now get quick, AI-generated answers to commonly asked hotel questions on a property’s Expedia page. When asked a question like “Is the Wi-Fi good in all rooms?”, the app will generate a response based on the property’s details and guest reviews.
Expedia has also made it easier to add breakfast to hotel stays — without leaving their app. Guests now can add breakfasts to hotel reservations anytime up to the day before check-in. Upselling is increasingly popular among hotel companies, which have seen an increase in revenue due to the practice.
After booking, guests can add their hotel reservations to iPhone wallet, easing the check-in process later on.
In addition, Expedia has introduced Trip Planner, which allows users to share, like and collaboratively book trips with their friends and family all in one place. The feature also includes travel guides designed to help users decide the best time to go to a destination, based on factors like pricing, weather and crowds. These include “travel stories,” short travel-related video clips from popular influencers that show certain destinations.
