Search engines, social media, and word of mouth have long shaped how travelers discover and book their trips. But generative AI is quickly changing that, becoming a new starting point for travel inspiration, research, and planning. Recording live from Vancouver following World Travel Market (WTM), in this month’s Travel Trends Report, Dan and Marius reflect on the conversations, insights, and emerging trends shaping the future of travel marketing, and why the industry is changing faster than ever.
Drawing on findings from our latest report, we explore a key shift: AI is becoming the front door to travel, but it's not yet where bookings happen. With fewer US travelers starting their trip planning on traditional search engines and more turning to generative AI, what does this mean for travel brands? We discuss the implications for SEO, AI visibility, customer acquisition, and the future of booking, including the growing potential of agentic AI. We also share insights from live demonstrations and industry conversations that show how travel companies are moving beyond AI experimentation and starting to put these technologies to work.
But as AI becomes more capable, the human side of travel remains just as important. One particularly revealing statistic caught our attention: when given the choice between speaking with an AI phone agent or waiting for a human, only 2% of callers chose AI. We explore what this tells us about consumer trust, the importance of keeping humans involved, and where personal service continues to make a difference.
We wrap up with a look ahead to Season 8 of the Travel Trends Podcast, including our upcoming DMC series, and share how our advisory work is evolving to help travel businesses navigate AI through practical strategies, prototypes, and new technology development.
Download the full November Travel Trends Report, for a closer look at how generative AI is reshaping travel discovery, the rise of agentic booking, and why the human touch still matters. We break down the latest research, industry insights, and emerging trends to help you understand what's changing and what it means for your business heading into 2027.
👉 Listen to Travel Trends Monthly Report - November 2026 Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
