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BizTrip AI and Lumo partner to enhance corporate travel
Lumo, a leader in predictive travel disruption technology, and BizTrip AI, a pioneer in agentic AI for corporate travel, have announced a strategic partnership to improve the corporate travel experience. By integrating Lumo's machine learning models with BizTrip AI's Travel LLM and multi-agent platform, the collaboration aims to help business travellers proactively avoid disruptions and optimise travel decisions in real time. Lumo's technology, which is trained on millions of flights, predicts and manages travel disruptions before they occur. Meanwhile, BizTrip AI's platform orchestrates decisions across policy, budget, supplier content, traveller preferences, and payments, offering a comprehensive solution beyond traditional booking tools. This partnership will allow travel managers and travel management companies to shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive, automated decision-making. Bala Chandran, Co-Founder and CEO of Lumo, highlighted the importance of this partnership, stating, "Travel disruptions are one of the biggest hidden costs in corporate travel, impacting productivity, budgets, and traveller satisfaction." Scott Persinger, Co-Founder and CTO of BizTrip AI, added, "Our agentic AI platform is designed to orchestrate every aspect of travel dynamically, and Lumo’s predictive capabilities add a critical layer of foresight." This collaboration is expected to empower enterprises to reduce programme costs, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the traveller journey through intelligent automation and predictive decision-making. By embedding predictive intelligence into a powerful, agent-driven ecosystem, the partnership aims to move from insight to execution, helping companies avoid disruptions altogether This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.
Chargebacks911 warns of rising chargeback risks
Chargebacks911, a leader in dispute resolution, has alerted airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) to prepare for a potential surge in payment disputes following significant travel disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions involving Iran. With more than 3,400 flights cancelled across the Middle East, the company warns that the financial impact could manifest weeks later as passengers face difficulties in obtaining refunds or rebooking. Monica Eaton, Founder and CEO of Chargebacks911, highlighted that unresolved service issues often escalate into chargebacks. "Travel disruption has a second chapter, and it usually shows up in the dispute queue," she stated. The company notes that the risk of disputes increases when airlines rapidly alter routes, customer service teams are overwhelmed, and refund processes are complicated by cross-border bookings. Chargebacks911 advises travel merchants to take proactive steps, such as setting clear cancellation and refund policies, providing realistic timelines, and prioritising support for affected bookings. Their Unified Dispute Management System (UDMS) uses AI and machine learning to help merchants identify emerging dispute patterns and automate workflows, thus reducing manual effort. Eaton emphasised the importance of real-time monitoring and clear communication with customers to mitigate risks. "Visibility is everything," she said, urging airlines and travel providers to maintain strong records and watch dispute volumes for early warning signs. As geopolitical events remain beyond control, Eaton stressed that speed, clarity, and follow-through are crucial in preventing disputes This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.
Travel storytelling evolves as AI integration transforms search and social platforms
Representative Image The landscape for travel creators has shifted from a gold rush of follower counts to a sophisticated ecosystem governed by machine learning. In 2026, artificial intelligence is no longer an "add-on" feature; it is the primary lens through which audiences discover the world. As search engines and social feeds become deeply integrated with AI-driven recommendation engines, the traditional "influencer" model is being replaced by a "storyteller" requirement. To remain visible in this automated environment, creators must navigate a paradox: using AI to streamline production while doubling down on the one thing algorithms cannot replicate—the visceral, unscripted human experience. This evolution demands a strategic pivot away from superficial metrics and toward a content strategy rooted in authenticity, narrative depth, and technical optimisation. Artificial intelligence is now deeply integrated into search engines, content tools, and social platforms. For travel creators in 2026, AI is no longer an emerging trend — it is part of the everyday content ecosystem. However, rather than eliminating human creativity, AI is transforming how travel stories are produced, refined, and distributed. To succeed in this environment, creators must prioritise audience interaction, strong visuals, optimised discoverability, and original insights over superficial metrics like follower size. Interaction Outperforms Audience Size The digital marketing landscape has shifted away from valuing large follower counts as the main indicator of success. Instead, platforms reward meaningful engagement — comments, shares, saves, and extended watch time. Industry trend reports highlight that content generating conversations and reactions is more likely to be amplified by algorithms. This means a creator with a smaller but active community can outperform a larger account with passive followers. AI-powered feeds increasingly analyse behavioral signals, so travel content that encourages dialogue — such as practical tips or unique local recommendations — is more likely to surface organically. 1. Compelling Visuals Must Feel Authentic Travel remains a highly visual niche, and striking imagery continues to capture attention. Research into travel marketing trends shows that short-form videos and immersive content formats are currently leading engagement across platforms (The European Business Review). However, audiences are becoming more cautious about overly edited or heavily filtered content. Conversations around digital authenticity indicate that users increasingly value natural, less manipulated visuals. To remain credible, travel creators should focus on: Balanced editing rather than excessive filtering Genuine, unscripted moments Real interactions with local culture Contextual storytelling through visuals Authenticity builds trust — and trust drives long-term engagement. 2. Narrative Depth Creates Differentiation While AI tools can quickly generate descriptive text or itineraries, they cannot replicate personal experience. According to insights from Ossisto’s travel content marketing research, storytelling remains a core driver of audience connection. Rather than offering surface-level descriptions, successful travel content incorporates sensory detail and personal reflection. Emotional resonance — describing how a destination sounds, smells, or feels — transforms generic information into immersive storytelling. AI can assist in structuring ideas, but lived experiences and nuanced observations are what create memorable content. Source: 3. Optimise for Multi-Platform Search Search behavior has evolved beyond traditional engines. Increasingly, users begin their travel research directly on social platforms. Social search trends show that platforms like Instagram and TikTok now function as discovery engines. For travel content to remain visible, it must be optimised not only for Google but also for platform-specific searches and AI-driven recommendation systems. This requires strategic use of long-tail keywords — highly specific phrases that reflect real traveler intent. For example: “Quiet sunset viewpoints in Santorini” “Budget-friendly boutique hotels in Kyoto” “Best local street food tours in Mexico City” SEO experts emphasise that detailed, well-organised content targeting niche queries performs more effectively in organic rankings. 4. Spotlight Emerging and Untapped Topics Travel audiences are continuously searching for new experiences. Reports on tourism trends indicate increasing interest in regenerative travel, slower itineraries, and lesser-known destinations. Content that explores overlooked neighborhoods, emerging cities, or unconventional travel styles often stands out more than traditional “top attractions” lists. By focusing on subjects that are underrepresented or newly popular, creators position themselves as discoverers rather than repeaters of mainstream information. 5. Leverage AI Strategically While Maintaining Human Perspective AI tools offer efficiency advantages — from keyword research and idea generation to caption drafting and content repurposing. However, relying solely on automation risks producing generic material. The most effective approach combines AI support with authentic human insight. Technology can streamline workflow, but the creator’s personal interpretation, emotion, and storytelling voice remain irreplaceable. AI accelerates production. Human experience sustains connection. Producing impactful travel content in 2026 requires a careful balance between innovation and authenticity, where success is driven less by automation alone and more by a thoughtful, strategic approach. High-performing travel content today prioritises meaningful engagement over inflated follower counts, combines visually compelling elements with a sense of realism, and is rooted in strong, immersive storytelling. It is intentionally structured to be discoverable across search platforms, aligned with emerging and evolving travel trends, and enhanced by AI tools without sacrificing human perspective. Even as algorithms and digital platforms continue to evolve, one principle remains constant: travellers are inspired by genuine experiences and authentic narratives. While technology may influence how content is distributed, storytelling continues to be the true engine behind successful travel content.
MakeMyTrip partners with OpenAI for AI-driven travel planning
Representative Image MakeMyTrip, India's leading online travel company, has announced a collaboration with OpenAI to enhance its AI-driven travel discovery capabilities. By integrating OpenAI's APIs into its app, MakeMyTrip aims to streamline the transition from conversational inspiration to booking through its Myra interface. This partnership allows MakeMyTrip to dynamically respond to evolving travel intents, offering structured, transaction-ready options across flights, hotels, and ancillary services. The integration signifies a shift from passive search to active participation in AI-led discovery, transforming conversational intent into bookable outcomes. Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, stated, “Our collaboration with OpenAI ensures that when travellers start their journey through conversation, MakeMyTrip becomes a seamless extension of that discovery process. When AI is anchored in MakeMyTrip’s proprietary travel data and deeply integrated into the marketplace, it moves beyond inspiration to deliver personalised, bookable outcomes at scale.” Oliver Jay, Managing Director, International at OpenAI, added, “MakeMyTrip is using OpenAI’s APIs to make travel planning feel less like filtering and more like a conversation, with recommendations and itineraries that reflect what a traveller actually wants.” MakeMyTrip has long invested in AI and machine learning, embedding intelligence across the travel lifecycle. Its GenAI Trip Planning Assistant, Myra, now facilitates over 50,000 conversations daily in multiple languages, expanding access to Tier-2 and smaller cities. This collaboration is set to further enhance the travel planning and booking experience for users globally This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.
Robert Matsuoka is Duetto’s new chief technology officer
Hospitality revenue and property management software provider Duetto announced the appointment of Robert Matsuoka as its new chief technology officer on Tuesday, 27th January. Matsuoka is a seminal AI thinker and technical leader with over 25 years’ experience scaling systems and teams, and building travel tech. He joins Duetto to spearhead technology transformation across the company, from increasing delivery speeds for customers to managing the technical foundation for the Revenue & Profit Operating System (RP-OS). Duetto chief executive Alex Zoghlin said of Matsuoka: "Robert’s expertise in AI has the potential to significantly improve the experience of our customers and push the industry forward as we build the first RP-OS. His hands-on technical expertise, combined with his experience managing massive, global-scale data at Tripadvisor, makes him a unique leader who can turn the advantages of AI into a practical reality for our customers." Building from the ground up Matsuoka’s journey is rooted in building technology from the ground up: as the co-founder and CTO of Citymaps, Matsuoka built geospatial systems processing billions of location elements, expertise that’s directly applicable to hotel market intelligence and competitive set analysis powering Duetto's pricing recommendations. Following Citymaps’ acquisition by Tripadvisor in 2016, Matsuoka spent eight years at the travel giant, ultimately serving as head of engineering and interim CTO. In these roles, he owned the technical strategy for the Hotel Business Unit (the company's primary revenue engine) and scaled global engineering teams. Post-Tripadvisor, Matsuoka held multiple fractional CTO roles and immersed himself in hands-on AI development. This involved pressure testing agentic AI applications to solve complex, high-scale enterprise challenges, and writing about his journey on HyperDev. Matsuoka sees the challenges hoteliers are facing in today’s high-cost market as a prime opportunity for technological innovation. As he puts it: “The core commercial needs of hotels such as revenue optimization, demand forecasting, and yield management are all fundamentally algorithmic, so there’s an enormous opportunity to enhance those systems through AI and machine learning. In this new role, I will focus on areas where AI can make a meaningful impact, including accelerating client onboarding velocity, expanding Duetto's integration ecosystem, and applying agentic AI techniques to developing next-generation pricing models.”
Magma Aviation unveils customised CMS for air cargo
Magma Aviation has launched a fully customised Cargo Management System (CMS) designed to meet the specific operational needs of the air cargo industry. This development marks the completion of the company's digital transformation strategy, focusing on modernising internal processes to enhance customer experience. The new CMS addresses the fragmentation often seen in freighter airlines, where reliance on multiple spreadsheets leads to data inconsistencies and duplicated efforts. By creating a unified environment, Magma Aviation ensures that all departments—from Commercial to Operations—operate from a single source of information, improving clarity and accuracy. Paul Hoatson, Head of Network Planning & Alliances at Magma Aviation, highlighted the system's role in internal coordination, stating, “As a customer-centric organisation, a CMS customised to our business model helps us to seamlessly coordinate internally as a team, and that it reflects the service quality we offer to our customers.” The CMS has also gained recognition from industry partners, with Forward Momentum licensing the system for third-party use. Barry Zigner, CEO of Forward Momentum, expressed pride in helping freighter companies reach their operational potential through this tailored solution. Looking ahead, Magma Aviation plans to incorporate AI and machine learning into the CMS, further enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making. This initiative sets a new standard for digital operations in the air cargo sector, aligning with the company's growth ambitions and commitment to superior customer service. ```
flydubai partners with AWS to enhance digital capabilities
flydubai has announced a strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance its digital capabilities and improve customer experiences. The partnership, revealed on 15 December, will see the Dubai-based airline leverage AWS's cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) services to drive innovation in its operations. The agreement was formalised in a signing ceremony attended by Mohammed Hareb AlMheiri, Chief Procurement & Technology Officer at flydubai, and Werner Vogels, Chief Technology Officer at Amazon. The collaboration will focus on developing and scaling digital and AI use cases across flydubai's operations, with a particular emphasis on generative AI, data analytics, and machine learning. AlMheiri highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, “This initiative marks an important milestone in flydubai’s digital evolution. Working with AWS will enable us to introduce new digital capabilities that enhance our operations and elevate how we serve our customers.” AWS will support flydubai through structured innovation engagements, aiming to accelerate the delivery of production-ready solutions that enhance operational efficiency and create greater value for customers. Vogels commented, "The aviation industry is at a pivotal moment where cloud technology, AI, and data analytics can revolutionise both operational efficiency and customer experience." This collaboration underscores flydubai’s commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies, aligning with Dubai’s vision for innovation and forward-thinking initiatives. The partnership is expected to shape a more connected future for the airline's operations, setting a new standard for customer service in the aviation industry. ```
IATA announces events slate for 2026
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced its roster of events for 2026 on Monday, 8th December. Events on the upcoming slate are all set to draw together industry and government leaders to focus on the air transport industry’s most pressing challenges. IATA senior vice-president for products and services Frederic Leger said of the schedule: “Uniquely, IATA, through our global events, assembles the most influential voices across the industry to tackle air transport’s biggest challenges and opportunities. Whether taking the next step in digitalizing cargo operations, developing a common approach to adopting more economical payment solutions, or addressing the need to unlock Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production, our events ensure that the right decision-makers are in the room to drive action.” Throughout this year, IATA events attracted more than 11,000 industry and government delegates across 16 events. Come 2026, the Association will further expand its schedule of events to 18, introducing two new events in 2026. Coming up in 2026 IATA World Maintenance & Engineering Symposium (23-25 June, Madrid, Spain) Supply chain challenges in the aerospace industry are delaying production of new aircraft and parts, a slowdown expected to cost the industry USD 11 billion in 2025. This event will spotlight these issues and potential solutions. Wings of Change Middle East & North Africa (8-9 September, Manama, Bahrain) The region remains one of the fastest-growing markets globally. With rapid growth, evolving passenger expectations, and increasing pressure to decarbonize, this event will bring airline and government leaders together from across the region. Global symposia in 2026 World Cargo Symposium (10-12 March, Lima, Peru): This is one of IATA’s largest conferences, with more than 1,900 attendees. The symposium will focus on digitalization, sustainability, and safety/security as key issues for the global air cargo industry as it adapts to unfolding geopolitical shifts. World Data Symposium (8-9 April, Singapore): Now in its second year, this event was launched in response to air transport’s growing reliance on data and technology. Emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, process automation, and robotics in aviation as well as topics related to cybersecurity, policy, and global collaboration will also be on the agenda. World Safety and Operations Conference (6-8 October, Istanbul, Türkiye): Returning to Europe in 2026, the event will focus on further safety improvements amid emerging risks such as the proliferation of lithium batteries carried by travelers and GNSS interference near conflict zones. World Sustainability Symposium (October, Brussels, Belgium): This event will bring together leaders from aviation, energy, finance, and policy to advance the industry’s commitment to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Key topics will include financing the energy transition, SAF production, and addressing policy developments. World Passenger Symposium (Q4 2026, TBC): Discussions will center on how digital identity is reshaping airline customer service and business operations. World Financial Symposium (Q4 2026, TBC): Aviation is on the cusp of a major financial transformation with new retail models and disruptive payment technologies. This event offers an opportunity to assess these changes and learn from innovators at the cutting edge.
‘The agency is evolving’: IBS Software VP on the digital transformation of APAC travel
In last decade, the centre of gravity for aviation has clearly moved East. Economies in Asia Pacific have outpaced global GDP and aviation has both enabled that growth and benefited from it. IBS Software has helped airlines like the Emirates, Thai Airways, and China Airlines modernise their technology backbone so they can compete in a much more digital and data-driven marketplace. On the other hand, IBS SaaS platform helps hotel and cruise brands bring their distribution, pricing and operations together so they can grow direct relationships and reduce leakage through fragmented legacy systems. Travel Daily Media connected with Gautam Shekar, Senior Vice President and Head of the Asia Pacific region, IBS Software, to know about growth, tech-trends and more… Travel Daily Media (TDM): Can you share the growth story of IBS Software? Where did you start from and where are you now as a company? What is your impact and growth in Asia? Gautam Shekar (GS): IBS Software was born inside aviation and has grown into a global SaaS partner for the entire travel ecosystem. In a little over twenty-five years, we have evolved from an airline-focused technology player to a cloud-first platform that supports airlines, airports, hotels, cruise lines and tour operators across more than forty countries. Our teams now span seventeen offices and over five thousand people, and they work with some of the world’s most recognisable travel brands.” Asia Pacific has become the engine of global aviation, and our own growth has followed that shift. IATA’s latest figures show that Asia Pacific carriers now account for roughly a third of global passenger traffic and delivered more than five percent year-on-year passenger growth in September 2025, with some of the strongest load factors in the world. Intra-Asia journeys grew close to ten percent, led by markets like China and Japan. That is the backdrop for our expansion and for the long-term partnerships we have built with carriers across India, China, Southeast Asia, North Asia and the Middle East. If you look at the last decade, the centre of gravity for aviation has clearly moved East. Economies in Asia Pacific have outpaced global GDP and aviation has both enabled that growth and benefited from it. We have mirrored that journey by investing in the region and by helping airlines including Emirates, Thai Airways, and China Airlines modernise their technology backbone so they can compete in a much more digital and data-driven marketplace. TDM: What are the main benefits of cutting-edge SaaS technology in the travel industry? How have you helped script the digital revolution of the travel industry in Asia? GS: Many airlines are still constrained by technology that was built for a different world. It is costly to run and painfully slow to change. Modern SaaS platforms give them something very different. They provide flexibility, lower ownership costs and tight integration with a wider ecosystem, so airlines can respond quickly to what travellers want instead of waiting for big, risky upgrades. Today’s traveller shops on platforms like Amazon and books mobility on apps like Uber, then turns to an airline website that still behaves like a static catalogue. That gap is not sustainable. Cloud-native, API-first SaaS gives airlines the tools to behave more like modern retailers, with real-time offers, dynamic pricing and far more relevant ancillaries. At an industry level, this is not just an IT refresh. Studies with IATA and McKinsey suggest that better retailing techniques could unlock tens of billions of dollars in additional value for airlines by 2030. SaaS is the practical way to reach that opportunity because it lets carriers move from rigid legacy stacks to open, intelligent retail platforms without disrupting day-to-day operations. Our role has been to modernise that backbone with modular, cloud-native and AI-first platforms that help airlines improve profitability on one side and deliver more personalised journeys on the other. Those are the two levers that will define the next decade of growth in this region. IATA data shows Asia Pacific leading global traffic growth with strong load factors and rising intra-regional demand. That creates both opportunity and risk. Carriers that embrace digital retailing and modern operations will capture loyalty and yield. Those that stay tied to monolithic systems will find it harder to compete. We are working with airlines across the region to make sure they land on the right side of that divide. TDM: There are many benefits of selling corporate, group or multigenerational travel. How can your technology help turn group Holidays into Airline Retail Opportunities? GS: Group and multigenerational trips have historically been treated as a single file sitting in a PNR (Passenger Name Record). With modern retailing, that same booking becomes a canvas for individual engagement. Airlines can understand who is travelling together, personalise offers for each person in the group and surface relevant ancillaries that suit a family, a sports club or a corporate team. That changes group travel from a volume play into a genuine retail opportunity. When airlines have the right data foundation, AI can help them build tailored bundles around a group journey. The platform can suggest seat layouts, bags, meals, insurance, airport services and ground options that make sense for each traveller, rather than one-size-fits-all packages. That creates more convenience for customers and more diversified revenue for the airline. TDM: How do you help travel facilitators grow their business in an increasingly digital and AI-enabled world? GS: We treat AI as a core design principle, not as a buzzword. It helps our teams write, test and deploy code more efficiently, and it shows up in the products our customers use. For travel facilitators, that means smarter servicing, faster decision-making and far richer personalisation at every customer touchpoint. On the front line, generative AI can transform customer service. It can understand intent, surface the right policy or booking information and resolve common requests without long wait times. In the background, machine learning optimises pricing and bundling, so the right offer reaches the right traveller with less manual intervention. That combination improves the experience and lowers the cost to serve. For intermediaries, the real power of AI is that it keeps learning. Every interaction refines pricing models, merchandising strategies and service flows. Over the next five to ten years, we expect step changes in how travel is sold, from far more predictive shopping right through to proactive disruption management. TDM: What are your offerings for the Airline industry that would help provide a differentiated customer experience? GS: On the commercial side, our retail and reservations platform, iRetail, powers the full journey from shopping through to booking and fulfilment. It lets airlines move away from static fares and fixed ancillaries towards offers that reflect real-time context and the traveller’s profile. Our loyalty platform, iLoyal, then builds on that by recognising each customer as an individual. It lets airlines use data about preferences, behaviour and status to shape every interaction. That might show up as tailored seat options, curated benefits or pricing that reflects a long-term relationship. These touches create stickiness, and stickiness is what ultimately strengthens profitability. The industry conversation is shifting towards offers and orders and away from traditional ticketing concepts. We are deeply involved in that change. By aligning with IATA’s Modern Airline Retailing vision and frameworks like ONE Order, we help airlines streamline delivery whilst keeping the focus squarely on customer centricity. TDM: What do you have for the hospitality sector and cruises to improve their revenue and market share? GS: Hotel groups and cruise lines are facing the same customer expectations as airlines. Guests want simple booking flows, personalised stays and frictionless servicing across channels. Our SaaS platform helps these brands bring their distribution, pricing and operations together so they can grow direct relationships and reduce leakage through fragmented legacy systems. By unifying data across stays, voyages and ancillary services, we help hospitality and cruise operators identify their most valuable guests and design experiences that keep them coming back. That might mean smarter packaging, better loyalty mechanics or more accurate demand forecasting. The outcome is the same. Higher revenue quality and stronger competitive positioning. TDM: What has business been like for you in 2025? What’s new, especially in terms of AI for 2026? GS: From a market perspective, 2025 has been strong. IATA’s latest numbers show global passenger demand up by more than three per cent compared to last year, with Asia Pacific again outpacing the rest of the world in both growth and load factors. That recovery in demand has gone hand in hand with a renewed focus on modernisation, and we have continued to grow with our customers across the region. Looking ahead to 2026, we expect airlines to accelerate their move away from monolithic legacy stacks toward cloud-native, AI-powered retail and operations platforms. The industry is already talking less about simple digital enablement and more about true digital retail. Our roadmap reflects that, with investments in generative AI, decision intelligence and agentic workflows that help airlines act with far more speed and precision. TDM: Where do you all have offices in Asia? Why should youngsters think of joining IBS Software? What proclivity would you look for in new team members? GS: We support customers across all the major aviation markets in the Asia Pacific. Our model is not tied to one or two flagship offices. Instead, we place teams and capabilities where our airline, airport and travel partners need us. As the region continues to grow, you will see our footprint and our collaborations deepen across multiple hubs. For young professionals, IBS Software offers the chance to work at the intersection of two dynamic worlds: advanced technology and fast-growing travel markets. Asia Pacific is forecast to remain the largest aviation region in terms of future aircraft deliveries and traffic growth, and we are one of the companies building the digital infrastructure that will support that future. It is a space with a real runway for learning and impact. The people who thrive at IBS Software tend to share three qualities in spirit, even if they express them in different ways. They are curious about both the industry and the technology that drives it. They care about raising the bar on what they deliver. They value a collaborative culture that connects colleagues across geographies and backgrounds. Those traits matter more to us than any single line on a CV.
Expedia hires Google’s AI powerhouse to reshape travel’s future with bold new vision
Expedia Group has appointed Xavier Amatriain as its first chief artificial intelligence (AI) and data officer, underscoring the company’s push to position itself at the forefront of next-generation travel technology. Amatriain previously served as Google’s VP of AI and compute enablement, bringing deep expertise in machine learning, data infrastructure and agentic systems. In his new role, Amatriain will oversee Expedia’s long-term AI and machine-learning strategy while coordinating with product, B2B, marketing, finance and strategic-partnership divisions across the organisation. Amatriain said the travel sector is entering a pivotal phase shaped by “generative, agentic and truly adaptive technologies” capable of transforming how people plan, book and experience travel. “We’re creating seamless end-to-end travel experiences, and no company is better positioned than Expedia Group to lead this next wave,” he said, adding that the aim is a future in which travel becomes more intelligent, intuitive and deeply personalised. The move comes at a time when AI adoption in the travel industry is accelerating, driven by rising consumer expectations, operational efficiencies and new opportunities in predictive analytics and dynamic content generation. Expedia Group’s appointment reflects a broader trend as travel companies elevate AI expertise into senior leadership roles. In September, Skyscanner promoted chief product officer Piero Sierra to chief AI officer, a move he described as a commitment to “curiosity, learning and making travel more personal, intuitive and inspiring.” As competition intensifies, these leadership changes signal a wider shift: AI is no longer an add-on but a core driver of strategy, product design and traveller engagement.
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