HOW AND WHY CANADIAN TRAVELLERS ARE USING AI
- Canadian travellers appear to be embracing the role of artificial intelligence in the travel planning process, according to a new survey by Booking.com. The Global AI Sentiment Report reveals that nearly eight in 10 Canadians (78%) want to use AI in their future travel plans; however, only 4% fully trust it.
NEW EXPEDIA TAAP TOOLS EMPOWER AGENTS
- Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) has launched several new platform enhancements designed to help travel advisors work more efficiently and better serve their clients. Shaped directly by feedback from travel advisors around the world, TAAP says the updates provide powerful tools that simplify trip management, expand payment flexibility, and offer new ways to increase revenue.
CONSUMERS LACK TRAVEL INDUSTRY TRUST FOR I.D. PROTECTION
- Digital identity protection may be taking a more prominent spot on the packing checklist with nearly half of global consumers (44%) lacking confidence in the travel industry's ability to protect them from AI-powered fraud including identity theft and account takeover fraud, according to a recent study.
SMART TRAVEL WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE: How to avert swipe-and-run phone-snatching trend
- If you haven’t heard, smartphone snatching is a thing. A friend of TIT recently had hers snatched out of her hand while walking down a busy sidewalk in a major European city, describing two young people hopping a curb on a scooter in broad daylight and absconding with the device in a lightning quick drive-by strike.
SETTLING IN WITH AI: And how it’s transforming Canada’s travel industry
- By Suzanne Sangiovese/ AI is no longer just an emerging trend in travel – it’s a driving force behind smarter, more seamless experiences. It’s proving valuable in destination research and itinerary optimization, as well as transforming how businesses and travellers engage with services. From tailored trip planning to streamlined customer support, intelligent solutions are redefining how the industry operates and meets diverse travel needs.
SKYROUTE, FARENEXUS INTRODUCE NEW NEXT-GEN BOOKING PLATFORM
- Toronto-based Skyroute Travel Group has partnered with travel technology provider Farenexus Group to launch NetFaresHub, a next-generation, intelligent booking platform designed to empower travel agencies across the Canadian market.
THE REEL THING: Expedia converts social media into bookable travel
- Expedia Trip Matching is a new first-of-its-kind feature that allows travellers to seamlessly build an itinerary based on reels found on Instagram and then book directly on Expedia. Travellers can share any publicly available travel-related reel – whether from content creators they follow or trending posts – directly with Expedia and receive customized itineraries, destination ideas, and travel tips based on the video.
TRAVEL’S TROUBLE WITH BAD BOTS
- A new report says automated bot traffic surpassed human-generated traffic for the first time in a decade, constituting 51% of all web traffic in 2024. And while some bot traffic is from good bots, bad bots can have a huge negative impact on a website or application. And that’s bad news for the travel industry, which saw API-directed attacks surge to 44% of advanced bot traffic, with the travel sector topping the list for bot attacks overall.
WILL AI REPLACE CORPORATE TRAVEL MANAGERS?
- A new Corporate Traveller (CT) survey conducted by YouGov reveals that while 75% of small and mid-market enterprises (SMEs) are adopting artificial tools for travel management, only one in six fully trust it. But while the trust gap poses a challenge for corporate travel managers, CT warns that with AI adoption accelerating, early adopters could gain a competitive edge – while skeptics risk falling behind.
EMMA IN GERMANY: Meet the new face of German tourism
- The German National Tourist Board’s (GNTB) inaugural AI influencer project utilizes artificial intelligence to promote Germany as a travel destination on an international scale. With the launch of ‘Emma’ – an AI-generated influencer – the GNTB has created an interactive brand ambassador designed to virtually inspire potential travellers to visit the European country.
CATSA TESTS NEW, FASTER SCREENING LINE
- The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is trialling a new customized screening line, designed so that airports with limited space can employ advanced technology and equipment while speeding passenger checks. Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) is the first airport in Canada to trial the new line.
DIGITAL DIGEST: Turning travellers into storytellers
- Stunning vacation photos and engaging videos — User Generated Content (UGC) is marketing gold. It’s authentic, shareable, and helps creates a vibrant community of passionate advocates who inspire others to travel. Moreover, it’s exactly what today’s traveller craves. Here’s how it can help your business.
DIGITAL DIGEST: TikTok travel trends for 2025
- Despite its uncertain status in the US, TikTok continues to shape travel trends, providing travel sellers a golden opportunity to captivate new audiences and ignite interest. Through vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and immersive experiences, travel is perfectly positioned to shine on this fast-growing platform.
KIA ORA: Pack your computer and your jandals, New Zealand welcomes digital nomads
- New Zealand has relaxed visa requirements for remote workers in a bid to attract more ‘digital nomads’ skilled workers who given an internet connection can work from anywhere on the planet.
THE BENEFITS, AND RISKS, OF AI TRAVEL PLANNING
- With artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly playing a role in trip planning, it only follows that the technology is also increasingly subject to misuse and as a source of scams.
THE HIDDEN DANGERS – AND TOP MISTAKES – OF DIY ONLINE BOOKINGS
- One in three Canadians make errors when planning trips online, according to a new survey commissioned by Flight Centre Canada. Moreover, the research reveals that critical errors made are costing travellers thousands of dollars.
TRAVEL’S TIPPING POINT: Travelport examines state of modern retailing
- Simplicity, transparency, and trust are the three things travel consumers want from their travel retailers, according to new research from Travelport in its just-released 2025 State of Modern Retailing Report, which, combined with cross-industry insights, highlights key trends the global technology company says will transform the travel industry in 2025.
WHAT DOES CHAT GPT SAY ABOUT TRAVEL ADVISORS?
- It’s not news that artificial intelligence is all the rage and that the travel industry – including many travel agents – have begun embracing the new technology for a range of tasks, from business planning and promotion to curating ideal itineraries for clients. So, what, we wondered, does AI actually think of travel advisors?
BYE-BYE BOARDING PASSES?
- The chief executive of start-up Riyadh Air, which will take flight this summer, says that boarding passes – both paper and digital – will likely disappear withing five years, to be replaced by biometric scans for passengers.
AI – WHERE IT’S GOING IN 2025
- If 2023 was a year of wonder about artificial intelligence, 2024 was the year to try to get that wonder to do something useful without breaking the bank. So, what’s in store for AI in the year to come?
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