Gen AI over admin

We will undoubtedly see more AI woven into travel in 2026. According to Amadeus research, increasing numbers of travellers are already using generative AI for planning and booking. With major players like Expedia and Booking.com integrating tools such as ChatGPT, it's becoming easier than ever for robots to plan your holiday for you. Add real-time translation and mobile digital check-ins, and technology is quietly removing much of the admin that used to define a trip. But the rise of AI comes with complications. Sustainability experts warn that algorithmic recommendations can fuel overtourism, funnelling travellers to the same few destinations. It's also behind a growing number of travel scams, so it pays to be use these tools thoughtfully. Cultural trends specialist Jasmine Bina, CEO of Concept Bureau, says that Gen AI is shifting how our desires are expressed, but not why we travel in the first place. "You may want to travel to a resort to heal from burnout, but now instead of simply searching resorts on TikTok, you'll use ChatGPT to first figure out what specific kind of burnout you have, what rituals or sensory inputs you respond to, and which destination best mirrors your internal state," she says.