“It’s no secret people are getting their news, inspiration and travel ideas from influencers and content creators, with a recent study showing that 80% of millennials rely on social media for travel decisions,” said Expedia Group’s chief marketing officer Jochen Koedijk. “We want to be where consumers get their inspiration, which is through social media. Now with Expedia Trip Matching, travellers can seamlessly build an itinerary based on reels found on Instagram and book it directly on Expedia.”
When a user spots a video they like (a destination or an experience), they simply share it with the Expedia account on Instagram via the share icon. Expedia’s artificial intelligence analyses the video and quickly responds with a personalised itinerary, suggested holidays and tailored advice. All that’s left is to book, in just a few clicks, directly from the recommendations received. A fluid and intuitive way to go from dream to departure.
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After launching “Travel Shops” in May 2024, with 100 initial travel influencer boutiques, by September Expedia had doubled down. These shops are unique showcases that allow creators to share and save their travel recommendations on the Expedia application. The flagship shops are part of an exclusive wave of invitation-only travel shops ahead of their open access launch next year.
“Every day, people are liking and buying products recommended by influencers they trust, but until now there hasn’t been a simple way to shop travel recommendations. Travellers are already getting inspiration through Instagram and Tiktok, so creating a path to go from looking to booking is a natural evolution that meets travellers where they’re at,” Expedia Group senior vice president of global communications Lauri Metrose commented in September.
Expedia is not alone in exploring new avenues in personalised travel. Other companies are offering innovative solutions to meet the expectations of modern travellers, such as:
is a platform that connects solo travellers who want to share their travel itineraries and expenses. With an active community in over 190 countries, GAFFL makes collaborative travel planning easy, allowing users to find fellow travellers with similar interests.
organises trips in small groups, primarily targeting young adults aged 18 to 35. In 2024, the company saw significant growth, with over 75,000 travellers, an increase of 60% on the previous year. Weroad offers unique itineraries that promote encounters and authentic experiences.
connects travellers with local agencies to create personalised itineraries. This model promotes deep cultural immersion and supports the local economy. According to a study by the World Travel & Tourism Council, 70% of funds spent via Evaneos directly benefit local businesses, compared with just 30% in traditional tourism.
is an artificial intelligence-based travel assistant accessible via Instagram, Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger. Developed by Matador Network, it uses OpenAI technology to provide personalised recommendations, itineraries and travel tips in real time, without the need to download a dedicated app.
This article was originally published in .