AI transformation in travel: Carsten Bernhard of eDreams Odigeo

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What It Says

In an interview with PhocusWire, Carsten Bernhard, Chief Technology Officer of online travel agency (OTA) eDreams Odigeo, discusses how rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are reshaping travel operations. The company has actively integrated AI across its platform, recently launching a proprietary AI trip planner alongside a dedicated ChatGPT application to enhance the booking and travel planning experience.

Why It Matters

For the short-term rental (STR) sector, the rapid adoption of AI by major OTAs like eDreams Odigeo signals a shift in traveler expectations. Consumers are increasingly expecting highly personalized, conversational, and automated planning tools. STR operators and technology vendors must understand these shifting interfaces to remain competitive in search, discovery, and guest communication.

Useful Signals

Proprietary AI Trip Planner: eDreams Odigeo is building its own AI tools rather than relying solely on third-party platforms, showing a trend toward customized, brand-specific AI solutions.
ChatGPT Integration: The launch of a dedicated ChatGPT app highlights how travel brands are leveraging external LLM ecosystems to capture top-of-funnel travel intent.
Operational Transformation: AI is being utilized to optimize both customer-facing interfaces and internal business processes.

STR Tech Report Take

As large OTAs invest heavily in agentic AI and conversational trip planners, STR technology vendors should prepare for a future where booking inquiries and search queries are mediated by AI agents. Property management systems (PMS) and guest communication tools will need to offer similar levels of automated, intelligent responsiveness to match the seamless experience travelers are beginning to experience on major booking platforms.

Original Source

PhocusWire: AI transformation in travel: Carsten Bernhard of eDreams Odigeo