We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI – that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler’s behalf. It acts like an agent – but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves?

On this episode, McKinsey and Co.’s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel and where the technology could lead us. 

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 24 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links

Agentic AI turns searches into sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales

Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode

We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI &ndash; that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler&rsquo;s behalf. It acts like an agent &ndash; but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves?
On this episode, McKinsey and Co.&rsquo;s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel and where the technology could lead us.&nbsp;
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways <a href="https://www.amawaterways.com">https://www.amawaterways.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 24 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links
Agentic AI turns searches into sales <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales</a>
Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode</a>

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

How agentic AI could change travel. Is it a threat? -- a Winter Series episode

This week we’re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra-big, ultra-luxurious cruise ship suites.

With luxury advisor Carlos Edery and cruise editor Teri West, we look at what these top suites look like and what amenities they come with. Who are the customers and what do they want in a vacation? Is there a challenge of keeping up with guest expectations? And, of course, what might come next. 

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 3 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links: 

Focus on Cruise cover story: The megasuite is bigger than ever https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever

Regent Seven Seas Prestige suite will reach for new levels of opulence https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige

From the archives: A look at luxury accommodations at sea (August 2005) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations

Luxury Cruise Connections https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/

CruiseWorld: https://www.cruiseworldshow.com

This week we&rsquo;re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises&rsquo; upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra-big, ultra-luxurious cruise ship suites.
With luxury advisor Carlos Edery and cruise editor Teri West, we look at what these top suites look like and what amenities they come with. Who are the customers and what do they want in a vacation? Is there a challenge of keeping up with guest expectations? And, of course, what might come next.&nbsp;
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways <a href="https://www.amawaterways.com">https://www.amawaterways.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 3 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links:&nbsp;
Focus on Cruise cover story: The megasuite is bigger than ever <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever</a>
Regent Seven Seas Prestige suite will reach for new levels of opulence <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige</a>
From the archives: A look at luxury accommodations at sea (August 2005) <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations</a>
Luxury Cruise Connections <a href="https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/">https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/</a>
CruiseWorld: <a href="https://www.cruiseworldevent.com">https://www.cruiseworldshow.com</a>

How cruising's top suites got so opulent -- a Winter Series episode

This week we’re talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on – that’s what a DMC can provide. DMCs aren’t new, but a recent story by Jamie Biesiada talked about why they’re suddenly on everyone’s must-have list.

In this episode with Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, we talk about why advisors and clients are hyping DMCs, the pitfalls and the critical need to vet your in-destination partner and what’s next for DMCs, tour operators and advisors.

We hope you enjoy this peek into travel planning – and advisors, let us know what you think of your top DMCs.

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links: 

Jamie Biesiada's cover story: DMCs help bring the wow factor https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow

 

 

This week we&rsquo;re talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on &ndash; that&rsquo;s what a DMC can provide. DMCs aren&rsquo;t new, but a recent story by Jamie Biesiada talked about why they&rsquo;re suddenly on everyone&rsquo;s must-have list.
In this episode with Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, we talk about why advisors and clients are hyping DMCs, the pitfalls and the critical need to vet your in-destination partner and what&rsquo;s next for DMCs, tour operators and advisors.
We hope you enjoy this peek into travel planning &ndash; and advisors, let us know what you think of your top DMCs.
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com">https://www.globusandcosmos.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links:&nbsp;
Jamie Biesiada's cover story: DMCs help bring the wow factor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow</a>
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&nbsp;

The travel advisor's travel-planning source -- a Winter Series episode

We look back at the first quarter-century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the travel business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and business decisions that portended major shifts to come. In this episode, our top editors unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what’s happening in travel today. 

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links: 

The 25 years that changed travel https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years

We look back at the first quarter-century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the travel business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and business decisions that portended major shifts to come. In this episode, our top editors unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what&rsquo;s happening in travel today.&nbsp;
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com">https://www.globusandcosmos.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links: 
The 25 years that changed travel <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years">https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years</a>

How agentic AI could change travel. Is it a threat? -- a Winter Series episode

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