Getting AI to Notice You Is Just Half the Travel Battle
Travel is more accessible than ever, but algorithms still shape who sees the best options—and who gets left behind.
Travel has become more accessible, yet algorithms still struggle to convince travelers to explore new destinations. Avelo Airlines, a company focusing on secondary airports in major cities, aims to make flying more affordable and convenient. However, the challenge lies in getting these algorithms to recognize and promote their services.
Founder and CEO Andrew Levy explains that if the algorithm doesn't know about these airports, people won't find them. Avelo operates in cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia, among others. Once travelers choose Avelo, they often save money and time, encouraging further travel. Google's search and recommendation algorithms can help, but for an airline outside the traditional system, getting discovered is difficult.
Research by R&R Partners reveals that 54% of travelers prioritize the experience of "deep travel," which involves cultural immersion and transformative experiences. This transformative aspect of travel can lead to habit formation, with travelers returning for more experiences. Levy suggests that travelers could benefit from more nuanced answers from AI, while R&R's approach uses AI to engage travelers in detailed conversations about their preferences.
However, Levy warns that overly personalized AI could limit our exposure to new experiences, potentially keeping us within our comfort zones. The real challenge lies not in getting AI to recommend trips, but in enticing it to surprise us with new destinations, thus expanding our horizons rather than just making our usual choices easier.
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