Today, HotelPlanner’s Chief Technology Officer, Bryce Fosdick, and President EMEA, Bas Lemmens, will take part in a fireside chat on the future of AI innovation in travel.

The Daily caught up with Bryce Fosdick ahead of the session for a glimpse into the key themes shaping the discussion.

Can you describe some of the main ways AI is transforming how travellers plan and book trips today?

We’re still in the early stages of AI’s impact on travel. While travellers are increasingly using AI for trip planning, inspiration, and personalised recommendations, the actual booking experience has not yet fully caught up. There’s a clear gap between planning and fulfillment—AI can build itineraries, but travellers are often left to manage the logistics themselves. To bridge that divide, our company developed the first AI voice booking agents last year, and we’re now expanding this technology to seamlessly connect research, planning, and booking across multiple channels.

How is AI changing traveller expectations, and how can the tourism industry adapt?

Most travellers haven’t yet formed concrete expectations around AI because they don’t fully understand its capabilities or limitations. That creates a unique opportunity for industry leaders to shape the future of travel through innovation and education. For tourism companies, early adoption and experimentation are key. Those who embrace AI now—rather than waiting for mainstream adoption—will set the standard for what consumers come to expect in the years ahead.

“This is one of the most exciting times in the history of travel innovation.”

What are your predictions for the near future, and how can the industry prepare?

AI innovation is advancing at a pace most outside the field can’t fully appreciate. While many consumers use tools like ChatGPT casually, they’re unaware of how rapidly the underlying technology is evolving. The travel industry is entering a transformative era—similar to the shift from traditional travel agents to online booking 25 years ago.

Companies that are only starting to prepare are already behind. The most successful teams will be those fully immersed in the AI ecosystem, continuously adapting as the technology evolves. In this space, what was cutting-edge three months ago may already be obsolete today.

Who should attend your conference session at ITB Asia 2025 today?

This session is for anyone eager to hear from practitioners—not theorists—who are actively applying AI to drive measurable business results. At our company, AI isn’t just a buzzword; it’s embedded in our core operations.

As one of the world’s largest AI consumers in the cloud and among the few executing real-time transactional business through AI, we’ll share how we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in travel technology, along with a preview of our next major innovations.

What do you hope attendees will take away from the session?

While the rapid pace of AI change can feel intimidating, I hope attendees leave the session inspired and energised. This is one of the most exciting times in the history of travel innovation. The opportunity to rethink, rebuild, and revolutionise how the world travels has never been greater.