The Future of Travel Tech: Key Trends Shaping 2025
- 16 Apr 2025
- Stephen Baxendale
The travel industry’s transformation is moving at a rapid pace. Technology is playing a key role in how businesses and travellers connect, and 2025 is shaping up to be another year of breakthroughs. One standout development was the launch of DeepSeek in February, an AI chatbot that quickly became one of the world’s best-known, largely because of its origin and much lower development costs compared to competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
AI, automation, and personalisation aren’t just buzzwords anymore, they’re essential to efficient travel experiences. From AI-driven booking assistants to real-time sustainability tracking, travel technology is reshaping the journey at every stage. But with innovation comes caution: AI fatigue is rising as automation, chatbots, and decision tools become overwhelming, while Large Language Models (LLM) hallucinations, where AI confidently delivers inaccurate info, continue to be a concern. With tighter regulation on the horizon, businesses need to balance innovation with trust, ensuring AI adds value without compromising accuracy or confidence.
AI-Driven Travel Assistants
AI-powered assistants are no longer just handling simple queries, they’re managing bookings, rebooking disrupted trips, and offering tailored recommendations in real time. Enterprise-level AI systems are driving these changes, integrating seamlessly with travel platforms. These assistants ensure compliance while lightening the load for travel consultants.
Hyper-Personalisation
AI is delivering highly personalised travel experiences, from custom itineraries to tailored hotel room settings. By analysing past behaviour, preferences, and even weather conditions, companies can suggest optimised travel plans, improving both traveller satisfaction and business efficiency.
Seamless Payments & Digital Wallets
Contactless payments and digital wallets are making travel expense management more efficient than ever. Corporate travellers benefit from automated tracking, while suppliers are rolling out frictionless payment options. Soon, we’ll see “invisible payments” where transactions happen in the background, making the entire experience smoother.
This shift extends beyond business travel, with new FinTech providers challenging traditional banks. A great example of this is Boodil, who are transforming payments in the leisure travel sector with open banking technology. Their platform allows businesses to collect payments through secure SMS, email, or QR codes, cutting fees by up to 85% and eliminating chargebacks, all while speeding up settlements and improving cash flow.
Sustainability & Carbon Tracking
ESG priorities are becoming central to travel tech, with carbon tracking tools now embedded in booking platforms. This enables travellers and businesses to make data-driven decisions that minimise environmental impact. Whether that’s opting for low-emission flights, sustainable hotels, or greener ground transport. AI is also optimising flight paths and fuel efficiency, making sustainability easier to act on.
Smart Airports & Biometrics
The future of airport security and check-ins is biometric-driven. Facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and digital passports are streamlining processes, reducing queues, and enhancing security. Major airports are investing heavily in AI-powered screening and self-service kiosks, making the journey from check-in to boarding quicker and smoother.
We are committed to building a strong technology partnership ecosystem that enhances our members’ operational efficiency, customer experience, and revenue generation. By prioritising high-value, innovative collaborations, we ensure our members have access to the best tools and solutions in the industry.
A key pillar of our strategy is providing members with scalable, best-in-class technology from both established providers and emerging innovators. These solutions help streamline operations, from booking and back-office functions to data management and duty-of-care, allowing businesses to automate processes and boost productivity. In addition, we focus on partnerships that enhance the traveller experience, ensuring a seamless journey from initial enquiry to post-travel support, ultimately driving client satisfaction and retention.
Beyond technology, we leverage our partnerships to secure exclusive pricing and commercial terms that are unavailable on the open market. This enables our members to offer competitive rates and deliver greater value to their clients, strengthening their overall proposition. By combining cutting-edge technology with strategic partnerships, we empower our members to stay ahead in an ever-evolving travel landscape.
