TripAdvisor now uses AI to summarize a large number of user hotel reviews on its site and provide customized travel suggestions based on your favorite amenities or features.
This differs from TripAdvisor’s typical aggregation by using AI to validate personal preferences with specific details about the hotel. The still-in-beta system lets you specify a destination, dates and the type of experience you’re looking for, and TripAdvisor will plan a full day itinerary with suggested hotels.
Let’s travel the AI way
I tried this out by planning a trip to Spokane, WA. I was looking for a hotel that was central to all the major attractions, yet close to outdoor activities. TripAdvisor was able to provide details, such as which hotels had better windows or air conditioning, based on the time of year I would be traveling.
It was also able to use text field options to determine what types of food were available within a half-mile walk. As a foodie, I find that such an incredible detail, especially since I tend to travel with friends who have celiac disease or other dietary restrictions.
Knowing that this hotel review works for smaller cities like Spokane, I was curious to see how it would work in a larger city with an abundance of options.
Let’s try this with a staycation in Manhattan! I told the AI I didn’t like fluorescent lighting. Admittedly a very strange request for a hotel, but TripAdvisor’s AI was able to find reviews that focused on lighting.
Knowing Manhattan prices, the options given were quite exorbitant for my budget. I asked for hotels under $300 a night. It yielded hotels at an average price of $230 per night. Overall, the tool seems responsive to feedback.
The AI was able to narrow my search to more affordable places that still had access to some of the attractions I wanted to see, like Lincoln Center or Central Park West.
While this is great for simple, cursory searches, I personally would like to have more control over my results. For example, I would like to see more than three options for hotels.
Overall, this seems like a decent addition to TripAdvisor’s growing suite of AI-powered features.