Artificial Intelligence in Tourism: AI Voicebots Conquer the Industry
Artificial Intelligence in Tourism: How AI Voicebots are Transforming the Tourism Industry
In the era of digitalization and rapid technological development, the tourism industry is undergoing dynamic changes. One of the latest trends gaining increasing popularity is the use of voicebots – intelligent voice assistants. These advanced tools, based on artificial intelligence and natural language processing, offer a new perspective on how travel companies communicate with their customers. It is predicted that by 2026, the value of the artificial intelligence market in the tourism and hospitality industry will exceed $1.2 billion, growing at an average annual rate of 9.7%. Below, we will examine how voicebots contribute to improving the quality of services in the tourism industry.
Increasing Customer Service Accessibility
First and foremost, voicebots are reliable, never get sick, and don’t take vacations – they are available 24 hours a day, meaning customers can get help at any time, regardless of the time zone. Thanks to technologies like automatic speech recognition (ASR), voicebots can understand and handle complex user queries, such as travel date preferences or destination choices. In the tourism industry, where bookings and inquiries can come at any time, this is extremely important. Customers can get immediate answers to questions about reservations, availability, changes in travel plans, or cancellation policies.
Automation in Tourism: From Reservations to Payments
Voicebots also serve as excellent guides. They assist customers throughout the booking process, from selecting appropriate travel options, booking tickets, to making payments over the phone or online. Integration with payment and reservation systems allows for quick and seamless transaction completion. This saves customers time, allowing travel companies to focus on more complex tasks.
The Shorter the Wait, the Better
That’s not the end of the good news. Voicebots in contact centers also offer high efficiency, quality service, and excellent customer experiences, even during seasonal traffic fluctuations – from tenfold increases during peak holiday seasons to minimal traffic in autumn. As support, AI bots can hold conversations in various languages, facilitating service for foreign tourists and communication for those who do not speak the local language. It is well known that language barriers are one of the main problems tourists face.
Virtual Tour Guides
AI voicebots can act as virtual tour guides, providing tourists with detailed information about tourist attractions, weather, local events, historical sites, required COVID tests, and insurance. Integration with GPS systems allows for the search and delivery of personalized directions during travel, significantly enhancing the quality of sightseeing. By analyzing customer preferences and previous choices, AI voicebots can also provide well-curated information on tour routes, attractions, or restaurants in lodging establishments. Guests can check into the hotel, order breakfast, a taxi, or report other issues related to their stay using these solutions without needing additional apps. This makes the process more economical and increases customer loyalty to the hotel. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms allow for the personalization of offers to individual customer needs, increasing their satisfaction and loyalty.
Efficient Problem-Solving with AI Voicebots In every industry, especially tourism, quick responses to unexpected problems are a priority. AI voicebots come to the rescue here. They can handle reports of lost luggage, guide customers through the reporting process, and provide current information on search status. In case of accommodation issues, these intelligent devices can automatically categorize reports and forward them to the appropriate hotel departments. They can also suggest alternative accommodation options and keep customers informed of progress. AI voicebots also quickly inform about travel plan changes, offering alternative solutions and helping with reorganization. In crisis situations, they play an invaluable role in informing tourists about the current situation, safety considerations, and directing them to local services. Therefore, automating all these processes allows for faster responses and increases customer satisfaction.
Feedback in Tourism is Key
AI voicebots will automatically conduct satisfaction surveys after tours or stays. Collecting valuable feedback from customers allows for continuous improvement of services and better adaptation to customer needs. This technology keeps you two steps ahead, as analyzing this data significantly helps predict trends and plan future actions.
Why Invest in Voicebots? Before implementing any investment, it’s essential to consider the benefits it will bring to the organization. Remember that a virtual voice assistant primarily provides:
- Continuous customer service,
- Quick and efficient bookings,
- Reduced operational costs,
- Increased information availability,
- Elimination of language barriers,
- Personalized experiences,
- Shorter waiting times,
- Efficient problem-solving,
- Improved customer satisfaction,
- Increased competitiveness,
- Reduced stress and workload for staff.
The Future of Tourism in the Hands of Artificial Intelligence Thanks to advanced data analysis and machine learning algorithms, AI voicebots will be able to offer increasingly personalized recommendations for travel offers. The increased demand for contactless interactions, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, will lead to greater adoption of voicebots that can handle bookings, inquiries, and issues without physical interaction. Additionally, these bots are expected to be increasingly integrated with IoT devices in hotels and other tourist facilities, allowing guests to control room devices.
AI voicebots will also be able to analyze tourist traffic data and optimize tourist flow based on that information, helping manage crowds and improve tourist experiences in popular locations. Travel companies will also use voicebots for training and educating their employees, providing them with up-to-date information, procedures, and real-time support, increasing operational efficiency and customer service quality.
Voicebots in Tourism: Examples and Benefits
Hotel Support – Marriott International
Marriott International uses voicebots to serve guests in hotels. Voicebots can answer questions about room availability, reservations, hotel services, and even help order room service or spa reservations. Integration with voice systems like Amazon Alexa allows guests to interact using voice commands.
Virtual Guide – Berlin Tourism & Congress GmbH
Berlin Tourism & Congress GmbH introduced a voicebot that acts as a virtual tour guide. Tourists can ask questions about tourist attractions, restaurants, cultural events, and other city information. The voicebot provides personalized recommendations based on user preferences.
Customer Service – British Airways
British Airways uses voicebots for customer service, helping with reservations, check-ins, and changes in travel plans. Voicebots answer frequently asked questions and help passengers quickly get the information they need, significantly streamlining the customer service process.
Crisis Management – Traveloka
Traveloka, a popular booking platform in Southeast Asia, uses voicebots to manage crisis situations such as canceled flights, booking changes, or accommodation issues. Voicebots provide immediate information and support, helping customers reorganize travel plans and minimize stress from unexpected changes.
EasyCall Voicebots: Quality and Satisfaction
Tourism is still a low-digitization industry compared to telecommunications, finance, banking, or e-commerce sectors. For most entities operating in it, voicebots are still an innovation. The main reason was the long-term shutdown of activities in this industry during the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, tourism has immense potential for implementing new technologies like intelligent voicebots. These solutions can particularly attract customers from Generation Z, who are accustomed to using such tools. Typically taking an average of three to four trips a year, representatives of this generation will drive this industry. Therefore, those who implement more innovative and travel-facilitating solutions have a great chance of success. “AI technology, including voicebots, is changing the landscape of tourism, enabling more personalized and efficient travel experiences. Companies that adapt these solutions faster will be the leaders of the future.” – confirms Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google.
By offering modern technological solutions, EasyCall proposes a new method of communication with customers. Our AI voicebots provide 24/7 care for travelers. Integration with booking and payment systems ensures quick and seamless processes, significantly enhancing customer experiences. Collaborating with EasyCall, an entrepreneur gains not only operational efficiency but also a competitive edge. This is a way to attract the most demanding tourists. Join the group of satisfied partners and discover how our innovative solutions can elevate the quality of your tourism services to a higher level.