LAS VEGAS -- Last year, Expedia Group chief technology officer Rathi Murthy was planning a reunion trip with friends. She described a "tangled web" of emails, WhatsApp and text as a "nightmare." She said she needed a travel agent, a concierge and a personal assistant.
On Tuesday, Expedia unveiled a new AI assistant, Romie, that Murthy said would be all of those things for travelers. Romie's name references helping travelers "roam" the world. Expedia unveiled Romie during its Explore partner conference at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Right now, Romie's alpha version is available on Expedia's digital space to test new technology, EG Labs. Expedia has not set a launch date.
Romie is a planning, shopping and booking assistant that can also assist travelers deal with unexpected changes, like storms that might impact their ability to participate in outdoor activities. Romie suggests indoor alternatives.
Among Romie's features is the ability to join SMS group chats. The assistant listens in, offers advice when asked, summarizes the chat and can move the details directly into Expedia's shopping experience.
Romie also gets smarter the more it's used, Murthy said. It could, for instance, note a traveler's preference for boutique hotels, Italian food and traveling with their dog.
"The possibilities with Romie are endless, and with each interaction, Romie is learning -- remembering and understanding you better," she said.
Romie also helps build itineraries and can pull information from emails as well as suggest activities and restaurants nearby a traveler's accommodations.
The assistant monitors things like weather disruptions and keeps alternative suggestions ready for travelers. The itinerary is updated in real time and can be shared with friends and family outside the travel group -- ideal for a traveler's ride home from the airport.
Content creator Oneika Raymond’s hotel collections on her Travel Shop. Photo Credit: Expedia Group
An app for travel influencers
Influencers now have a place to house their favorite travel recommendations to consumers.
On stage at Explore, Lauri Metrose, senior vice president of global communications, said, "Influencers are the new class of travel agents, but they lack the right tools." Travel Shops, she said, solves that problem.
Travel Shops, which debuted Tuesday, enables content creators to house their recommendations in a digital storefront, and in turn earn commission on anything booked.
Expedia said Travel Shops saves consumers from having to scroll through an influencer's social media looking for past recommendations.
"We saw an opportunity to reinvent how consumers interact with travel content on social media platforms," Expedia Group CMO Jochen Koedijk said in a release. "Travel Shops are a first-of-its-kind travel platform that bridges the gap between content creators and travelers, creating a central hub for curated travel recommendations and a seamless shopping experience."