Summary:
- Google updating AI Mode to plan trips, compare hotels and flights, and book.
- Partners with Marriott, Wyndham, IHG and Choice to upgrade its platform.
- Plans to allow direct flight and hotel bookings in AI Mode.
GOOGLE IS UPDATING its AI Mode in Search platform, allowing users to plan trips, compare hotels and flights, and make bookings directly. The update also adds Canvas for trip planning, an expanded Flight Deals tool and agentic booking features.
The company is already working with partners, including Booking.com, Expedia and hospitality chains, as it expands its platform, Google said in a blog post.
“Building a helpful experience for travelers requires collaboration with the industry,” wrote Julie Farago, Google’s vice president of engineering, search, in the blog. “We’re already working with partners including Booking.com, Choice Hotels International, Expedia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. We’re committed to partnering with travel companies of every size so you have all the best options."
Google plans to let users book flights and hotels directly in AI Mode, the company said. It is working with travel platforms to let users describe their needs, compare options by schedule, price, room, amenities, and reviews, and refine choices before completing bookings on their preferred platform.
Farago said that users will eventually be able to complete bookings directly in AI Mode.
“We’re working with industry partners to build an experience where you can describe what you’re looking for, compare flights or hotels and browse schedules, prices, room photos, amenities and reviews,” she said. “You’ll be able to refine your options and, once ready, complete the booking with the partner of your choice.”
Expanded features
Canvas is a workspace in AI Mode for organizing tasks and projects, Google said. When a traveler specifies a trip, a ‘Create Canvas’ button appears, with the side panel showing real-time information on flights, hotels, reviews, photos, hotel comparisons, nearby restaurants and activities. Travelers can refine their itinerary and Canvas saves it in AI Mode history for later access.
Google is expanding Flight Deals in Google Flights. Users can describe trips in natural language instead of entering dates or destinations and the AI shows matching options. Flight Deals is now available in more than 200 countries and territories, supporting more than 60 languages.
Another upgrade is agentic booking, powered by Google’s Project Mariner, the company said. When a user specifies a request, such as a dinner reservation or event tickets, AI Mode searches multiple booking platforms in real time and provides a list of options with links to complete the booking through partners like OpenTable, Resy, Ticketmaster, SeatGeek and Booksy. Restaurant booking is rolling out in the U.S., with event tickets and local appointments available to Labs users.
A recent report by data cloud firm Amperity found a gap between AI investment and operational readiness in the hospitality and airline industries. Despite this, travel professionals expect AI spending to increase or stay steady over the next year.
