Machine vision, says Utrip, TUI's chosen partner in AI, natural language processing and machine learning From being one of the first to dabble in blockchain technology to driving forward with AI-fuelled partnerships, the TUI Group is on a mission to remain a travel heavy weight. In a recent move, the world's biggest travel company has signed a deal with Seattle-based AI firm Utrip, to up its game in offering a deeply personalised experience throughout the customer journey. The idea, David Schelp, managing director of TUI Destination Services (DS), said in a press release, is to combine its "inventory of unique destination experiences with Utrip's artificial intelligence solution to provide our guests with the most personalised travel planning experience available today". TUI passed on an opportunity to hop on a call to discuss the deal further, the ever enthusiastic Gilad Berenstein, CEO and co-founder of Utrip, was keen to talk about how far his company, which launched in 2012, has come. "The power of AI today is that we can match up people's preferences with the inventory that has already been curated by TUI or by any of the partners we work with," he says.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Cape Air and Utrip are launching an artificial intelligence-backed travel planning tool called Soar & Explore. Using Utrip's technology, the platform will suggest customized in-destination lodging and activity options based on traveler preferences.

Utrip is a free travel planning service that brings together the best in artificial intelligence and human experience, making it easy for travelers to create their perfect trip quickly. Here's how it works: we start with a vast travel database that has been curated by local area experts. To start planning a trip, a traveler enters their destinations and travel dates. Next they rank their travel preferences in sixteen categories, such as history, food, nightlife and budget. Utrip's powerful AI algorithm, created by machine learning scientists, sorts through millions of potential combinations of hotels, sites, activities and restaurants.