Your clients are planning with machines. Booking with bots. Asking questions your inbox never sees. But they’re still turning to you because what you offer can’t be coded. You make sense of chaos. You build trust. You listen. AI can’t replace that. But it can free you up to do more of it. Use AI to save hours, spot patterns, and strip the busywork out of your day. Then deliver what AI never will: instinct, nuance, and loyalty that lasts longer than a chatbot window.
AI has already entered your business. You’ve felt it in your inbox, in your booking engine’s search bar, in the way your calendar auto-suggests meeting times or your phone finishes your sentences. It’s not a maybe. It’s a now.
This article kicks off a practical new Karryon series designed to help agents use AI tools more effectively across every part of their business. No tech degree required.
Travel futurist Nils Vesk, speaking at ETGX 2025, called AI “augmented intelligence”, technology that strengthens, rather than replaces, human insight. According to Vesk, 65% of agencies are already using AI to save time, reduce errors, and personalise service. The trick, he says, is not to resist it. It’s to get ahead of it.
Where AI is already helping agents
Behind the scenes, AI is already powering most major platforms: fare prediction engines, dynamic pricing via NDC, chatbots in supplier apps, AI-enhanced GDS search…
If you:
- use Gmail’s auto-replies
- create marketing material in Canva
- draft itineraries or social posts with ChatGPT
- rely on a customer relationship management (CRM) tool
…you’re already using AI. You don’t need to start from scratch. You just need to start using it better.
What AI can do across the agent workflow
This series will break down how AI can support every task agents tackle each week. Here’s a preview:
Client consultation and communication
- Collect preferences via smart forms
- Transcribe and summarise calls
- Tailor tone and follow-up with precision
Trip planning
- Generate and compare itineraries
- Summarise visa or weather data
- Build multi-stop routes that actually make sense
Booking and admin
- Fill out forms faster
- Set auto-reminders and follow-ups
- Log notes directly from voice recordings
Problem solving
- Track policies and disruptions in real time
- Summarise long documents or logs
- Draft refund, reschedule, or recovery comms
Marketing
- Turn supplier PDFs into social content
- Personalise emails based on past travel
- Make branded video pitches at scale
Professional development
- Summarise webinars
- Draft SOPs or training modules
- Use AI as a sounding board or coach
Operations
- Track payments and reminders
- Analyse trends in client data
- Prioritise your day with a virtual assistant
Tools agents actually use (and trust)
ChatGPT / Claude / Gemini: Write, rewrite, brainstorm, translate.
Canva Magic Write: AI-powered design and content ideas.
Grammarly: Clearer writing, sharper tone, better communication.
Otter.ai / Fireflies.ai: Transcribe calls, meetings, or webinars.
Gamma.app: Turn long itineraries into sleek visual presentations.
Trello + Butler: Automate recurring tasks and client workflows.
HeyGen: Clone your voice and face for personalised video follow-ups.
What not to do
- Don’t copy-paste AI output without editing. Always review for accuracy, tone, and gaps in context. AI can help generate content quickly, but it’s still your voice and reputation on the line.
- Don’t use open AI tools for sensitive client data. That includes passport numbers, medical information, or booking references. Unless a platform explicitly offers enterprise-grade privacy, treat it as public.
- Don’t assume AI understands your voice or your clients. It doesn’t know your brand personality, how you manage relationships, or what each client values. Every piece of content should reflect the personal touch that makes your service unique. You control the message, AI is just your drafting assistant.
Getting started
You don’t need to automate your whole business. Pick one task that eats your time and test a tool. Vesk recommends starting with this prompt:
What are 3 ways I can save time on [task] using AI in my travel business?
Test it. Refine it. Own it.
AI won’t make you less human. It frees you to be more of what clients value most: trusted, responsive, and real.
KARRYON UNPACKS: We’re kicking off a new Karryon series of practical guides to help agents master AI. Coming up next: How to use AI to increase conversion and cut noise in client consultations.
