Good Morning Hospitality Expedia’s AI Game, TSA Fees, Loyalty Reinvented & Hotel Capital Moves
Dec 3, 2025
Expedia's new AI chief hints at a future where planning your trip could be smarter than ever. Travelers face a $45 TSA fee for not having proper ID, raising eyebrows and questions. Hotel loyalty programs are shaking things up, focusing on personalization and operational realities. Marriott takes a bold step into branded residences, competing directly with vacation rentals. The hosts share a wild story about a Thanksgiving chase onto a tarmac, reminding everyone that travel can sometimes be outrageous!
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Expedia's Agentic AI Move
- Expedia hired a former Google AI lead to build agentic travel AI that plans trips and personalizes recommendations.
- Expect AI to shift bookings from manual search toward B2Bot planning and real-time, context-aware suggestions.
Travel Planned By AI And AR Glasses
- Steve used AI to plan an Italy trip and to get real-time directions via AR glasses while walking by Il Duomo.
- He found the experience disorienting but enjoyable because it recommended places he liked without staring at a phone.
AI Will Rewire Distribution
- AI on Expedia could let hotels target precise guest profiles and improve group-trip planning.
- This will change distribution dynamics by making sponsorships and targeted inventory more valuable.