Why most AI trip planners need a better business model | Gilad Berenstein

In this archive episode of the Everything AI in Travel podcast, I speak with Gilad Berenstein, founder of Brook Bay Capital and former founder of Utrip, about AI trip planning, the connected trip and the commercial reality of building travel technology. We look at what founders need beyond a clever demo: distinctive data, a workable business model and customers who see enough value to pay. Got a travel problem AI might solve? Find the AI you need: tell me what's frustrating you and I'll personally introduce you to someone who can help. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... This conversation is from July 2024. The market map, company examples, investment comments and predictions reflect the time of recording, not today's market. We dig into: 🗺️ Why the trip-planning problem is still real, despite repeated startup waves 💼 Why many consumer trip planners may need a B2B or B2B2C model 🔑 Proprietary content, data and inventory as a way to stand out 🚂 What focused travel businesses can learn from niche communities 🤝 Why the connected trip is an incentives problem as much as a technology problem 🥭 The mango-juice example: making traveller preferences useful across providers 🧩 Why integration can be the innovation when AI tools are widely available 👥 Building small teams that already enjoy experimenting with AI 🗣️ Why voice, chat and visual interfaces will coexist 🚶 The difference between a good travel business and a venture-scale business 🧳 New digital agencies and tools for travel advisors 💰 Paid pilots, light integrations and case studies that prove core value Gilad also explains why founders should talk to agency owners as well as advisors. Positive feedback from the person using a tool isn't the same as approval from the person paying for it. His advice: show value with the lightest useful pilot, charge something for it and build the evidence other buyers need. We close with a look at Israeli travel technology and the importance of innovation in the product and service, not only the underlying technology. TravelAI sponsored this podcast at the time of recording. Archive episode. Recording-date metadata uses 16 July 2024, the Descript project-created date. Enjoyed it? Subscribe so you don't miss the next one, and share this episode with someone in travel who'd get something from it. Want the weekly version? The Everything AI in Travel newsletter: https://everythingaiintravel.beehiiv.... #EverythingAIInTravel #AITripPlanning #TravelTech