The Tourism AI Podcast

Did you know we offer a free AI Minute Snippet for your organization's newsletter? Give your members valuable AI insights without adding work for your team. Partner with us to add high-quality, thought-provoking AI content to your newsletter - for free! Book a 15-minute call to learn more! Welcome to part one of our 2026 AI Predictions series. Peter breaks down the three foundational shifts every tourism professional needs to understand: why AI literacy is becoming non-negotiable, how jobs are transforming (not disappearing), and why context engineering matters more than technical skills.This isn't about Amazon's $2.5 billion training budget. It's about what a five-person wilderness lodge in BC needs to know right now. Matthew brings a Gen Z perspective on AI literacy, and we walk through practical examples of context engineering for small operators.Read the full blog ⁠here⁠.#AIinTourism #TourismTech #DestinationMarketing #AILiteracy #ContextEngineering #TourismAI

How are travellers really finding hotels in 2025? According to SiteMinder's latest report, OTAs have officially overtaken search engines as the #1 discovery channel, and AI-powered discovery jumped from 4% to 18% in just one year. In this episode, we break down what this seismic shift means for DMOs, hotels, and tourism marketers.Peter, Kendel, and new TAIN team member Matthew Dias discuss whether SEO budgets still matter, how DMOs can reclaim their position as the "ultimate source of truth," and why generational differences in travel planning are reshaping the industry. Plus: rapid-fire hype meter on Canada's $1B AI investment, Google's Nano Banana Pro image generator, Claude's Excel integration, and why Grok thinks Elon Musk could beat LeBron James in a fitness contest.#AIinTourism #DMO #TravelTech #HospitalityMarketing #OTA #TourismAI #AIDiscovery #SearchEngineOptimization

Tourism and hospitality leaders rushing to adopt AI face critical cybersecurity risks most don't see coming. Cybersecurity expert Cordell Robinson, CEO of Brownstone Consulting Firm, joins the Tourism AI Podcast to reveal the hidden dangers of out-of-box AI tools, shadow AI use, and why humans are the biggest threat to AI security.In this episode, discover the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) approach to safe AI implementation, how to assess your organization's cultural maturity before rolling out AI, and why baking security in from day one saves you from expensive emergency fixes. Cordell shares real-world insights on training requirements, policy enforcement, Chinese AI technology considerations, and navigating data sovereignty laws like the US CLOUD Act.Whether you're a DMO director, hospitality COO, or tourism tech leader, this conversation offers practical frameworks for adopting AI without exposing your organization to devastating breaches.Keywords: #AIinTourism #Cybersecurity #AIAdoption #DMO #TourismLeadership #DataSecurity #AIRisks #TravelTechTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction & Guest Background02:45 – The Leadership Gap in AI Adoption05:20 – Cybersecurity Risks with Out-of-Box AI Tools08:50 – SDLC Approach to AI Implementation12:15 – Shadow AI & Policy Enforcement16:30 – Leadership's Role in Change Management20:55 – Context Engineering & Secure AI Setup25:40 – Assessing Cultural Maturity Before AI29:10 – Leveraging Existing IT Infrastructure31:45 – Chinese AI Tech: Risks & Opportunities35:30 – Data Sovereignty & International Laws37:45 – Final Advice & Contact InfoConnect with Cordell Robinson:Website: www.bismbravocsf.comLinkedIn: Cordell RobinsonApp: Compliance Aid (coming soon to App Store)Connect with Tourism AI Network:Website: tourismainetwork.comJoin our Circle Community for AI resources and discussions

Join Peter Pilarski as he sits down with Deneen Allen, founder of Pure North Canada and Firecircle, to explore the critical gaps in tourism training and how AI is reshaping the industry. Deneen shares insights from nearly 30 years in tourism development, revealing why operators struggle with market context, brand storytelling, and operational design, and how The Firecircle's 5x5 Method addresses these challenges.

#AIinTourism #DataSovereignty #AIAgents #TravelTech #DMO #HospitalityAI #TourismInnovation #ResponsibleAIIn this power-packed episode, Peter and Kendel unpack the biggest AI stories shaping tourism right now—from Canada's data sovereignty debate and OpenAI's Gemini rivals to Expedia's new AI itinerary tool and Sora's viral video generator. Discover how AI agents are booking reservations autonomously, why DMOs must lead responsible AI adoption, and what hospitality operators should prioritize in 2025. Plus: a deep dive into Anthropic's anti-China stance, Elon's "Grokopedia" ambitions, and real-world hotel productivity wins.