Google is encouraging users to embrace a new era of AI-assisted travel with a robust set of updates across its platforms – Search, Maps, Lens, and Gemini – designed to streamline holiday planning through the power of generative AI. As more travellers turn to tools like ChatGPT for inspiration, Google is positioning itself not just as a source of information, but as a full-service travel companion.
Smarter Travel Planning with AI Overviews
Central to this rollout is the expansion of AI Overviews in Google Search, which allow users to request detailed itineraries with simple prompts like “create an itinerary for Costa Rica with a focus on nature.” The AI responds with multi-day schedules, restaurant suggestions, activities, and interactive maps – all exportable to Google Docs, Gmail, or Maps for on-the-go access.
Backed by Google’s custom Gemini model, these summaries blend information, adding user reviews, and imagery for a single, contextualised view.
Global Hotel Price Tracking
For budget-conscious travellers, Google is rolling out hotel price tracking globally. Much like its popular flight alerts, users browsing hotels can now opt in to receive notifications when prices drop for their selected dates and filters (eg star rating or location). This is now live across mobile and desktop, offering cost savings at a time when travel is more expensive than ever.
Maps Gets Smarter: Screenshot Integration
Another standout feature comes to Google Maps: the ability to turn screenshots into mapped adventures. Leveraging Gemini’s image recognition, Maps can scan users’ photo libraries (with permission), identify restaurants, attractions, or hotels from screenshots, and then pin those places to a travel list on the map. This can help organise the research phase and remove the clutter from your camera roll.
Your AI Trip Planner: Gemini Gems
Gemini is evolving beyond a chatbot into a personalised trip assistant. With the new Gems feature, users can create dedicated AI personas – one for budget trips to Europe, another for pet-friendly stays, or even one that handles packing lists. These custom “Gems” can be managed through a desktop dashboard and are now freely available.
Users unsure of where to begin can use Gemini’s “magic wand” to generate a Gem from a simple idea, turning travel planning into a more intuitive, guided experience.
Lens as a Pocket-Sized Tour Guide
Google Lens, long known for translating text and identifying objects, now supports AI Overviews. Just point your camera at a building or landmark and ask “What is this?” – Lens will respond with rich, AI-generated information, helping curious travellers uncover the stories behind what they see. These new Lens capabilities will soon expand to Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish users.
Why Now? Google’s Strategic Play
The timing is no coincidence. As generative AI reshapes how people search, explore, and plan, Google is asserting its leadership by embedding AI into the tools people already use daily. Rather than risk losing ground to rivals like OpenAI or travel-focused apps like Expedia, Google is betting on convenience, integration, and a deeper user journey that moves seamlessly from search to action.
What It Means for Users – and for Businesses
For travellers, the benefits are clear: streamlined planning, less time toggling between apps, and smarter insights. But for businesses, especially in the travel and tourism industries, the impact is more nuanced.
Opportunity: AI Overviews surface content earlier in the user journey. Travel brands with engaging, optimized content could reach potential visitors before bookings happen.
Challenge: The tighter grip Google has over the entire user journey – from inspiration to decision – means third-party platforms and publishers may see reduced visibility.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in Travel Planning
Google’s AI-fuelled upgrades aren’t just seasonal enhancements – they signal a broader strategy to redefine what search and planning look like in the age of generative AI. For users, the trade-off is one of ease vs control. For businesses, it’s about visibility vs dependency. Either way, this summer marks the start of a more intelligent – and more competitive – travel landscape.