The AI Revolution in Travel: Smarter, Fairer Pricing for 2025 and Beyond

The AI Revolution in Travel: Smarter, Fairer Pricing for 2025 and Beyond

By Nishang Narayan

Published on January 28, 2025

As AI becomes increasingly integral to the travel industry, it brings immense opportunities for smarter pricing and enhanced customer experiences. However, challenges around fairness and transparency have emerged, requiring travel providers to adopt ethical practices to maintain trust and loyalty.

Hyper-Personalized Pricing: Opportunity or Ethical Challenge?

AI-powered pricing uses consumer data—such as past spending habits and demographics—to create personalized offers. While this enhances value for travelers, it raises concerns about fairness. Transparency in pricing is critical to ensure customers feel valued and not unfairly targeted.

Moreover, perceptions of price as an indicator of quality play a significant role in decision-making. Many customers are willing to pay a premium for perceived superior service, influencing their travel choices and raising expectations for personalized experiences.

Why Traditional Pricing Models Fall Short

The travel industry has long relied on seasonal trends and basic supply-demand principles to set prices. However, fluctuating demand, rising competition, and evolving customer expectations make these static models ineffective in today’s dynamic environment.

AI-powered pricing strategies are emerging as the solution, offering real-time adaptability and data-driven precision to optimize rates based on shifting market conditions and customer behavior.

Data-Driven Precision: Smarter Pricing Decisions

One of AI’s most valuable contributions is its ability to process massive datasets and generate actionable insights.

  • AI analyzes customer booking history, competitor prices, and even geopolitical events, enabling travel companies to adjust rates in real time.
  • Predictive analytics help companies identify trends, such as customers’ preference for early-bird discounts or last-minute bookings.

This allows travel providers to offer personalized deals that enhance customer satisfaction while boosting profitability.

Predictive Models: A Game-Changer in Forecasting

AI’s predictive models are transforming how pricing trends are forecasted. By analyzing market shifts, consumer sentiment, and disruptions like pandemics, AI helps:

  • Travelers make smarter decisions (e.g., booking flights during low-demand periods).
  • Companies refine revenue strategies and optimize resource allocation.

For instance, during high-demand periods such as Diwali or Chhath Puja, travelers increasingly plan ahead for longer journeys, while shorter trips with higher supply encourage last-minute bookings. AI anticipates these behaviors, ensuring smoother experiences for all.

Dynamic Pricing: Enhancing the Customer Journey

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AI enables flexible pricing models, allowing travelers to access rates that adapt to real-time demand and promotions.

  • Last-minute deals and premium upgrades are becoming more accessible, catering to travelers who prioritize value.
  • As consumer preferences shift, AI-powered pricing ensures that premium options—like AC buses or mid-tier hotels—are priced fairly, encouraging customers to opt for better experiences.

Balancing Innovation and Ethics

While the benefits of AI in travel pricing are vast, ethical challenges remain. Travel companies must commit to:

  • Transparency in pricing to avoid alienating customers.
  • Responsible data usage to ensure fairness and build trust.

By addressing these concerns, the industry can maintain customer loyalty and foster a sense of fairness in pricing strategies.

 Vision for 2025 and Beyond

The integration of AI into travel pricing is reshaping the industry, offering:

  • Personalized, real-time pricing for travelers.
  • Efficient resource management for providers.
  • Greater customer satisfaction through tailored experiences.

However, the road ahead requires thoughtful adoption of ethical AI practices to ensure that the benefits are shared by both travelers and providers. By embracing innovation responsibly, the travel industry can unlock its full potential and thrive in a dynamic, competitive landscape.

About the Author:

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Dr. Anshu Jalora, Founder & Managing Director of Sciative Solutions, is a leading expert in AI-driven dynamic pricing and revenue optimization for the travel and hospitality industries.


Kiğılı Selects Centric Software to Power Digital Retail Transformation

Kiğılı Selects Centric Software to Power Digital Retail Transformation

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 30, 2025

Leading Turkish menswear brand Kiğılı has partnered with Centric Software to transform its retail planning and support its growth ambitions through digital innovation. Kiğılı has chosen Centric Planning, an AI-powered platform that offers end-to-end merchandise planning capabilities tailored for the fashion retail industry.

Founded in 1938, Kiğılı has built a solid presence in the menswear space with over 180 stores in Türkiye and more than 50 points of sale across 15 countries. With customers shopping across a mix of physical stores, e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, and wholesale channels, Kiğılı sought a digital solution to optimize its planning operations.

Until now, Kiğılı relied on Excel sheets and internal tools to handle store segmentation and SKU planning. However, managing these tasks manually limited the brand’s ability to scale efficiently. With Centric Planning, Kiğılı will now move toward a centralized, intelligent system that enhances allocation, store planning, and supply chain decisions.

 “Planning is the cornerstone of our business operations, and with Centric Planning, we are setting a solid foundation for future growth,” said Hüseyin Deveci, Supply Chain Director at Kiğılı. “This project is at the center of our digital transformation strategy.”

 The brand’s aim is to bridge pre-season planning with in-season execution, ensuring accurate purchasing, better product positioning, and timely replenishment. “This integration will allow us to respond more strategically and dynamically to market shifts,” Deveci added.

Following a rigorous evaluation of over 15 solutions, Kiğılı selected Centric Planning for its ability to unify planning workflows into one adaptable structure. “What impressed us was how Centric connects all planning phases seamlessly. It frees our teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than manual tasks,” Deveci noted.

 “Kiğılı will benefit from a unified, intelligent platform that simplifies planning from start to finish,” said Fabrice Canonge, President of Centric Software. “We are proud to support Kiğılı in their transformation journey.”

The partnership marks a significant milestone for Kiğılı as it accelerates into a new era of digital retail excellence.


IIHM Launches NamAIste – The World’s First Hospitality GPT, Proudly Made in India

IIHM Launches NamAIste – The World’s First Hospitality GPT, Proudly Made in India

By Nishang Narayan

Published on May 26, 2025

The hospitality world just said NamAIste to a revolutionary innovation from India. NamAIste – IIHM Hospitality GPT was officially launched in Kolkata, proudly claiming the title of the world's first generative AI-powered knowledge engine tailored exclusively for the hospitality industry.

The launch marks a milestone moment—not just for India but for the entire global hospitality ecosystem. Built under the visionary leadership of Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman of IIHM and a prominent AI evangelist, NamAIste is a game-changer in the way hospitality professionals, students, and educators will learn, research, and make decisions in the future.

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“This is not just a tech marvel—it’s the dawn of a new mindset,” said Dr. Bose during his address at the global launch event at the IIHM Global Campus. Broadcast live across countries and time zones, the unveiling resonated deeply with hospitality leaders, educators, and students. “If the US can have Google and China can have DeepSeek, India can — and now does — have NamAIste,” he added.

Proudly Made in India, this first-of-its-kind Hospitality GPT was developed in partnership with Entiovi Technologies, using a Large Language Model (LLM) built specifically for hospitality. It offers real-time insights, global best practices, service innovations, and curated content from over 60 countries—all in a customized, AI-powered interface. The system even demonstrated a query in Bengali returning answers from Japanese culinary documents—earning a thunderous applause from attendees.

Sanjoy Chatterjee, Chairman, NASSCOM Regional Council (East) and Co-founder of Entiovi, emphasized that NamAIste’s uniqueness isn’t just in its technology, but in the depth of its domain-specific knowledge. “The real achievement is building a platform where a student from Bengal can ask about Japanese hospitality and get an accurate, translated, deeply-researched response instantly,” he said.

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The platform is designed to empower students, educators, faculty members, and industry stakeholders alike. With features like access to SOPs, training materials, and trend forecasts, NamAIste is set to revolutionize hospitality education and workforce readiness.

Key benefits of NamAIste include:

  • Revolutionizing hospitality education and training

  • Enabling smart, data-driven decision-making for professionals

  • Providing instant access to global best practices and innovations

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Beyond the data and tech, Dr. Bose reminded everyone that hospitality will always be a people-first industry. “AI can assist, but it cannot replace the human smile,” he said, striking a perfect balance between technology and tradition.

This launch wasn’t just a product release—it was a proud “Greeted in India” moment. With IIHM campuses erupting in celebration, the initiative has been hailed as a shining example of Viksit Bharat and Make in India, reaffirming India’s growing influence in global innovation.

IIHM has long been known for redefining hospitality education. With NamAIste, it goes beyond preparing students for the industry—it’s equipping them to lead it.

As Dr. Bose aptly summed it up, “This is India’s gift to the world of hospitality.”


Carnival Cruise Line Taps Cantaloupe to Power Cashless Dining at Celebration Key

Carnival Cruise Line Taps Cantaloupe to Power Cashless Dining at Celebration Key

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 12, 2025

Carnival Cruise Line has announced a new partnership with Cantaloupe, Inc., a global provider of self-service commerce technology, to enhance guest experiences at Celebration Key, Carnival’s exclusive upcoming destination on Grand Bahama, opening July 19, 2025. The collaboration brings self-service kiosks powered by Cantaloupe to the island, enabling cashless, quick, and seamless ordering at all food and beverage outlets.

Using Cantaloupe’s advanced point-of-sale (POS) solutions, guests can simply scan their Sail & Sign cards, extending Carnival’s onboard cashless payment system to this new off-ship location for the very first time. This move is aimed at creating a frictionless and familiar environment for travelers, allowing them to enjoy the destination without the hassle of cash or physical credit cards.

“Cantaloupe is excited to power this experience by providing a frictionless, technology-driven solution that will simplify guests’ dining and service experiences,” said Tom Lapham, Senior Vice President of Cheq at Cantaloupe, Inc. He noted that the technology is designed to handle high volumes of transactions with real-time updates, ensuring reliable and efficient service even during peak demand.

Celebration Key, designed as a premier cruise destination, will feature multiple dining and beverage venues where Cantaloupe’s kiosks will be installed, giving guests complete control over their food and beverage purchases.

Richard Morse, Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage at Carnival Cruise Line, shared, “Our collaboration with Cantaloupe is critical to making Celebration Key a destination that is full of fun and takes the worry out of carrying cash for our guests. Through this partnership, we’re able to offer an experience that extends the ease and familiarity of onboard dining to our exclusive destination.”

Cantaloupe’s POS solutions are already known for their high performance in high-traffic venues. With this partnership, the company is marking a significant step in its expansion into the travel and hospitality sectors, reaffirming its commitment to delivering world-class digital and self-service solutions tailored for large-scale operations.

As guests explore the vibrant offerings at Celebration Key, they can now do so with greater freedom and ease, thanks to this strategic technology-driven alliance.

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