In an era where artificial intelligence is transforming industries at breakneck speed, the travel sector is no exception. Andy Moss and Michelle Denogean of Mindtrip, a cutting-edge AI-driven travel company, joined me at a Phocuswright event to discuss their innovative approach to trip planning, personalization and client collaboration.
Gen Z Will Merge AI With Travel
Mindtrip aims to integrate AI into every stage of the travel experience, from discovery to booking and beyond. As Andy explains, “Mindtrip brings together the power of AI models and conversational technology with the world of travel.” Users can ask the platform to help plan trips and receive tailored recommendations that extend beyond simple text responses. Mindtrip can generate visuals, maps, and itineraries, all carefully curated to fit individual preferences.
Kallaway, an AI creator, added his comments, “The dream trip planning experience for a traveler is to be fed personalized recommendations based on your likes, interests, and preferred vibes. Imagine a world where your AI travel assistant not only understands your ideal trip preferences, but also can help curate recommendations from other travelers that are similar to you. Mindtrip has the rare opportunity to become a verticalized social experience for travel paired with world-class AI recommendations and seamless booking.”
Background In Tech And Collaboration
Both Moss and Denogean with the majority of the Mindtrip team have deep backgrounds in tech startups. Their experience working together across various industries prepared them to tackle the challenges of the travel industry with an AI twist. “We’ve been collaborating for nearly two decades now,” says Andy, “and Mindtrip is our latest venture, bringing our tech expertise to the travel space.”
A Consumer-Focused Platform With A B2B Angle
Mindtrip initially launched as a consumer platform but quickly garnered interest from B2B players. “Before our official launch, we received inbound interest from tourism boards and media companies,” Michelle notes. “They saw what we were building for consumers and wanted a similar experience for their own audiences.” This led to Mindtrip for Business, a platform enabling destinations and other travel-related companies to embed Mindtrip’s AI into their websites, enhancing the responses with the organization’s specific data.
Hyper-Personalization Through Zero-Party Data
One of the standout features of Mindtrip is its emphasis on personalization through “zero-party data”—information intentionally provided by users, rather than inferred from their behavior. “The AI builds a travel profile based on quiz results, stated preferences, and interactions on the platform,” explains Michelle. This data allows Mindtrip to curate experiences that resonate with the user, enhancing engagement and satisfaction.
The platform’s approach even accounts for varying budgets and styles, offering everything from boutique hotels to cost-effective options based on individual user data.
Collaboration For Group Travel
Mindtrip is also pioneering the application of AI to group travel planning. Andy highlights that Mindtrip can consider the preferences of multiple travelers and make recommendations suited to everyone in the group. For instance, if one traveler prefers a more relaxed schedule while others want more adventurous options, Mindtrip’s AI will adjust the itinerary accordingly.
This functionality meets a real need, given that most people don’t travel alone. For many, group trips mean balancing varied preferences—Mindtrip’s AI aims to make that process seamless and enjoyable.
An Intelligent Approach To Content Utilization
Destinations and travel brands are intrigued by Mindtrip’s approach to bridging content and action. As Michelle explains, “Travel content is everywhere, from social media posts to YouTube videos. But making this content actionable has been a struggle.” Mindtrip’s AI can pull details from a wide variety of sources, including videos, photos, and even old itineraries, allowing users to start trip planning with nearly any source of inspiration.
Kallaway elaborated, “What if planning a trip was as fun as taking it? Mindtrip is best positioned to make this a reality. I predict they will be a major player in the next generation of travel platforms.”
The Future: Real-Time Assistance And On-Trip Experience
Mindtrip has its eyes set on enhancing the on-trip experience as well. “Once travelers are on their trip, the AI will function more as an assistant, helping with real-time recommendations based on location and preferences,” Andy shares. Whether it’s identifying nearby points of interest, providing restaurant suggestions, or offering local tips, the on-trip feature is a natural extension of the AI’s capability.
The Road Ahead
As the AI-powered travel space continues to grow, Mindtrip’s approach offers a promising look at how personalization, group collaboration, and real-time data utilization can converge to reshape travel planning. It’s a vision that resonates with both consumers and B2B partners looking to integrate dynamic, actionable content with high-touch personalization.
For brands and destinations, Mindtrip offers an opportunity to rethink content engagement, and for travelers, it’s a new frontier in curated, user-driven exploration. With AI at the helm, Mindtrip is positioned to make traveling as intuitive and exciting as it should be.
“Mindtrip felt like it was tailor-made for us,” said Carolina Trejos, Marketing Director for Costa Rica Tourism. “The ability to harness interest in our stunning landscapes, culture, and the pura vida spirit, and transform it into a journey curated for each traveler, is game changing. We are confident that this partnership will inspire more people to discover the beauty and warmth of Costa Rica.”