AI hallucinates hotels, Jet2holidays record commissions, Air Europa 80-plane fleet, El Corte Inglés 50%

Artificial intelligence is setting false expectations for travelers, travel agencies are earning more commissions even as they sell fewer packages, and Air Europa is gearing up to grow with 80 aircraft. Today the industry is wrestling with the gap between what AI promises and what hotels can deliver, right at the peak of summer demand where every euro of revenue counts.

Today's brief

AI is giving wrong information about hotels and guests are arriving angry. Two independent articles, one from Hospitality Net and another from Hospitality.today, confirm the same problem: AI assistants make up facts about closed restaurants, nonexistent renovations, or amenities that are no longer there.

• AI relies on outdated sources and answers with complete conviction, creating a gap between the digital promise and the operational reality.
• Front desk staff end up paying the price: they have to absorb guest complaints, offer compensation, and waste time that should go to upselling or guest experience.
• The key figure: only 7% of travelers want an AI to book their trip autonomously, according to the same article. The industry is racing toward a product that almost nobody demands yet.

My take: if your hotel does not have a systematic process to update data on AI platforms (Google AI, ChatGPT, Perplexity), you are giving away credibility and money. Summer peak multiplies the risk.

Daily Cartoon

notitur.com

Hotels

Summer is no longer just sun and beach, and hotels must readjust their value proposition. According to Smart Travel News, travelers increasingly prioritize authenticity, climate and purpose-driven experiences. The all-inclusive resort model is losing ground to stays that connect with local culture.

Choice Hotels strengthens its AI bet with a strategic board appointment. The US chain has brought an artificial intelligence leader onto its board, reports Hotel Dive. Meanwhile, Aspen Hospitality has launched the new luxury brand Nell Hotels, targeting the high-end lifestyle segment. Two opposite moves: one tech, one brand. Both seek the same thing: differentiation in a crowded market.

Airlines and travel

Jet2holidays pays agencies a record 220 million euros in commissions, even though they sold fewer bookings. The British tour operator paid 2% more than last year, according to Hosteltur. Package volumes sold through agencies dropped 4%, but the average price per customer exceeded 1,050 euros. The professional channel remains profitable when selling value, not volume.

Viajes El Corte Inglés slashes prices with discounts up to 50% to capture last-minute travelers. At the height of summer, the agency launches its sales campaign with aggressive offers, reports Preferente. A yield strategy to fill gaps left by late demand.

Air Europa will increase its fleet from 60 to 80 aircraft with the arrival of 20 Boeing 737 Max jets. The airline trusts AerCap to meet delivery deadlines, according to Preferente. The growth comes just as Turkish Airlines is about to enter its shareholder structure. More planes, more routes, more pressure on competitors' revenue management.

AI in travel

AI is hallucinating about hotels, and the industry is not ready to correct it. The Hospitality Net article details how tools like ChatGPT describe restaurants that closed months ago or pools under renovation. The problem is not AI, it is the lack of data synchronization between hotels and the sources AI consumes.

Meanwhile, Hosteltur points out that AI is already colonizing the traveler's inspiration phase. If your tourism brand does not appear in AI assistant responses, you simply do not exist in the potential customer's mind. Roberto Sánchez Simón's conclusion: marketing and communication must merge to dominate SEO, GEO and advertising before the traveler even starts searching.

Only 7% of travelers want AI to book for them, but 100% use AI to get informed. That gap is the opportunity.