Podcast Episode 16: Travel Planning in the AI Era – What Matters for the Industry Now

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping travel planning – from inspiration and online visibility to booking processes and the evolving roles of destinations and tourism organizations. But what does this rapid transformation mean in concrete terms for Germany as a travel destination?

In this episode, Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), speaks with Matthias Burzinski, owner of Destinet and founder of DestinetChange, about AI as a driver of far-reaching structural change across the tourism sector. The discussion goes beyond technology alone, focusing on mindset, data competence and organizational transformation.

Together, they explore why AI is not an end in itself, the growing importance of open data, AI agents and the changing nature of online search – and why human expertise, brand trust and authenticity remain essential, even in the age of artificial intelligence.

A thoughtful conversation about opportunities and challenges, and about how tourism organizations need to act today to remain relevant in international competition tomorrow.