Article Highlights:

  • Travelers under 35 are more than twice as likely to use AI tools for trip planning as travelers over 55.
  • Only 24% of all travelers have used AI for travel, but 89% of users say they are likely to use it again.
  • Itinerary planning and research are the most popular AI travel uses, with young and non-US travelers leading adoption.
  • Trust in AI remains low, with only 7% of travelers saying they trust it “almost always.”
  • Airlines, hotels and travel platforms are rapidly integrating AI, from chatbots to biometric security checks.

 

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has entered the travel industry, not as a futuristic novelty but as a growing and practical tool. While younger travelers are adopting AI-powered tools for trip planning with enthusiasm, older travelers remain hesitant, preferring traditional methods or human recommendations. According to the Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey, travelers under 35 are driving the surge in AI adoption, and satisfaction.

The survey reveals a significant generational gap in the use of AI for trip planning. Only 24% of all travelers have used AI for travel, but 40% of travelers under 35 said they have experimented with AI tools, compared to 34% of travelers aged 35–54, and just 20% of those over 55. This represents a substantial increase from the October 2024 data, which showed only 11% of travelers using AI for trip planning. The leap in less than a year suggests accelerating adoption, especially among tech-savvy young travelers.

 

AI Trip Planning

AI is being used for a variety of trip planning activities. The most common uses include itinerary planning (75%) and general destination research (71%), followed by restaurant recommendations (37%), translation (25%) and lodging (40% among under-35s). Younger users are also significantly more likely to utilize AI for complex needs, such as visa information (38%) and safety advice (35%), outpacing the overall averages.

“AI is transforming how travelers research and prepare for trips, and the next generation of globetrotters is embracing it fully,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. “But adoption still depends on trust and reliability, especially in high-stakes situations.”

That trust is far from universal. Only 7% of travelers said they trust AI to provide accurate travel advice “almost always.” A larger share, 46%, said they trust it “most of the time,” while 40% admitted to trusting it only “some of the time.” Interestingly, when asked whether they would trust AI in an emergency abroad, only 30% said yes, while 33% said no and 37% were unsure. Even younger travelers expressed doubts: 58% of those under 35 said they would not trust AI in a crisis.

 

AI Chatbots and Other Integrations

Despite the hesitation, user satisfaction is high. Among those who have used AI for travel, 79% said the tools were ‘very’ or ‘mostly’ useful, and 85% of travelers under 35 rated them favorably. Men were slightly more satisfied than women, with 32% of men rating AI “very useful” compared to 26% of women.

What began as a novelty is becoming normalized. From October 2024 to July 2025, traveler use of AI more than doubled, from 11% to 24%, according to the world’s most experienced travelers responding to Global Rescue’s quarterly surveys. This growth coincides with broader industry trends. Airlines, hotels and travel booking platforms are rapidly integrating AI tools to improve user experience and efficiency. Major airports, such as Dubai International and JFK in New York, are piloting AI-enhanced screening systems to enhance international security checks. Online booking companies are also using AI to generate personalized offers, optimize pricing and power chatbots that can answer questions 24/7.

Hotels are using AI for dynamic pricing, facial recognition check-ins and smart room features that learn guest preferences. Airlines are leveraging AI for predictive maintenance, real-time translation tools for international crews and AI-generated flight alerts. AI trip planning is no longer just a consumer tool, but is instead becoming an essential infrastructure across the travel ecosystem.

 

Artificial Intelligence Satisfaction and Trust

Travelers have noticed. The summer 2025 survey shows that 89% of all travelers who used AI said they were “very likely” or “likely” to use it again. Travelers under 35 were most likely to say “very likely” (38%), followed by those aged 35–54 (36%). Preferences, however, still lean toward human interaction: half of all respondents said they prefer a blend of AI and human recommendations, and only 4% said they prefer AI alone. Women were significantly more likely than men to favor human input (53% vs. 43%), while non-U.S. travelers were more open to blended solutions (56% vs. 48% of U.S. travelers).

Non-U.S. travelers are generally more willing to adopt AI. 30% of international travelers reported using AI tools, compared to 21% of U.S. travelers, a 40% difference. They are also more likely to use AI for translation, with 34% of non-U.S. respondents leveraging AI for this purpose, compared to 21% of Americans.

 

AI Scams

A fall 2024 survey pointed out another key issue: AI scams. “The proliferation of AI is an impending threat to travel,” warned Harding Bush, former Navy SEAL and associate director of security for Global Rescue. Tech-savvy scammers are using deepfakes, impersonation and misleading bots to trick unsuspecting travelers into clicking fraudulent links or entering payment information on fake booking platforms. That risk remains present in 2025, even as AI tools continue to improve in quality and capability.

As AI becomes more mainstream in the travel industry, travelers are urged to stay cautious. “AI is ideal for identifying the right destination and creating customized travel plans,” said Richards. “But people still need to verify sources, read reviews and cross-check important details, especially for lodging and transportation.”

The balance between convenience and caution is where many travelers now operate. While AI tools can streamline complex itinerary building and eliminate hours of research, human insight still holds strong, especially when it comes to trust, safety and emergencies. The message is clear: AI is a powerful assistant, but not a complete replacement.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

While Global Rescue is best known for its medical evacuations and field rescue operations, members also benefit from real-time medical and security advisory services, essential in an AI-driven world. As AI-generated scams become increasingly sophisticated, travelers can rely on Global Rescue’s experts to help vet offers and identify fraud before it ruins a trip.

“If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. AI-generated scams are getting better at mimicking real travel offers, but those rock-bottom prices are often bait,” said Harding Bush. “Pay attention to the language. Scam messages created by AI often sound robotic, oddly formal, or just… off. It’s a clear sign something’s not right.”

He notes that scammers often rely on creating a sense of urgency and evoking emotions. “If a site is pushing you to book fast with pop-up countdowns and shady payment methods, stop. That pressure is the scam working.”

With AI revolutionizing how trips are planned, it’s more important than ever to have a trusted partner for real-time travel intelligence, fraud detection and emergency support. Global Rescue provides more than extraction. We provide peace of mind in an unpredictable, AI-assisted travel world.