Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy is testing a search with artificial intelligence tool to help match travelers with the best home and destination.
The search with AI tool is in a test phase initially and was developed in partnership with Publicis Sapient. It is based on natural language search with users describing what they want from their vacation.
Its development is also part of a wider technology transformation for the hotel giant, which seeks to create more personalized travel experiences.
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According to a release, travelers can input as much or as little information as they want such as "I want to take a trip to California this summer where I can bring my dog" or "I want to travel to London, Paris or Vienna and stay in the city center."
Search results will not only return suggested destinations and specific properties but also additional information including weather and things to do in the area.
Jennifer Hsieh, vice president for Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, said, “Using the latest technologies, our new AI search tool breaks new ground among vacation rental platforms by allowing travelers to search without a specific destination. Consumers can focus more on the experiences they are passionate about and the amenities on their ‘must have’ list to reveal their next memorable travel adventure. With natural-language search, we’re able to play matchmaker, helping travelers effortlessly discover the perfect but perhaps unexpected property and destination among our global collection of extraordinary homes.”
Website users can choose whether to use the search using AI functionality or stick with traditional search. The tool is expected to be widely available first on the website followed by mobile in the coming weeks.