European tour operating giant TUI has entered into a strategic partnership with AI-powered travel platform Mindtrip.
The partnership will see the integration of TUI’s booking capabilities into Mindtrip’s consumer experience, which enables users to discover, plan, and book personalised travel plans using natural language prompts and curated content through AI.
In what has been dubbed an ‘industry-first’ move, users will be able to book TUI’s package holidays via a ‘Book with TUI’ button directly on Mindtrip.
Before the integration, customers booked each component of their trip separately with different suppliers.
“This marks a new approach in distribution: theoretical, AI-generated suggestions are becoming commercial reality,’ said Mircea Tudose, managing director, expansion businesses, TUI markets and airline.
“The partnership gives us important early insights into AI-based travel sales – benefiting all our sales channels, whether digital or offline.”
Currently, flights and hotels can be combined via TUI on Mindtrip. After clicking on the ‘Book with TUI’ button, additional services such as transfers, car hire or excursions can be added.
The ‘Book with TUI’ option is currently available in Belgium, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
“By working with Mindtrip, we are learning how travellers interact with intelligent AI assistants and how we can further develop our offering – in our app, on our website or in our travel agencies,“ added Tudose.
Mindtrip users begin their travel booking by asking its chatbot questions like ‘Where should I go in December?’ or ‘Find me a boutique hotel in London near shopping streets.’
The platform responds with personalised suggestions, interactive maps, and suggestions such as hotels, restaurants, experiences, and transport.
Users can then build their itineraries by dragging and dropping elements, viewing photos, seeing distances on a map, reading reviews, inviting co-travellers and customising their plans within the interface.
Through the new TUI booking button, Mindtrip customers can now book packages directly on the website.
Travel technology company Nezasa provides the engine that maps AI-generated itineraries to real-time inventory, enabling them to be fulfilled through TUI’s vertically integrated offer.
Trips are made available via the ‘TUI Tours’ platform developed jointly by Nezasa and TUI. This platform is aimed at both travel agencies and TUI’s online customers and allows flexible trip combinations to be put together in real time. TUI Tours also uses AI technology to support travel agencies in creating individual trips.
“This three-way partnership is a shining example of what’s possible when you bring all aspects of the trip planning process together in one place,” said Andy Moss, co-founder and chief executive of Mindtrip.
“It’s just the beginning of a new era in travel — where inspiration, planning, and one-click checkout can all happen seamlessly through the power of AI. TUI and Nezassa have been incredible partners in making that vision a reality.”
