Expedia Launches AI-Powered 'Trip Matching' Feature to Convert Instagram Reels into Bookable Travel Itineraries

New Expedia feature uses AI to help travelers plan and book trips based off shared Instagram Reels

Don't just scroll past those influencers soaking up all the sun at far-off destinations in your Instagram feed. Build an itinerary and book a trip in the same location. That's the premise from Seattle-based travel giant Expedia, which announced the beta release Friday of Expedia Trip Matching, a new feature that uses artificial intelligence to reel travelers in through Instagram Reels. It works when would-be travelers share any publicly available travel-related Reel directly with the official @Expedia account on Instagram. When the video is sent, it initiates an AI-generated response from Expedia with personalized travel recommendations, itineraries and trip-planning resources based on the video. Travelers can review and book directly from that customized itinerary, turning their social media travel daydreaming into real-world booking. Expedia says it's the first online travel agency to integrate real-time, AI-powered travel planning directly into Instagram. "It's no secret people are getting their news, inspiration and travel ideas from influencers and content creators, with a recent study showing that 80% of millennials rely on social media for travel decisions," said Jochen Koedijk, chief marketing officer at Expedia Group, in a statement. "We want to be where consumers get their inspiration, which is through social media." Trip Matching will be available to U.S. travelers in the upcoming weeks. Expedia shares fell more than 8% after the online travel giant company reported earnings Thursday and said it saw lower-than-expected demand in the U.S. -- including a substantial decrease in inbound bookings from Canada.

Expedia Launches Industry-First Feature That Turns Instagram Reels into Bookable Travel Itineraries - Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE)

New trip matching tool uses AI to convert social media inspiration into real-world travel plans -- all within Instagram SEATTLE, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedia® today announced Expedia® Trip Matching, a first-of-its-kind feature that allows travelers to seamlessly build an itinerary based on an Instagram Reel and then book directly on Expedia. Travelers can share any publicly available travel-related Reel -- whether from content creators they follow or trending posts -- directly with Expedia and receive customized itineraries, destination ideas, and travel tips based on the video. Powered by AI, this new experience transforms inspiration into real-world travel plans, making it easier than ever to book travel directly from Instagram. "It's no secret people are getting their news, inspiration and travel ideas from influencers and content creators, with a recent study showing that 80% of millennials rely on social media for travel decisions*," said Jochen Koedijk, Chief Marketing Officer, Expedia Group. "We want to be where consumers get their inspiration, which is through social media. Now with Expedia® Trip Matching, travelers can seamlessly build an itinerary based on an Instagram Reel and book it directly on Expedia." How Expedia® Trip Matching works: Find inspiration: While scrolling Instagram, a user finds a Reel featuring a destination or experience they love.Share it with Expedia: They tap the share icon on the Reel, search for the @Expedia account, and send the video.Receive fast results: Expedia replies with AI-generated, personalized travel recommendations, itineraries, and trip-planning resources based on the video.Book when ready: Travelers can review and book directly from the customized itinerary -- seamlessly bridging social discovery with real-world booking. Expedia® Trip Matching is now open for beta access by visiting Expedia.com/tripmatching.com. The feature will be available to U.S. travelers in the upcoming weeks. Through the new trip matching feature, Expedia becomes the first OTA to integrate real-time, AI-powered travel planning directly into Instagram. The feature reflects the company's commitment to innovation and meeting the next generation of travelers where they are -- inspired, mobile, and social-first. ABOUT EXPEDIA Expedia® is one of the world's leading full-service travel brands, with a mission of helping travelers get the most out of every trip they take by providing everything they need all in one place, ensuring they are getting the most out of every trip they take, and above all else, feel supported every step of the way. Our commitment to insights matched with our unprecedented scale allows us to understand our travelers better than anyone else, delivering exactly what they need, when they need it. Our personalized experiences, backed by incredible technology, enable us to deliver the widest selection of product offerings across accommodations, transportation, activities and experiences that help you get the most out of your journey. Use our mobile app or visit www.expedia.com to plan your journey with us. © 2025 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Expedia and the Expedia logo are trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CST# 2029030-50. Follow Expedia on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. * Source: Klook Pulse study, November 2023 SOURCE Expedia EXPEExpedia Group Inc$151.14-10.6%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum88.67Growth97.37Quality-Value31.01Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs