Combining the Power of AI & Human Connection to Plan the Ultimate Vacation

Artificial intelligence (AI) has infiltrated the headlines, and the travel industry is no exception. 

The New York Times just spotlighted several new and upcoming tools for planning travel, showcasing that “travel-focused AI bots (...) and search tools can help you quickly organize your seasonal getaway.” 

The New York Times missed a major point. 

Sure – chatbots and AI-powered apps are helpful starting points for trip planning, but the real killer combo is a travel advisor supercharged with this same technology. 

Modern travel advisors pair AI and tech tools with hyper-personalized recommendations and VIP experiences. Read on to discover how AI and technology are your Fora Advisor’s newest superpowers.

Tech-powered research 

If you’ve ever asked a friend for a hotel recommendation, you understand the value of personal intel. Connecting with people who really understand the destination you’re visiting gives you confidence when visiting a new spot and takes the guesswork out of travel bookings.

Fora Advisors work holistically to understand your travel goals, pairing tech-powered research and personal knowledge to deliver your customized itinerary. 

Forum, our community app

To plan your trip, Fora Advisors have access to Forum, our community app that connects them with our global community of travel insiders at their fingertips. It’s a hive of travel advisor activity, with 1,500+ daily active users averaging 100 new posts and ~18,000 comments as of last month. 

A quick skim through recent posts uncovers details from an advisor’s recent tour of The Ritz Paris (with details like the subtle differences between room categories and recommendations on what to order for brunch) and another’s personal stay at Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection, Riviera Maya with her tips on the types of clients who would be happiest there. 

When a Fora Advisor is booking your trip, they’re using their personal travel intel and they can easily search through the robust database of knowledge – or ask a question themselves and receive a quick answer from the community.

Sidekick, our AI tool for advisors

Our first AI tool for Fora Advisors is Sidekick, a GPT-4 chatbot and true ‘sidekick’ to our community. Sidekick is trained by our HQ and community data - not generic information available on the Internet - enabling advisors to quickly access the most up-to-date intel about destinations, travel partners and more. 

Our advisors interact with Sidekick by asking questions and talking to it. It searches across a wealth of Fora resources (Advisor Portal, Forum, Trainings, Travel Guides, Trip Reports, Partners and our Help Center). Then, it uncovers the most relevant ones to answer questions. In other words, it’s your travel advisor’s bestie for finding insider intel and the most up-to-date information for your trip.

Industry partnerships & seamless booking

AI and apps will give you information – a Fora Advisor brings it to life. Fora Advisors tap into our network of long-standing industry partnerships to VIP your trip, plus a sophisticated booking platform – including client reviews, secure credit card information, and rate comparisons to get the best deal for clients and make booking a breeze. Trust us: you’re going to want the best of both worlds to supercharge your vacation. 

Industry relationships

We’re proud of our deep-rooted connections in the industry, offering a level of service that transforms a typical vacation into a unique, memorable experience. 

When you book a stay through a Fora Advisor, they are communicating directly with the travel partner to make sure you have the best possible travel experience. This can range from getting you the corner suite that you’ve had your eye on to a thoughtful touch like a personal note and amenity in your room upon arrival.

Fora is part of every major preferred partnership program, ranging from Four Seasons Preferred to Rocco Forte Knights. We’ve also launched Fora Reserve, our in-house preferred partner program to help you unlock perks, and sometimes exclusive rates, at boutique and lesser-known properties around the world. 

In total, we have access to help you unlock perks like hotel credits and free upgrades at more than 5,500 hotel properties around the world. Some examples of perks include exclusive rates, hotel credits, daily breakfast, upgrades and extended check-in/checkout. 

All of our preferred partnership programs are readily available to our Fora Advisors to access through tech by way of our integrated booking platform. 

All-in-one booking platform

As a client, when you are ready to book with a Fora Advisor, you share your card details with a secure link via the Vault, our payment storage system. Your advisor squares away all of the details you’ve discussed for your trip, and you get a confirmation in your inbox. It’s as easy as saying “charge it to my work card” to get your full trip booked and confirmed.

Behind the scenes, your Fora Advisor is booking with our all-in-one booking platform. It’s a one-stop tech platform for everything they need to research, quote and book. They have access to details like Fora Perks at each property, how many times it’s been booked by fellow Fora Advisors, easy-to-access price and rate comparisons, and trusted reviews from Fora travelers around the world. Our tech allows Fora Advisors to seamlessly narrow down the best option for your stay, as well as quote and book your trip from their office or while on the go with their mobile device.

In the end, it’s not AI versus humans. It’s both. Technology-enabled, modern travel advisors who know how to utilize the best of both worlds. 

Ready to travel? Connect with Fora to plan and book your dream getaway today.