AI and Trust to Reshape Global Travel by 2046, Industry Leaders Predict
The 2026 Leadership Exchange at ITB Berlin explored the future of global travel, focusing on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and trust. The event, hosted by Phocuswright and ITB Berlin, gathered industry leaders to discuss how AI will redistribute power in the travel industry by 2046. Key topics included the control of travel by AI companies, governments, or travelers, and the value in an AI-driven industry. The discussions highlighted that AI will significantly reduce friction in travel, but will also redistribute power, potentially leading to monopolies or empowering smaller players through hyper-personalization. Trust was identified as a new currency, becoming fragmented and more valuable, with AI-driven booking channels increasing the risk of trust failures. 
