Does artificial intelligence spell the beginning of the end of the tourism profession? Or can using AI make you a better guide and help you build a more profitable company?

Micky Kandola believes AI is nothing but good news for guides, tour operators and other tourism professionals. As a veteran tour director, he has found ways to leverage the power of AI to get better and faster at his work, and he loves helping others do the same. Micky joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel pros can put artificial intelligence to work in their businesses without sacrificing their unique humanity.

Micky shares how he uses ChatGPT and other AI tools to prepare for tours and create resources his travelers love. He also gives his perspective on why the human touch of group tours is irreplaceable and how travel pros can use AI to find hidden insights in their tour evaluations. Plus, we have news about staffing issues at America’s national parks; a Road Tip about the best way to pay for things on the road; and a Hot Minute about the biggest opportunity most travel companies are missing.

Micky had a lot of great ideas about how travel professionals can — and can’t — do with artificial intelligence. Here’s what he said about the role it can play in group travel:

“On a tour, people need a human contact. The commentary isn’t the most important thing I do. The most important thing I do is connect with my guests and make sure they know they’re taken care of. AI can’t do that…. I see it as a tool, not a replacement.”

Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:

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• The work involved in preparing for a great group tour
  
• How AI can reveal hidden insights inside trip evaluations
  
• AI tools that tour directors and tour operators can use to create better guest resources
  

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1:27 — Travel News: Federal hiring freeze may impact travel to national parks

2:51 — Road Tip: The best way to pay for things when you travel

9:15 — Free resources for new group travel professionals

13:49 — Why Micky Kandola embraces artificial intelligence

15:57 — How AI can help tour directors prepare for departures

19:23 — Is AI going to replace tour operators or tour directors?

24:08 — Surprising applications of AI for group travel

27:00 — Using AI to get insights on your post-trip evaluations

32:02 — Creating customized group dining guides in ChatGPT

36:51 — How to handle errors when using AI in tour directing

50:08 — Hot Minute: The biggest opportunity your travel company is missing

See the full interview with Micky, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.

Thanks to our sponsor Visit Atlantic City for making this episode possible. Learn more about group travel to Atlantic City at visitatlanticcity.com.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.