5 Ways AI Is Transforming Tourism and Experience Marketing

1. Personalization That Drives Engagement

AI enables hyper-personalized experiences at scale. Travelers increasingly expect recommendations that match their preferences, behavior, and timing.

With Bandwango’s digital passports, destinations can leverage AI insights to suggest tailored experiences or partner stops for visitors. Imagine a visitor getting a curated brewery or coffee trail experience based on their prior check-ins – boosting engagement, supporting local businesses, and driving measurable ROI.

See it in action: Toledo’s Coffee Quest 419 guided visitors to 28 local coffee shops, generating over $200,000 in spending in just three months.

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2. Smarter, Sustainable Operations

AI isn’t just about marketing – it’s helping the travel industry operate more sustainably. Airlines are optimizing flight paths to reduce emissions, while hospitality brands use AI tools to minimize food waste (Reuters).

Destinations can align AI-driven campaigns with sustainability goals. For example, passes can highlight eco-friendly experiences or incentivize off-peak visits, helping balance visitor flow and supporting local communities.

See it in action: How Travel South Dakota's Great Finds Passport guided visitors to lesser-known attractions, promoting rural tourism and reducing overtourism in popular hotspots.

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3. AI-Powered Planning Tools for Visitors

Travelers increasingly rely on AI to plan trips efficiently. A survey from Matador Network found that AI trip-planning tools grew 40% year-over-year, with 82% of users reporting satisfaction (Lifewire).

At Bandwango, we can help to integrate these AI-driven insights to recommend experiences through digital passports, guiding visitors to attractions, restaurants, and events that align with their preferences.

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4. AI-Informed Event and Seasonal Campaign Strategy

AI can help destinations anticipate visitor interests and seasonal trends, guiding the creation of event-specific campaigns. From FIFA and America 250 to holiday-themed experiences, AI insights allow DMOs to plan campaigns that reach the right audience at the right time, boosting participation and engagement.

With Bandwango passes, destinations can craft event-specific journeys, encouraging visits to multiple attractions, supporting local businesses, and maximizing visitor engagement during peak events.

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5. Driving Community and Local Business Impact

AI insights enable destinations to identify which experiences drive traffic to local businesses and create campaigns that maximize community benefit.

Using Bandwango’s digital passes, DMOs can design experiences that connect visitors with local businesses, track participation, and measure engagement. This helps destinations turn insights into meaningful action while supporting economic growth.

See it in action: Downtown London’s Creative Prizes campaign used a digital passport to drive thousands of dollars into local businesses, turning visitor participation into meaningful economic impact for the community.

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Why This Matters for DMOs and Experience Marketers

AI is already transforming tourism, but the real value comes from applying it strategically. Destinations that embrace AI can:

• Offer personalized, memorable experiences that drive engagement and repeat visits.
  
• Support sustainability and responsible tourism with smarter campaign and resource management.
  
• Execute strategic event and seasonal campaigns that resonate with visitors during major events and holidays.
  
• Deliver tangible community and economic impact for local partners.

With Bandwango, destinations can leverage AI-powered insights and dynamic pass technology to connect visitors with local businesses, design impactful campaigns, and measure success in real time.

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Ready to see how AI can make your experiences smarter and more impactful? Let’s connect.