The Future of Travel Distribution: AI, Discovery, and the Fight for the Customer

The way travellers discover and book experiences is undergoing its biggest shift in 20 years. AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are reshaping the way people search, plan, and purchase travel - beginning to bypass traditional dominant websites, apps, and even search engines.

This talk explores what these changes mean for Tasmania’s tourism operators. Will OTAs like Booking.com, Expedia, AirBnb, GetYourGuide and Viator continue to dominate distribution? Or will new players and new models emerge? This session takes a close look at the changing landscape, and what our industry needs to do to maintain a healthy, high yielding distribution strategy.

About Rod - Founder, Viator Inc

Rod Cuthbert is a pioneer in online travel and a founder of two globally recognised platforms.

He established Viator, the world’s leading marketplace for travel experiences, and later led Rome2Rio, a multimodal journey planner used by millions of travellers worldwide. He is currently a Director of Veltra, a Tokyo-based online travel agency.