Tony Carne - The Impact of Ai on Travel - TechWeek NZ 2025 Podcast

The Impact of AI on Search in Travel – With Tony Carne

In this episode of the Tourism AI Podcast, I sit down with Tony Carne from Everything AI in Travel to unpack how the rise of AI Search, Visual Search, and Visual AI Search is changing the way travellers discover, plan, and book their trips.

Tony brings a deep travel background as former Managing Director at Urban Adventures (part of Intrepid) and now leads Videro (Rio), a cutting-edge video-led platform that makes travel content searchable and bookable. Together we dive into how AI is reshaping traveller intent, the role of short-form video in discovery, and why AI Optimisation is the new frontier for tourism operators wanting to stay visible in a world where bookings may happen without ever visiting a website.

This conversation is essential listening for tourism businesses who want to understand where AI Search and Visual Search are heading, how to adapt, and how to ensure they remain findable in a rapidly changing digital travel landscape.

Key Takeaways

• AI Search is shortening the path to booking – Google’s new AI Mode moves travellers from inspiration to transaction in one step, with bookings happening directly inside Google.

• Websites won’t disappear but their role will change – sites must evolve into content-rich, hyper-personalised knowledge hubs that feed AI Overviews and AI search engines.

• Visual AI Search is on the rise – younger travellers are using TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube as their starting point, making video visibility critical.

• Trust and authenticity win – AI may generate answers, but travellers still crave authentic human experiences. Partnering with creators helps operators tap into that trust.

• AI Optimisation is essential – it’s no longer enough to optimise for SEO alone; businesses must structure their data, reviews, and content to be surfaced in AI Overviews, Visual Search, and voice-driven discovery.

• Google Business Profile matters more than ever – reviews, accuracy, and detail here can directly influence whether your business appears in AI search results.

• Smaller operators have an edge – with deep, specific knowledge of their location and product, small businesses can outshine OTAs in AI Overviews if they provide richer, more detailed content.

• Video is becoming bookable – platforms like Tony’s Videro allow travel videos to connect directly to bookable inventory, merging discovery and conversion in one seamless journey.
  
  Interested in connecting with Tony - you can connect with him at - https://videreo.com/
  

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Your Host - Victoria Ludemann -  Victoria teaches tourism businesses how to get found in Ai Search, Voice and Visual Searches along with how Ai can also save them time and money. Daily Trainer & Speaker TechWeek NZ 2024 & 2025, Hospitality New Zealand Conference 2025 Speaker on Ai for Hospitality and Accommodation, Speights Ale House Conference Ai Keynote Speaker 2025, Ai Marketing Trainer for Africa's Eden Tourism Association. Approved Regional Business Network Partner Provider. HNZ Affiliate. MyGuide Queenstown Affiliate. Featured in Otago Daily Times & Mountain Scene. 25+ years in digital. 4.5 - 5 star consistent reviews