Published on
1 May 2026
Applied AI
Travel Tech
Application Layer
AI In Travel
Zero Hallucination
Precision Over Hype
Risk Reduction
Workflow Automation
The global AI conversation has been obsessed with the question: “Which tech giant will win the race to the biggest model?”
But Goldman Sachs points to something arguably more important:
The future of AI won’t be won by whoever builds the biggest model, but by whoever builds the application layer: the layer that does the actual work of executing tasks.
In travel, almost right is still a total failure. If an AI suggests the wrong flight time, a traveller misses a connection. If it hallucinates a hotel rate, customer trust is gone.
Travel is a chain of interdependent decisions. One weak link breaks the entire trip, which is why the application layer matters.
It’s about building a system that reduces uncertainty and handles complexity with consistency, because the winners in travel tech will be those who can minimise risk to make sure nothing goes wrong.
AAA Newsroom reports that travellers in 2026 are planning more trips around major life milestones and 46% of them said they've relied on a travel advisor to plan these trips.
The three most common reasons being finding the best deals, saving time, and having support if something goes wrong.
When the moment matters, the expert becomes essential.
The way to reduce uncertainty is to provide travel experts with a single source of truth. One place where supplier data, planning and booking all connect with high accuracy and no hallucination.
This becomes the real competitive edge, not a bigger model but a system that becomes the trusted partner of the travel expert.
You can either spend your day battling the complexity of travel manually, or you can use tools designed to handle that complexity with clarity and consistency.
Don't just look for the biggest AI, look for the one that acts with precision, not just predictions.
AUTHOR
Sven Hermans
Hi! It’s Sven, co-founder and CTO at Cumbaya. I work on the speed and accuracy of the AI that powers our platform. I love sharing insights on the role that AI plays in modernizing travel operations.
Essential Questions and Takeaways
What is the difference between an AI model and an AI application?
What should travel companies look for in AI?
What does Cumbaya actually deliver to travel agencies beyond automation?
How does the application layer reduce uncertainty?