Untangling Tourism Tech

Welcome to the 2026 season premiere of Untangling Tourism Tech! In this episode, Liz and Fab dive into the massive technological shift currently reshaping the tourism landscape: the move from static AI models to active, goal-oriented AI Agents.

If 2023 was the year of the "Chatbot," 2026 is officially the year of the Digital Doer.

Inside this episode:

Brain vs. Body: Learn why Large Language Models (LLMs) are like a static "brain" that just waits for a question, while AI Agents act as the "body" that can actually perform tasks, follow rules, and execute a playbook.

The Agnes Water Case Study: We revisit the famous Paperbark Walk to explain how old AI models fail by giving outdated advice, and how new AI Agents can fix misinformation loops by checking real-time data.

Agent Legibility: Discover why the new priority for Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) isn't just "pretty websites," but creating "legible" data that AI Agents can find and use.

Digitising Local Knowledge: How regional tourism can maintain its competitive edge by turning the "lived experience" and "soul" of local staff into machine-readable formats.

The Google Evolution: A look at how Google Workspace is moving beyond simple search to become an integrated business assistant that understands your emails, documents, and back-office operations.

Key Takeaway:
Don't wait for the technology to be "perfect." The tools are already "plug and play". This episode is your guide to taking small, progressive steps to ensure your destination remains relevant and sustainable in this new era of AI partnership.

This episode gets real about why short, simple video is the fastest way for tourism operators to grow their reach and why perfectionism is costing them visibility. Liz and Fab break down practical ways to repurpose content, use smart AI tools without losing your voice and stay ethical and transparent in an AI driven social landscape. It’s a no nonsense chat that shows operators how to show up confidently on camera, keep their humanity, and let tech do the heavy lifting without taking over.

In this episode of Untangling Tourism Tech, Fabienne and Liz unpack how AI is reshaping what works (and what doesn’t) on social media for tourism businesses.

From Reddit threads making a comeback to Google surfacing Instagram posts, they reveal why authenticity and human connection are now the ultimate algorithms. Learn how to keep your content real, consistent, and confidence-building — even when AI seems to run the show.

Tune in for practical, no-fluff strategies to make your social media shine in the age of AI

It looks like you. It sounds like you. But it’s not you.
In this eye-opening episode, Liz and Fab dive into how AI is supercharging scams, making it easier than ever for cybercriminals to spoof your email, clone your voice, and trick your team or customers. From real tourism industry examples to practical cybersecurity tips, we explore what every operator needs to know about email spoofing, voice cloning, and how to secure your digital doorway.

AI is the new front desk for travel planning – and if your tourism business isn’t showing up in ChatGPT, Gemini, or Bing’s new AI results, you might already be invisible. 😬

In this episode, Fabienne Wintle and Liz Ward break down what AI-driven search really means for tourism organisations and how to future-proof your website and digital content.

You'll learn:
✅ Why travellers are ditching traditional search engines
✅ The unexpected resurgence of Bing (seriously!)
✅ What AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini are really looking for
✅ 6 actionable tips to boost your AI search visibility
✅ Why FAQs, fresh local insights, and storytelling matter more than ever

Whether you're a regional tourism body or a small operator, this episode is your must-have roadmap for surviving – and thriving – in the AI-powered travel era.

Hit play and start optimising today.