Ratehawk Survey Reveals Technology And Ai As Most Sought-after Solutions For Travel Professionals

A new survey from RateHawk, the B2B booking platform for hotels, flights, and transfers, highlights the growing demand among travel professionals for technology-driven solutions to overcome competition, rising client expectations, and income pressures.

The research, part of RateHawk’s What Supercharges Travel Professionals report, surveyed more than 1,300 travel professionals across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the GCC. While 92% reported job satisfaction, many still struggle with structural challenges, including intense competition, manual search processes, and low commission levels.

Top challenges: competition and manual work

Globally, a quarter of respondents cited competition as their main hurdle, with even higher concern in the GCC (49%) and Asia (30%). Another 24% highlighted rising client expectations, often tied to unrealistic price expectations compared to pre-pandemic levels. Maintaining income was also a priority, with 33% of respondents seeking higher commissions.

Nearly half of travel professionals said their most time-consuming task is searching for competitive offers, a pain point across all regions. Other operational burdens include booking changes (17%) and repetitive administrative work (16%).

“The travel industry is known for its low margins, and with rising costs, opportunities to earn additional commission are crucial. Technology platforms can provide the flexibility to support partners’ sustainable growth,” said Astid Kastberg, Managing Director at RateHawk.

Also read → RateHawk reveals Summer travel trends in the USA

Technology adoption and demand for AI

Almost one-third (29%) of respondents identified better access to technology as the most meaningful change needed in their work. Demand is particularly high in Latin America (44%) and Asia (31%), though 19% of professionals globally admit they struggle to adopt new tools.

The most sought-after solutions include:

• Automation tools such as online booking, CRM, and mid-/back-office platforms (preferred by 50% globally, 61% in North America).
• Mobile booking capabilities, highlighted by 33% overall, with demand peaking in the GCC (53%) and Asia (44%).
• AI-driven personalization and advanced analytics, desired by 34% of respondents, especially in North America (45%), Asia (41%), and Latin America (41%).

Company size also shapes preferences. Smaller agencies (2–5 employees) prioritize routine automation (48%) and mobile tools (32%), while larger firms (101–500 employees) show stronger interest in AI personalization (55%).

“It’s encouraging that travel professionals see innovation as a positive force,” Kastberg added. “Tomorrow’s agents will need customer service expertise combined with data skills and tech fluency. With the right digital tools, the industry can unlock new opportunities in the years ahead.”

The path forward

As new generations enter the travel workforce, digital convenience and personalization are becoming industry norms. RateHawk’s findings show that while the sector has a reputation for conservatism, adoption of automation, mobile platforms, and AI is accelerating. For travel professionals, these tools are no longer optional—they are fast becoming essential for competitiveness, efficiency, and client satisfaction.

The article RateHawk survey reveals technology and AI as most sought-after solutions for travel professionals first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.