For the past year, Michael Motamedi, Vanessa Salas, and their two-year-old daughter have embarked on a global adventure, utilizing the AI travel assistant GuideGeek to determine their destinations and experiences. Their journey, which began in June 2023, took them to 12 countries including Morocco, Spain, France, Croatia, and Japan, with GuideGeek providing travel advice at every step.
A survey from Matador Network, the parent company of GuideGeek, reveals that more than half of travelers, particularly families, may turn to AI for travel planning this summer. GuideGeek offers free itinerary planning and real-time travel advice via WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger, and has answered over 7.7 million queries since its launch 15 months ago.
READ MORE: Marriott International to Expand in France with 10 New Hotels by 2025
“Get creative and go beyond just asking for the best cocktails or tapas or whatever,” advises Motamedi, who used GuideGeek to plan his days through the perspectives of famous personalities like Picasso and Dalí. This approach led to unique experiences such as discovering Montenegro, a destination that was not initially on their radar.
“Montenegro was a total surprise from GuideGeek,” says Salas. “When GuideGeek picked it, we were both like, ‘What?’ But it was one of my favorite places we visited — beautiful, unassuming and not on any list I’ve ever seen.”
GuideGeek’s suggestions ranged from spending time with a falconer in Dubai’s desert to making driftwood art in Curaçao and eating eel soup in the Philippines. The AI also assisted with practical needs like finding playgrounds for their daughter.
Motamedi notes that while initially they felt compelled to double-check GuideGeek’s suggestions, the AI’s accuracy has improved significantly, allowing them to trust its recommendations more fully. GuideGeek now verifies real-time information about the availability, pricing, and hours of restaurants and attractions. Using reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF), GuideGeek’s accuracy has increased from 85% to 98%.
The success of GuideGeek has attracted interest from partners looking to engage travelers. “We’re launching custom versions of GuideGeek with DMOs all around the country — Illinois is the latest,” says Matador Network CEO Ross Borden. He credits creators like Motamedi and Salas with helping fine-tune the AI, making it an invaluable tool for travel brands worldwide.
Following their global journey, Motamedi and Salas have chosen to return to Barcelona for an extended stay. “I love the food, and the ability to walk down the Gothic Quarter and get some chorizo and wine and just hang out with the people,” says Motamedi. “There’s so much more to discover in this city, and GuideGeek is going to continue to be a huge help.”
The couple also launched a podcast, No Fixed Address: The World’s Most Extraordinary People, featuring interviews with remarkable individuals they meet during their travels. Recent guests include a cuteness expert in Japan and Grammy-winner Macy Gray. The podcast is available on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow Michael Motamedi on TikTok for more updates.
For more details, visit guidegeek.com.
About Matador Network
Matador Network is the leading media brand for modern adventurers, boasting over 16 million followers across social media. Known for its articles, city guides, and original videos, Matador Network is the top-ranking travel brand on TikTok, with 140 million monthly video views. It has content distribution deals with American Airlines, Hearst Media, and GSTV, and collaborates with brands like Ford, REI, Samsung, YETI, Southwest Airlines, Visit California, and Microsoft. Fast Company named Matador Network a 2024 Most Innovative Company. For more information, visit matadornetwork.com.
Source: This Family Used AI to Travel The World For A Year — Here’s What They Learned
