The number of Australian travellers using AI to plan and book holidays is rising sharply, with growth in the number of baby boomers leading the charge to adopt the emerging tech.
According to the 2025 Hospitality and Travel Report by fintech company Adyen, use of AI by older Aussies to book travel has soared by 106% year-on-year.
Interestingly, close to two-thirds of the demographic said their increased use of AI has helped to cut through an onslaught of advertising on social media.
Meanwhile the report also showed that overall, 28% of Aussies are now using AI to plan, book, choose a destination and search for last-minute deals.
All age groups are making use of AI, with gen z and millennials the most active, and most respondents stated the tech has delivered travel inspiration faster than any other method.
However, travel businesses believe the fragmented nature of on-site payment systems are limiting their ability to safely offer products through AI.
Adyen Country Manager Australia and New Zealand Hayley Fisher said while AI is changing how Aussies plan and book travel, it is also spawning vulnerabilities, with 39% of Australian hotels reporting a rise in fraud attempts.
“With AI now central to travel planning, security can’t be an afterthought,” she said.
“Guests expect every interaction from discovery to payment to be effortless, but also secure.”
Fisher said more hospitality businesses are embedding AI in their digital platforms to help with search and inspire faster booking, but that AI is yet to speed up payment authentication and identify fraud.
Adyen’s research involved 40,000 Aussie respondents.
