Eight Ways I would Improve Expedia GPT: A Product Growth Strategist’s Perspective
The Expedia GPT represents one of the most promising examples of how branded AI can move from curiosity to commerce. It blends verified data, trusted tone, and a strong parent brand to provide real-world value. Yet, even great AI products require ongoing optimization to sustain visibility, user trust, and measurable impact. As a product growth strategist, here are eight ways I would improve Expedia GPT in its next growth cycle.
1. Optimize Discovery Metadata for AI Search Ecosystems
Visibility begins with how the product is indexed. Expedia GPT’s metadata—the title, short description, and category tags—should be written with the same rigor as SEO copy, but tuned for large language model ecosystems. Clear intent-driven phrasing such as “Plan and book verified trips with Expedia’s AI travel planner” ensures the assistant appears in high-intent searches. Adding dynamic tags for destinations, travel types, and deal-related queries could expand impression share significantly.
2. Personalize the First Three Turns
User retention is won or lost in the first minute. Personalizing the opening exchange based on detected travel intent (“family trip,” “romantic getaway,” or “business stay”) creates immediate relevance. A/B testing alternative greeting styles—concise expert tone versus conversational guide—can reveal which drives deeper engagement. The goal is to move from “welcome message” to “actionable dialogue” as fast as possible.
3. Introduce Contextual Continuity for Returning Users
Many travelers plan over several sessions. By adding privacy-safe continuity—such as remembering previous destinations or trip themes within a session window—Expedia GPT can deliver a sense of familiarity without collecting personal data. A return user could be greeted with “Would you like to continue your Japan itinerary?” This not only improves user satisfaction but also increases the likelihood of conversion.
4. Integrate Seasonal and Trend-Based Hooks
Travel intent fluctuates with seasonality and cultural moments. Expedia GPT should dynamically surface seasonal themes like “spring break ideas,” “ski trips,” or “fall foliage tours” based on the user’s date, region, or trending destinations. Integrating Expedia’s own marketing calendar would align AI discovery with broader brand campaigns, turning organic trends into consistent traffic drivers.
5. Reduce Latency to Reinforce Trust
Speed equals confidence. Every additional second in response time risks user drop-off. Streamlining API batching and caching high-demand destinations can cut latency below five seconds. This improvement is not only technical—it directly affects ranking in AI stores, since engagement metrics heavily influence discoverability. Faster results enhance both usability and perception of intelligence.
6. Strengthen the Feedback–Optimization Pipeline
Currently, user feedback is collected through thumbs-up ratings and engagement metrics. Expanding this into a structured mid-conversation feedback prompt (“Was this recommendation helpful so far?”) would generate more actionable data. This feedback should automatically feed into prompt tuning and ranking weight adjustments. More granular data means faster iteration and continuous tone calibration.
7. Expand Multi-Channel Discovery Through Brand Integration
Expedia has vast owned channels—its website, app, email newsletters, and loyalty ecosystem. Featuring the GPT assistant across these touchpoints (“Chat with Expedia’s AI Travel Planner”) would drive exponential visibility. Cross-platform discoverability ensures the GPT is not dependent solely on AI marketplace ranking but becomes a branded travel utility in its own right.
8. Build a Unified “AI Visibility Index”
To track success, Expedia should formalize an internal “AI Visibility Index.” This metric would combine impression share, engagement depth, satisfaction, and conversion rates into a single visibility score. The index would provide leadership with a clear measure of how AI performance translates into brand reach and commercial value. With quantifiable visibility, the team could allocate resources strategically and benchmark progress against quarterly targets.
Conclusion
Improving Expedia GPT is not about adding novelty or personality; it’s about strengthening the loop between visibility, engagement, and trust. Optimizing metadata attracts more users. Personalized dialogue keeps them longer. Faster responses and transparency sustain confidence. And when the product learns directly from user behavior, visibility becomes a self-reinforcing engine.
The next phase of growth for Expedia GPT isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being indispensable every time someone plans a trip.