Should You Use A Personal AI Travel Agent?

Booking your next vacay can feel like a second job. I know from planning my own trips just how much work goes into creating the “perfect” one.

It means finding the ideal boutique hotel or cozy Vrbo, securing the right flights, booking memorable experiences, and making dinner reservations at that new spot your favorite influencer shared on TikTok. I spend hours weighing options and perseverating over whether I’ve made the best choice.

Enter AI: It’s been a much-debated topic in the travel space. Can ChatGPT, Claude, or travel site chatbots really be a solid go-to for advice on the best hotels, the hottest restaurants, and must-see shows? While these AI-powered tools can help, they often miss the most important part: context and details about how you and your family like to travel.

Now just imagine if those results were always based on your preferences?

Well, that’s where Nenu comes in. The new startup claims to let users connect any AI assistant to a customized and secure travel profile based on what they like and who they are.

Once it’s connected across your apps, Nenu says it can recommend lodging, dining and experiences that fit your needs. And the best part? You won’t have to reintroduce yourself every time you engage with a new chatbot.

So now, when you take your family on a trip, it could suggest only kid-friendly hotels. Or when you plan an excursion, it knows you’re traveling with your parents and will suggest activities that aren’t too physically taxing.

Even beyond vacation logistics, Nenu says it can tap into your personal preferences to streamline everything from your finances and health goals to your family’s everyday schedules.

Founded by Schwark Satyavolu and Vivin Ramamurthy, who previously worked together at Yodlee, Nenu is designed to connect to your email and build a personal profile using information from your previous trips, car rentals, hotel bookings, flight confirmations, health information, and other relevant details.

The company describes the profile as secure, although users should understand what information is collected and how it’s shared with AI assistants. If you prefer a quaint boutique hotel, late-night dining, or consider an aisle seat non-negotiable, you won’t have to share those preferences each time you plan a trip or engage with a new chatbot.

“Today, information lives across dozens of apps and services, forcing consumers to repeatedly explain themselves to AI assistants,” said CEO Schwark Satyavolu. “Planning a great trip requires understanding far more than a destination and budget. It involves knowing your airline and hotel preferences, loyalty programs, dietary and medical restrictions, family needs, travel history, and how you like to spend your time. Think of Nenu as a dossier that you hand off to an assistant to instantly bring them up to speed on who you are.”

“Traditional AI chatbots often recommend what is popular or highly rated rather than what is genuinely right for you,” said Chief Business Officer Vivin Ramamurthy. “And every time you switch AI assistants or start a new conversation, you may have to explain your preferences all over again.”

These generic results can be frustrating. In fact, earlier this year, Forbes reported that researchers from travel insurance company InsureMyTrip found some major glitches when using general AI tools to plan their vacations. They found significant discrepancies in pricing for certain experiences and that some recommended restaurants didn’t even exist.

But while Nenu may be appealing to leisure travelers, it can also be handy for business travelers who don’t have a personal or executive assistant to handle their logistics. And it could be a lifesaver for people who have to plan around health conditions, dietary restrictions, and other highly specific needs that can be a pain to describe each time. As someone with celiac disease and a dairy allergy, just ask me.

I never thought I would turn to AI to plan or research a trip, but with Nenu, I might reconsider. I will most certainly give it a try.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com