How AI is Revolutionizing Travel and Events

January 6, 2025

The future of immersive travel

Artificial intelligence is slowly but steadily changing how we work, live and travel.

Smart Meetings spoke with Herman C Deboard II, CEO and founder of Huvr Inc., an interactive video streaming and marketing platform. Deboard’s company allows planners to create virtual event spaces as well as customized experiences.

We chatted with Deboard to better understand how the continuing evolution of AI will play into the development of the hospitality and travel industry.

Smart Meetings What are the perks of allowing individuals to take part in virtual tours?

Herman DeBoard I can think of so many off the top of my head. First, virtual tours make travel experiences accessible to everyone.

Obviously, virtual tours are more affordable than physical travel. You can experience and explore new places without expenses like airfare, accommodations and meals.

Virtual travel also offers flexibility. You can access a virtual travel experience anytime and anywhere.

In addition to travel, we extend our virtual touring capabilities across numerous sectors such as news, healthcare, education, sports, events, and real estate. Picture students exploring historical sites or medical professionals touring advanced facilities virtually. Think about exploring a far-flung vacation property you dream about purchasing from the comfort of your home. This streamlines the property search process and helps make informed decisions.

SM How is AI involved in this process?

HD So many people are unaware of everything virtual travel offers because it’s still so new. This is where AI comes in today. It discovers where you want to go and then shows you how you can be there in seconds.

To make that happen, AI essentially takes a peek into each traveler’s mind. If you are the type of person who enjoys traveling, you typically talk about it. AI sifts through all the information you leave in your online chats, tour reviews, and behavior and then compiles a comprehensive picture of your travel hopes and dreams from this data.

When you visit our virtual travel platform, the AI system already knows what you want to see. If we know in advance whether you hope to engage in a thrilling safari, an educational tour of historical ruins or a fun cultural exchange during a shopping expedition, we can give you a much better experience.

After your virtual trip, AI also allows you to enjoy real travel to similar destinations. In my opinion, virtual travel experiences should never entirely replace physical travel. On the contrary, virtual experiences can go a long way to enhance your physical travel by enabling you to explore a destination before booking your plane ticket.

After each virtual trip, AI analyzes your experience and quickly finds the most efficient and cost-effective travel recommendations. It can streamline hours of planning and sift through vast amounts of data to give you the best travel activities, attractions, and tours. For instance, the AI may ask you a question like, “Did you know you could fly to the location you just virtually visited for $200?” If you express interest, the system can create a custom trip based on all the things you expressed interest in during your virtual travels.

SM What is the focus of Huvr? What is your goal?

HD Huvr’s goal is to democratize access to diverse experiences. We want to make it possible for you to explore and engage with the world without the constraints of physical travel. By leveraging the gig economy and established brands, we aim to enhance the accessibility, convenience, and richness of your virtual exploration across various fields.

Our focus spans multiple sectors. In travel, we provide virtual tours and experiences to destinations in over 50 countries. In news, we enable virtual access to significant events and locations. In healthcare, we offer virtual tours of medical facilities and educational content. In education, we facilitate virtual field trips and interactive learning experiences. In sports, we bring virtual access to sports events and venues. In events, we allow users to attend and host events virtually. And in real estate, we provide virtual tours of properties for potential buyers.

In a nutshell, we aim to create a seamless and immersive virtual exploration platform that broadens users’ horizons and provides enriching experiences.

SM How can AI-powered algorithms create virtual tours that feel immersive?

HD Today, the engagement you will experience during virtual travel mainly involves connections with actual humans all over the world. However, we’re beginning to explore the use of 4K cameras aboard AI-controlled drones. We think this will make your travel experience more immersive by offering you an aerial view of your surroundings.

In the very near future, I’m also very excited to see how AI’s real-time language translation capabilities will impact virtual travel. We’re still in the early stages of language translation, but soon, we will see translations occurring in real-time. Just think—you could take a virtual trip to any country and converse with people in their native languages. I have no doubt that AI will soon be able to automatically translate whatever you and your travel guide say through the app. When that happens, you’ll be able to talk in real-time with anyone in the world.

SM What can an attendee expect from an event with Huvr?

HD As an attendee of one of our virtual events, you can expect seamless access. Whether it’s a concert, a conference, or a cultural festival, Huvr provides you with advanced technologies and a hassle-free platform to join and participate in these events from anywhere in the world.

In addition, you should expect an engaging and enriching experience. Our virtual events are designed to be immersive, allowing you to feel as if you are physically present. The platform makes your virtual experience engaging and memorable through high-quality visuals, real-time interactions, and personalized content.

You can also expect expert hosts and guides. Events on Huvr are hosted by local experts who utilize their knowledge to enrich your experience. They ensure the content is informative, accurate and engaging, providing deep insights and fostering meaningful connections.

Finally, you can expect convenience and flexibility. You can join virtual events and tours from the comfort of your own home at any time that suits you, eliminating the constraints of travel and scheduling conflicts.

SM What are the perks of a meeting planning partner with Huvr to create their event or trip?

HD When you plan a virtual event or experience with Huvr, you can access state-of-the-art technology to create immersive and engaging experiences. Our AI-powered algorithms, interactive meeting platform—which can host thousands—and real-time interaction capabilities ensure your event will stand out and captivate your attendees.

In addition, we collaborate with influencers and brands of all sizes. Even for smaller businesses, partnering with Huvr can be a very cost-effective solution. Utilizing virtual and immersive technologies can reduce the costs associated with physical venues, travel and logistics. This allows for a broader reach and more flexible budget allocation.

Finally, after the event or trip, Huvr provides your brand with detailed analytics and insights to help you assess the success and impact of your efforts. This data is invaluable for future planning.