Travelers across the United States are turning to artificial‑intelligence chatbots to plan vacations, but a new survey reveals a troubling flaw: one in six AI‑assisted users were sent to destinations that simply do not exist.
Key findings from the Greetwell study
The study, commissioned by travel‑concierge firm Greetwell and conducted online in August 2026, surveyed 1,000 adults who had taken at least one overnight leisure trip in the past year. Of those respondents, 485 reported using or trying AI for travel planning. Among this subgroup, 55% reported encountering at least one inaccurate recommendation, ranging from wrong addresses to events that never occurred.
Overall, 53% of all respondents said they have used AI or experimented with it for travel purposes. While 34% employed AI only for research and planning, a smaller 14% used it for both research and booking, and 5% tried AI but found it unhelpful.
Trust in AI remains mixed
Despite the errors, a slight majority of AI users (34%) said their trust in AI had increased over the past year, while 14% reported a decline in confidence. However, among those who experienced a bad recommendation, trust fell for 21% of respondents, compared with only 5% of those who had not encountered a problem.
When asked how they would spend a free afternoon in an unfamiliar city, 31% said they would rely on friends or family for suggestions, while just 9% would turn to AI. Likewise, if a planned activity were canceled due to weather, 65% preferred to contact a real person for rebooking or refunds.
AI adoption continues to grow
Industry data from Deloitte’s 2026 travel research shows AI usage for travel planning rose from 15% to 25% within a single year, indicating rapid adoption despite the accuracy concerns.
Greetwell’s survey notes that the findings cannot prove a direct causal link between AI usage and declining trust, but they raise important questions about how far travelers will rely on automated tools before demanding human verification.
What this means for travelers
While AI can quickly generate itineraries and suggest activities, the study underscores the continued importance of human oversight. Travelers are advised to double‑check AI‑generated recommendations, especially when booking flights, hotels, or event tickets.
As AI technology evolves, providers will need to improve data validation to prevent “hallucinated” destinations from eroding consumer confidence.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
