AI Literacy Now Central to Recruitment in Travel Industry

Travel companies are changing their hiring practices to prioritize artificial intelligence (AI) skills, with major firms restructuring teams, updating job requirements, and integrating AI both in recruitment and daily operations.

Travel companies are increasing their focus on artificial intelligence (AI) skills in recruitment and workforce development. Expedia Group, Booking.com, Sabre, Skyscanner, and Travelport are among the firms advertising AI-related roles and restructuring teams to integrate AI into their business models. This shift is reflected in job postings, updated job specifications, and internal training initiatives.

Expedia Group and Industry Job Listings

Expedia Group has posted multiple AI-focused positions, including Principal Designer, AI Experiences; Senior Manager, Productivity – Enterprise AI; and Senior Product Manager, AI Builder Experiences. The company has also announced a restructuring that includes layoffs and is actively hiring for roles to lead its agentic AI strategy. Other travel companies are following suit. Booking.com is seeking candidates for Senior Machine Learning Scientist I – GenAI, Data & AI Governance Configuration Senior Specialist, and AI Engineer – Category Strategy Optimization Platform, FinTech. Sabre has advertised for Senior Software Engineer and Senior Data Science Engineer positions. Skyscanner is hiring for a Principal Product Manager, an AI Platform Principal, and a Principal AI Conversation Designer.

Agentic AI and Business Strategy

Agentic AI, which refers to AI systems capable of autonomous decision-making and orchestration, is becoming a core focus for travel companies. Expedia Group’s recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission noted that failure to adapt to agentic AI could increase competition and negatively impact business performance. The company stated that not effectively navigating the agentic AI transition could have material adverse effects on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.

AI Literacy as a Job Requirement

AI literacy is now considered a necessary skill across many roles in the travel sector. Companies are updating job specifications to reflect the need for AI competency. Skyscanner’s chief technology officer reported that all employees are expected to be AI-literate and use AI tools, with a particular focus on productivity and creativity balanced with critical thinking and human judgment. Travelport is also seeking professionals who can apply AI and machine learning to improve travel retail, customer service, and efficiency. The company emphasizes the need for employees who can evaluate when and how to use AI tools effectively.

Return on Investment and Research Findings

OAG, a travel data provider, has prioritized hiring AI-native product engineers, citing clear return on investment (ROI) in productivity. The company’s CEO noted that hiring individuals who can leverage AI significantly increases output. According to research by Phocuswright, over 60% of travel businesses consider their company culture suitable for generative AI innovation, and six in ten are scaling or experimenting with agentic AI. A McKinsey Global Survey from March 2025 found that half of organizations using AI expect to need more data scientists in the coming year.

Adapting to New Technology

Industry leaders emphasize adaptability and intellectual curiosity over age or traditional experience. Sabre’s CEO stated that the ability to understand and utilize AI output is more important than input methods or age. Travelport is investing in upskilling current employees to ensure they remain relevant and prepared for future work. OAG and Skyscanner are also providing training and tools to teams beyond product engineering, ensuring broad access to AI platforms.

Impact on Productivity and Recruitment

Engineering teams at Skyscanner have reported a 23% increase in productivity when using generative AI, allowing for faster product development. Travelport is using AI to support efficiency and insight in its recruitment process, while ensuring that hiring decisions are validated by people. The rapid evolution of AI technology is prompting companies to reassess hiring strategies, focusing on candidates who are willing to learn new skills and experiment with new tools.

Conclusion

The travel industry is undergoing significant changes in hiring practices due to the increasing importance of AI. Companies are prioritizing AI skills in job postings, restructuring teams, and investing in employee training. As AI continues to evolve, adaptability and AI literacy are becoming essential requirements for both new hires and existing staff.

Discover more at PhocusWire.