Adompretur explores AI’s challenges and opportunities at ExpoTurismo Santiago 2025

Juana Cabrera, Salvador Batista, Yomaris Gómez, Isaac Ramírez, and Amelia Reyes. (Photo: Adompretur)

Santiago, DR.- The Dominican Association of Tourism Press (Adompretur) convened members and an international audience from 11 countries for a workshop on artificial intelligence’s role in tourism at ExpoTurismo Santiago 2025. Led by Dominican expert Isaac Ramírez, the session traced AI’s evolution—from early consumer-data platforms and mobile virtual assistants to the pandemic-era debut of ChatGPT—and examined its rapid integration into travel and hospitality.

Ramírez highlighted practical applications now reshaping the industry: personalized guest experiences at Marriott; AI-driven voice recognition at Singapore Airlines check-in; dynamic itineraries from Google Travel; and traffic management by Buenos Aires’s Tourism Observatory. He also noted that platforms like Expedia’s ChatGPT collaboration allow travelers to “chat” their ideal vacation and receive tailored recommendations in real time.

Citing recent figures, Ramírez reported that 85 percent of travelers rely on apps to plan trips, while 52 percent of Spaniards use Amadeus technology for pre-travel logistics. He added that 64 percent of major hotel chains have deployed AI in customer service, reducing wait times and boosting satisfaction. Looking ahead, he predicted significant workforce impact before 2026, even as AI promises to transform tourism more fully after 2030.

At center, Isaac Ramírez with Adompretur members who participated in the workshop “Trends, Benefits, and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in the Tourism Industry.” (Photo: Adompretur)

To help attendees harness these tools, Ramírez recommended a suite of mobile-friendly AI applications—ChatGPT (now integrated with WhatsApp), Microsoft Copilot, Claudette, Perplexity, Google Gemini, Deepseek and NotebookML—and urged investment in paid versions to safeguard data privacy. “When a service is free, you become the product,” he warned.

The workshop opened with remarks by journalist Yamira Taveras and Juana Cabrera, Adompretur Santiago’s secretary general. Salvador Batista, vice president, and Amelia Reyes, director of training, thanked the national and regional membership—and the Civil Aviation Board—for their support. Delegates also toured the newly opened AC Hotel by Marriott Santiago and enjoyed a networking lunch at Amigos Seafood Steakhouse.