Essentialist Launches AI-Powered App for Planning Luxury Travel

Members-only travel service Essentialist launched a new smartphone app that serves as a travel concierge.

The Essentialist app allows travelers to manage their entire planning cycle within the app itself, the company said in a Wednesday (Nov. 8) press release.

From trip inspiration to building itineraries and making real-time changes, the app enhances the efficiency of each step of the journey, according to the release. The process is made possible through a combination of technology, exclusive content and data.

One of the features of the app is its ability to deliver customized trips with quick turnaround times, the release said. Essentialist uses its network of over 200 travel editors and local experts who curate exclusive and under-the-radar experiences worldwide. The app serves as a database of travel inspiration, enabling members to bookmark their favorite destinations and activities for future travel plans.

Using artificial intelligence (AI), the app matches client interests with the reported and tagged elements of each destination, providing options tailored to individual preferences, per the release. Once a proposal is shared within the app, the Member Experience Manager takes care of booking all elements of the itinerary based on the members’ final choices.

Founded in 2016 by digital travel industry expert Joan Roca, Essentialist aims to transform the way travelers explore the world, according to the release.

The Essentialist app is available for download on both iOS and Android devices, per the release. To become a member, there is an annual membership fee of $2,600 per household, which includes benefits such as a dedicated Member Experience Manager and access to one-of-a-kind experiences.

PYMNTS Intelligence found that travel saw a significant rise over the summer, despite ongoing economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures. Close to two-thirds of consumers had summer travel on their agenda, and nearly one-third anticipated more travel this summer than the last, according to “The Credit Economy: How Consumers Financed Their Summer Travel,” a PYMNTS and i2c collaboration.

The report also found that digital travel tools have become essential in helping travelers navigate planning and payments while still enjoying their travel experiences.

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