TourConnect AI named finalist in 2026 Skift IDEA Awards

TourConnect AI’s Itinerary Assist AI was shortlisted in Skift’s Travel Technology category for work that automates itinerary production for destination management companies. The recognition underscores how AI is shifting consultants away from repetitive data entry and toward higher-value client service.

Why it matters: - TourConnect AI’s finalist spot puts a spotlight on how AI is changing the work of destination management company consultants. - The shift matters because faster itinerary production can free teams to focus on personalisation, relationship-building and higher-value sales support. - The company says the approach helps DMCs grow without trading off volume for quality.

What happened: - TourConnect AI announced that Itinerary Assist AI was named a finalist in the Travel Technology category of the 2026 Skift IDEA Awards. - The entry was titled “Redefining the role of the DMC consultant with Agentic AI.” - Skift will announce winners on 26 August 2026. - The awards are in their eighth year and drew more than 490 entries globally in 2026. - Skift’s editorial team and an independent panel of industry experts selected the finalists.

The details: - Itinerary Assist AI is an AI-powered copilot built for DMC consultants and inbound tour operators. - The platform is designed around the consultant workflow and integrates with tools including Outlook and Tourplan. - It automates the creation and updating of itineraries from quote requests arriving as emails, PDFs or spreadsheets. - TourConnect AI launched the platform in beta in 2024. - The company added automated product rules and conversational chat functionality in 2025. - By 2026, the product was live with premium DMCs across APAC, Europe, Africa and the Americas. - TourConnect AI says the platform has processed more than $100 million in itinerary value. - Clients report 40% to 60% time savings on initial itinerary builds. - Clients also retain 92% of service lines in final itineraries. - Across Australia’s operations manager Andrew Lewis said the team nicknamed the tool “Jeanie” and that it now handles the majority of data entry work. - TourConnect AI said the system can surface details that support personalisation, including a traveler’s birthday during the trip or a group preference for EV transfers. - More information is available through the company’s LinkedIn page, YouTube channel and X account.

Between the lines: - The finalist nod reflects a broader industry push to use AI for production work instead of replacing consultant judgment. - TourConnect AI is positioning its product as a way to amplify expertise, not automate the consultant out of the workflow. - The company’s message is that better AI can create better agent relationships because consultants spend more time applying judgment and less time assembling documents. - The recognition also gives TourConnect AI third-party validation as it expands its pre-trip workflow tools globally.

What's next: - TourConnect AI said it will keep developing Itinerary Assist AI over the coming year. - The company also plans to support more DMC teams as they adopt AI in pre-trip workflows. - TourConnect AI will continue working closely with DMCs to refine the product and increase value from the copilot.

The bottom line: - TourConnect AI is using the Skift finalist nod to reinforce a simple pitch: AI should remove repetitive itinerary work so DMC consultants can focus on the service that travelers and agents actually notice.