Scroll, Share, Go: Expedia Turns Instagram Travel Reels Into Instant Holidays With New AI Booking Tool

New Expedia Feature Turns Saved Reels Into Real-World Holidays

Ever come across an Instagram Reel of a sunlit beach or a bustling street market and wished you could just book that trip immediately?

Or wanted to follow in the footsteps of your favourite travel influencers but never quite got around to planning the details?

Expedia may have found a way to make that easier with its new Trip Matching tool, which uses artificial intelligence to turn social media inspiration into ready-to-book travel itineraries.

How Expedia Turns Social Media Dreams Into Bookable Trips

Expedia’s Trip Matching works by letting users send any publicly available travel-related Instagram Reel directly to the official @Expedia account.

Once shared, Expedia’s AI scans the video, recognising locations, activities, and points of interest shown.

It then compiles these insights into a personalised travel itinerary that includes hotel options, tours, and other travel essentials, all ready for booking.

The tool taps into Expedia’s extensive travel database as well as Google’s location data to connect what users see in a Reel with real-world travel services.

This removes the need to manually search for hotels or activities after spotting a destination online — everything is curated automatically based on the video’s content.

Why Trip Matching Could Change How People Plan Travel?

A survey by Expedia found that 77% of travellers rely on social media for trip inspiration, often leading to actual bookings.

Yet, many users save travel videos with plans to revisit them later, only to forget.

Expedia’s feature bridges this gap by allowing users to convert saved inspiration into concrete plans immediately.

Jochen Koedijk, Expedia Group’s chief marketing officer, said,

“It’s no secret people are getting their news, inspiration and travel ideas from influencers and content creators, with a recent study showing that 80% of millennials rely on social media for travel decisions. We want to be where consumers get their inspiration, which is through social media.”

This development shifts social media platforms from being just sources of travel ideas to direct channels for booking trips.

Influencers and brands showcasing destinations can now see their content more directly tied to bookings, simplifying the process for followers who want to replicate their experiences.

The Fine Line Between Travel Inspiration and Creator Exploitation

While the tool offers convenience for travellers, it also raises questions about compensation for content creators.

Many influencers provide the videos that inspire bookings, yet currently, they do not receive direct payment when their content leads to a sale through Trip Matching.

Source: pexels

As the feature expands, it could spark conversations about fairer ways to reward creators whose work drives real revenue.

For the travel industry, Expedia’s approach represents a step forward in blending social media with AI-driven services.

This seamless integration could prompt wider adoption of similar tools, changing how consumers discover, plan, and book trips.

Is This The Future Of Travel Booking On Social Media?

Though still in beta and accessible via early sign-up on Expedia’s site, Trip Matching points to a future where every social media interaction could become a travel planning opportunity.

The aim is to remove friction between the inspiration found in short videos and the actual booking process.

Instead of bookmarking countless Reels or scrolling past without action, travellers can quickly convert social media moments into detailed itineraries.

Whether it’s a beach in Bali, a night market in Bangkok, or a wine tour in Tuscany, the tool helps users act on their travel daydreams without the usual hassle.

Expedia may have just opened the door to a new way of planning travel — one where AI, social content, and booking come together in real time.