Travel expert Contiki has launched a youth-oriented chatbot named Tiki on Facebook messenger, aimed at allowing agents to suggest trips that suit traveller style and interests based on the brand’s eight travel styles.
According to a statement from Contiki, the eight travel styles launched in 2014 have been received well with agents and travellers alike, providing them with an easy way to match a traveller to trips and receive experiences that better match their expectations.
With a quirky tone of voice, Tiki steps users through a set of questions about their personality, travel preferences and tastes, doing so through a mix of pop-culture references and internet memes.
Contiki says the bot’s responses – or “bot-banter” – addresses some of the stilted experiences lamented by chatbot users, creating something which is entertaining and engaging,
Once Tiki has identified the users’ travel style, it suggests a number of trips within that style that best suits them, before handing the remaining customer service to Contiki agents.
“Tiki is a tool that can be used to bring some fun into the research phase of travel,” said Alexis Sitaropoulos, group marketing director of Contiki Holidays. “It will also help agents to better understand their clients’ style, and give them a leg up on suggesting experiences that suit their motivations, tastes and preferences.”
