The news: Google is making a push for a bigger role in consumers’ travel planning, rolling out new AI-powered tools that build itineraries, surface deals, and turn plans into bookings.

The details: The tech giant rolled out travel planning with Canvas for US desktop users who are opted into AI Mode in Labs. The feature, which is within Google’s AI Mode, lets users build travel plans tailored to their needs. Travelers can describe the type of trip they’re planning and the recommendations they want, then select “Create Canvas” to generate a side-panel plan that brings together real-time flight and hotel data, Google Maps photos and reviews, and relevant information from across the web.

• Users then see suggestions that match their criteria—from hotel comparisons based on price and amenities to restaurant and activity ideas optimized for travel time from where they’re staying. They can refine the plan with follow-up questions and get help navigating tradeoffs, like choosing a hotel that’s closer to brunch but farther from hiking trails.
• Beyond Canvas, Google is expanding AI Mode’s agentic booking capabilities to more people. Users can book restaurant reservations, event tickets, and beauty or wellness appointments by describing their needs and preferences, and AI Mode searches platforms including OpenTable, Resy, Ticketmaster, StubHub, and Fresha for real-time availability.
• Looking ahead, Google says users will soon be able to book flights and hotels directly in AI Mode. They’ll describe what they want, compare schedules, prices, room photos, amenities, and reviews, refine their options, and complete bookings through partners like Booking.com, Expedia, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

The company is also expanding Flight Deals, its AI-powered fare-finding tool launched in the US, Canada, and India, to more than 200 countries and territories. When users describe where, when, and how they want to travel, Flight Deals will surface the best available bargains.

Our take: Many of the tools Google is expanding aren’t new. For example, it announced trip-planning features for Gemini back in May 2024. What is new is Google’s push to drive more consumers to actually use these tools by making them accessible through the place where most people already engage with Google: search.

That shift should fortify Google’s search ad moat while creating fresh pressure for travel companies—especially since only 21% say they’re fully using AI for predictive modeling and decision-making, per London Research. If those companies don’t quickly adapt their approaches, they risk giving up more of the traveler’s path to purchase to Google.