The WTM Global Travel Report, released at World Travel Market London, found that the share of travellers using AI chatbots to plan international trips rose from 10% in 2024 to 24% in 2026. 54% of travellers aged 18–34 trust AI to make bookings on their behalf, compared with 18% of those over 55. This lesson uses an original English reading passage and a plain-English summary to teach 11 words and phrases, including agentic AI, booking, on someone's behalf and itinerary, plus 3 useful sentence patterns, a dialogue and a 5-question quiz.
Would You Let AI Book Your Trip? The Key Points
News date: November 2026 (WTM London) | Level: B1–B2 | Topics: AI, international travel
Asking ChatGPT "How should I spend five days in Tokyo?" before a trip is already normal for many people. But what if AI didn't just plan your trip, and went on to book your flights and hotel for you? Would you let it? The WTM Global Travel Report, released this week at World Travel Market London, gives an answer: the younger the traveller, the more willing they are to let AI do the job.
This story brings together two topics: AI and international travel. Words from the story such as agentic AI, itinerary and on someone's behalf don't only appear in tech news. You will also need them when you plan a study trip or a working holiday, book accommodation abroad or change your travel plans.
Below, you'll first read a short B1–B2 English passage about the story, then a plain-English summary, key vocabulary and sentence patterns. Finally, a dialogue and a quiz will help you really remember the words.
Reading Passage: Would You Let AI Book Your Next Trip?
Try reading the passage once without the summary, and look for three key points: How many travellers use AI to plan trips? How many trust AI to make bookings for them? How big is the gap between younger and older travellers?
English Level：Intermediate（B1–B2）｜Topic：Travel, Technology
Would You Let AI Book Your Next Trip?
Many travellers already ask AI chatbots where to go and what to see. Now a growing number are ready to let AI take the next step: making the booking for them. That is one key finding of the WTM Global Travel Report, which was released this week at World Travel Market London, one of the world's biggest travel trade events.
The report uses data from the research firm Tourism Economics. It says the share of travellers using AI chatbots to plan international trips has more than doubled, from 10% in 2024 to 24% in 2026. Travellers in all age groups are fairly comfortable with AI doing simple jobs: 58% trust it to search for and compare prices, and 53% trust its recommendations.
Handing over the booking itself is a bigger step. Overall, 36% of travellers say they trust agentic AI, meaning tools that can complete tasks on their own, to make bookings on their behalf. But there is a clear age gap. Among people aged 18 to 34, the figure is 54%, compared with only 18% of those over 55.
Travel companies are moving quickly, too. According to the report, 87% of tourism organisations were using AI in early 2026, with operational efficiency named as the top use. For travellers, the lesson is simple: AI can save you time, but it is still smart to check the details before you pay.
The English passage above is an original learning text written from travel-industry media coverage of the WTM Global Travel Report (TravelPress, C&IT and others). It is not a word-for-word copy of any news report.
Plain-English Summary
Lots of travellers already use AI chatbots to decide where to go and what to see. Now more and more people are happy for AI to go one step further and actually make the booking. This is one of the main findings of the WTM Global Travel Report, which came out this week at World Travel Market London, one of the biggest travel industry events in the world.
The report is based on data from a research company called Tourism Economics. The number of travellers who use AI chatbots to plan trips abroad has gone up by more than two times: from 10% in 2024 to 24% in 2026. People of all ages feel quite OK about AI doing easy tasks. 58% trust it to find and compare prices, and 53% trust the suggestions it gives.
Letting AI do the actual booking is a bigger decision. In total, 36% of travellers trust "agentic AI" (AI tools that can finish tasks by themselves) to book things for them. But younger and older people feel very differently. For people aged 18 to 34, the number is 54%. For people over 55, it is just 18%.
Travel businesses are also changing fast. The report says 87% of tourism organisations were using AI in early 2026, mainly to make their work run more efficiently. The message for travellers is easy: AI can save you time, but you should still check everything before you pay.
11 Key Words and Phrases
1. agentic AI (n. phr.) AI that can plan and carry out tasks on its own
In the news: tools that can complete tasks on their own
Example: My company is testing agentic AI that can book meeting rooms and send reminders.
Meaning: Our company is trying out AI that books rooms and sends reminders without a person doing it.
2. booking (n.) a reservation / book (v.) to reserve
In the news: making the booking for them
Example: I made a booking for a hostel in Cebu for my first week of study.
Meaning: I reserved a hostel room in Cebu for my first week of classes.
3. on someone's behalf (phr.) for someone; representing someone
In the news: to make bookings on their behalf
Example: Can you call the hotel on my behalf? My English isn't good enough yet.
Meaning: Can you call the hotel for me?
4. more than double (v. phr.) to increase to more than twice the amount
In the news: has more than doubled, from 10% in 2024 to 24% in 2026
Example: Our café's online orders have more than doubled this year.
Meaning: We now get over twice as many online orders as before.
5. compare prices (v. phr.) to check prices in different places to find the best deal
In the news: search for and compare prices
Example: I always compare prices on three websites before I buy a flight ticket.
Meaning: I check three websites to find the cheapest flight.
6. recommendation (n.) a suggestion about what is good or what to do
In the news: 53% trust its recommendations
Example: Do you have any recommendations for cheap places to eat near the station?
Meaning: Can you suggest some cheap restaurants near the station?
7. hand over (v. phr.) to give a task, responsibility or item to someone else
In the news: Handing over the booking itself is a bigger step.
Example: Before my vacation, I handed over my projects to a coworker.
Meaning: A coworker took care of my projects while I was away.
8. age gap (n.) a difference between age groups or generations
In the news: there is a clear age gap
Example: There's a big age gap in how my family uses social media.
Meaning: Younger and older people in my family use social media very differently.
9. compared with (phr.) when you look at how something is different from something else
In the news: 54%, compared with only 18% of those over 55
Example: Rent in Sydney is high compared with rent in Taichung.
Meaning: Rent costs more in Sydney than in Taichung.
10. efficiency (n.) doing things well without wasting time or effort / efficient (adj.)
In the news: with operational efficiency named as the top use
Example: Using a to-do app has improved my efficiency at work.
Meaning: A to-do app helps me get more work done in less time.
11. itinerary (n.) a detailed plan or schedule for a trip (extra word, common in travel news)
Context: when AI helps with trip planning, what it produces is an itinerary
Example: Could you send me the itinerary for our weekend trip to Bohol?
Meaning: Please send me the plan for our weekend in Bohol.
Sentence Patterns: 3 Structures Common in Travel and Data Reporting
Pattern 1: let + person/thing + base verb (allow someone or something to do something)
From the passage: Would you let AI book your next trip? / ready to let AI take the next step
Explanation: After let, always use the base form of the verb, with no to and no -ing. Common mistake: let AI to book → let AI book.
Try it: My boss lets us work from home on Fridays.
Meaning: We are allowed to work from home on Fridays.
Pattern 2: A, compared with B (showing how A is different from B)
From the passage: Among people aged 18 to 34, the figure is 54%, compared with only 18% of those over 55.
Explanation: State the main number first, then use compared with to introduce what you are comparing it to. This is one of the most common ways news reports present data.
Try it: This month I spent NT$8,000 on food, compared with NT$6,000 last month.
Meaning: I spent more on food this month than last month.
Pattern 3: It is (still) smart to + base verb (it is a good idea to do something)
From the passage: It is still smart to check the details before you pay.
Explanation: In It is + adjective + to + verb, it is a dummy subject. The real subject (to + verb) moves to the end, which makes the sentence easier to read.
Try it: It is smart to save some money before you start your working holiday.
Meaning: Saving money before a working holiday is a good idea.
Dialogue Practice: Talking About Holiday Plans at Lunch
Situation: Two coworkers chat about their holiday plans during their lunch break.
English Conversation
- Amy: I'm planning a trip to Japan, and I asked an AI chatbot to make my itinerary.
- Ken: Nice! Did you let it make the booking, too?
- Amy: Not yet. I only used it to compare prices and get some recommendations.
- Ken: I read that more than half of travellers aged 18 to 34 trust AI to book on their behalf.
- Amy: Really? I think there's an age gap. My parents would never hand over their credit card to a bot.
- Ken: Agentic AI can save time, but it's still smart to check the dates before you pay.
- Amy: True. Last year I booked the wrong night by myself — no AI needed!
What they mean
- Amy: I'm going to Japan, and I got an AI chatbot to plan my trip schedule.
- Ken: Cool! Did the AI book the trip for you as well?
- Amy: No, not yet. I only used it to find good prices and get some ideas.
- Ken: I read that over half of travellers aged 18 to 34 trust AI to make bookings for them.
- Amy: Wow. I think younger and older people feel differently about this. My parents would never give their credit card details to a bot.
- Ken: AI that does tasks for you saves time, but you should still check the dates before paying.
- Amy: Right. Last year I booked the wrong night all by myself, without any help from AI!
Quiz: Can You Use agentic AI and itinerary?
Try not to look back at the passage. Choose an answer and click confirm to see the explanation.
AI Can Book Your Trip, but Abroad You Still Need to Speak Up
AI can plan your trip, compare prices and even book your room. But once you are abroad, changing a ticket at the counter, talking to your landlord or making friends at a language school still depends on you speaking English yourself. Ambitious Learner's one-to-one online English lessons can give you travel, daily-life or workplace speaking practice based on your level and goals.
If you are thinking about studying English in the Philippines, take a look at our Philippines language schools, or book a consultation through our official LINE account. Results vary from person to person, so we will first learn about your level and goals before suggesting a plan.
Further Reading
- Reuters Institute survey: how often people use AI chatbots: another story about AI habits. Learn words like weekly use and chatbot.
- Goldman Sachs on AI and jobs: how AI could change work, with useful business and tech vocabulary.
- English for customs and immigration: common questions at the border and sample answers.
- Philippines language schools: compare schools, cities and courses for studying English in the Philippines.
Sources
- TravelPress: Gen Z adoption paves the way for the agentic AI tipping point | 2026/11
- C&IT: Agentic AI gains ground among young travellers | 2026/11/4
- ATQ News: WTM Report Reveals More Than Half of Gen Z Travellers Trust AI to Make Their Travel Plans and Bookings | 2026/11/4
- Travelling for Business: WTM Global Travel Report: Gen Z Ready to Let AI Book Trips | 2026/11/4
Fact-check date: 2026/11/5. All figures come from travel-industry media reports about the WTM Global Travel Report. The report's sample size, countries surveyed and survey period were not made public. Some headlines use the term "Gen Z", but the report's data groups people by age 18–34, so this article uses 18–34. The English reading passage, example sentences, dialogue and quiz are original teaching content created by Ambitious Learner and are not word-for-word copies of any news report.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQ
Q01What does agentic AI mean? How is it different from a normal AI chatbot?＋
Agentic AI means AI that can act like an agent for you. A normal chatbot mainly answers questions and gives suggestions. Agentic AI can work towards your goal and carry out tasks step by step on its own, such as searching for flights, comparing prices, filling in forms and completing a booking. The news story explains it as tools that can complete tasks on their own.
Q02What English do I need to book flights and hotels with AI?＋
At the very least, you should understand words like booking confirmation, check-in and check-out date, non-refundable and cancellation policy. However convenient AI is, you are still the one who checks the details before paying, and knowing these words helps you avoid booking mistakes.
Q03Is there a difference between on behalf of and on someone's behalf?＋
No, they mean the same thing: for someone, or representing someone. You can say on behalf of + noun (on behalf of my team), or put a possessive in the middle (on my behalf, on their behalf). It is very common in business emails, for example: I'm writing on behalf of our manager.
Q04Does the WTM report say that young people already use AI to make their bookings?＋
No. The figures show how many people trust AI to make bookings for them: 54% of people aged 18–34, 18% of those over 55 and 36% overall. This does not mean they have actually let AI complete a booking. The share who actually use AI chatbots to plan international trips is 24%.
