Finance leaders at UK travel operators
AI in Travel: using AI to drive margin
An aibl event in partnership with HedgePoint
Spend one free afternoon finding out where AI is protecting margin at UK and Irish travel operators, and where it isn’t yet. Two operators show what AI has taken out of their costs, with the numbers. Then you test your own plans against finance leaders who face the same currency swings and supplier prices.
Request your place
Free for qualifying travel operators, by invitation. You’re welcome to bring a colleague from finance or the leadership team.
Why now
You set a budget rate last summer. You sell in sterling months ahead and pay suppliers in euros and dollars. The gap between those numbers decides your year.
The largest operators are already putting AI to work on cost. TUI Group’s €250m cost programme to FY2028 expects 40% to come from operations, including AI for pricing and workflow (PhocusWire, August 2026).
What you’ll take back
What will you take back to your organisation?
You’ll leave with real figures from operators who have used AI on cost and pricing. You’ll also know where it pays back in a travel business. Most of the afternoon is peer discussion, so you’ll hear how other finance teams handle currency and cash through the peak.
Where AI cuts cost
What AI has taken out of an operator’s cost base, from the operators who did it.
How to reprice when costs move
Where AI is helping operators reprice when supplier costs shift mid-season, and where it isn’t.
How peers protect cash through the peak
How peers handle bonding and the working capital squeeze through the booking season.
Why some AI spend doesn’t pay back
Why some operators got value from their AI spend and others are still waiting for it.
For background before the day, read our AI guides for operations and finance leaders and AI case studies.
The afternoon
What happens on the afternoon?
Doors open at 13:00 for lunch. The programme runs from 13:30 to 16:45: two operator case studies, small-table roundtables and a session on currency risk. Drinks follow until 18:00. We’ll announce speakers from December.
The roundtables run under Chatham House rule, so people can talk about what didn’t work as well as what did.
| 13:00 | Arrival, lunch and coffee |
| 13:30 | Welcome from aibl |
| 13:40 | Two operator case studies 15 minutes each, with the numbers, then questions |
| 14:30 | Break |
| 15:00 | Roundtables Peers working through one problem per table |
| 16:00 | Protecting margin from currency moves A travel CFO in conversation with HedgePoint |
| 16:30 | Closing remarks |
| 16:45 | Drinks until 18:00 |
Who it’s for
Who is AI in Travel for?
It’s for the people who answer for margin at UK and Irish travel operators. That covers tour operators, OTAs and travel management companies, plus cruise, ski and specialist holiday firms.
- CFOs, finance directors and group FDs
- Heads of treasury and FX
- Owners, CEOs and MDs at smaller operators
If you sell into travel as a vendor, agency or consultant, this one isn’t for you.
Who’s behind it
Who is running it?
aibl runs research on UK AI adoption, events and the aiblBRIEF newsletter for UK organisations. Our flagship event, aiblLIVE London, brought 911 people together in October 2026.
HedgePoint, the treasury and currency risk platform from Jackson Swiss Partners, is the event’s partner and hosts the 16:00 session.
In the room
What is an aibl event like?
In May 2026 we ran workforceLIVE in this same room at The Arding Rooms. Senior people leaders sat at small tables, heard short talks from peers and spent most of the afternoon comparing notes. AI in Travel uses the same format for travel finance leaders. This is what the room looked like, and what attendees have said about aibl events.
“A must for executives navigating AI strategy and implementation.”
Chief Commercial Officer, Colt Technology Services
“Thanks to the AI For Business Leaders team for hosting a great event… cutting through the noise with some genuinely useful insights…”
VP of Marketing, VOOH
“It was such a great event! Every speaker was so inspirational and I walked away with lots of learnings! From speakers and attendees!”
Acceleration Director, Microsoft
Venue
Where is it?
The Arding Rooms, Arding & Hobbs building, 7 St John’s Road, London SW11 1QN. It’s a short walk from Clapham Junction station.
FAQs
Questions about AI in Travel
Is it free to attend?
Yes, it’s free for qualifying travel operators. There’s no ticket fee, and lunch, coffee and drinks are included. Places are by invitation and the room is small, so request yours early. We’ll confirm by email once we’ve checked your organisation is a travel operator.
Can I bring a colleague?
Yes. You’re welcome to bring a colleague from finance or the leadership team, such as your CEO, finance director or head of treasury. Ask for both places in your request, or have your colleague request their own place using the form on this page.
Will it be a sales pitch?
No. The two case studies come from travel operators talking about their own results, and the roundtables run under Chatham House rule. HedgePoint, the event partner, hosts one 30-minute session on protecting margin from currency moves, with a travel CFO.
Can suppliers to the travel sector attend?
No. Places are for travel operators only, so vendors, agencies and consultants who sell into travel aren’t eligible. That keeps the room to finance leaders and owners comparing notes with peers who face the same costs, currencies and booking cycle.
When will speakers be announced?
We’ll announce the operator case studies and roundtable hosts from December 2026. Everyone who has requested a place gets the full programme by email first. We’ll also send joining details for the afternoon at The Arding Rooms in Clapham Junction.
About aibl
See what’s working in AI before you commit budget
AI in Travel is one of aibl’s events. aibl helps UK organisations put AI to work through independent research, events and the weekly aiblBRIEF newsletter, so leaders can learn from peers who have already done it.