At Vamoos, we believe in sparking change through conversation. That’s why over the past year we’ve hosted three AI roundtable dinners, bringing together senior decision makers from top travel companies – from Black Tomato, G Adventures and Explore to Exodus, Adido and more.

These gatherings have consisted of candid, constructive, face to face discussions about how AI is already affecting travel, and how we can all move forward wisely together. Here’s what happened at each dinner – and the key takeaways we believe every travel company should be aware of.

1. March 2025 – Barrafina, London

Our first AI dinner kicked off with powerful insights from industry leaders, including Linda Fox from PhocusWire, Ronan Gay from Black Tomato, and Andy Headington from Adido.

Key takeaways:

• AI’s promise vs reality: While AI is boosting productivity across the board, it’s no silver bullet yet. Hallucinations and reliability issues are still a real concern.

• APIs: the underrated workhorse: Amid all the AI buzz, APIs quietly power the tech that actually works. But many companies still face integration challenges.

• The future is interoperability: True transformation will come when travel companies can plug in best-in-class solutions without friction. This kind of seamless connectivity is the next big leap.

2. June 2025 – Duck & Waffle, London

A few months later, we gathered again – this time at the iconic Duck & Waffle – for another round of AI discussion, led by partners from Adido and guest speakers from Kowalah and Audley Travel.

Key takeaways:

• It’s not about replacing people: AI is only as good as the inputs. Better prompts mean better results.

• ChatGPT vs Copilot: The tools are evolving fast, but there’s no one-size-fits-all. Choose based on use case.

• Start small, start now: A big overhaul isn’t required. Focus on incremental change that sticks.

• Tech only works if your team buys in: Internal communication and excitement are just as critical as the systems themselves.

• Use frameworks: Tools like Gartner’s AI Opportunity Radar can help identify where to start — from quick wins to long-term innovation.

Biggest insight:
The industry has already come a long way. But the pace of transformation is only accelerating.

3. October 2025 – Barrafina, London

Our most recent dinner brought together 16 senior figures from across travel and tech, including leaders from G Adventures, Explore Worldwide, and Exodus.

Key takeaways:

• “You need to be ready to change the wheels while driving the car.” There will never be a perfect time to implement AI. Just start.

• The “AAA” of modern travel tech: AI, APIs and Automation work best together. Siloed thinking slows progress.

• AI can be overwhelming, but that’s no excuse: Baby steps still move you forward. Doing something is better than doing nothing.

A big thank you to:
Georgia Wells for organising all three dinners, and to speakers Andrew Steward, Alex Farmer, Andy Headington and many others for sparking such honest, actionable conversations.

What we’ve learned across all three events

Despite very different guest lists and venues, the common themes were striking:

• Progress beats perfection: Waiting for the stars to align means missing opportunities.

• Integration is everything: Travel tech needs to be modular, adaptable, and connected.

• AI is powerful, but APIs are essential: Don’t get distracted by buzzwords. True value comes from systems that talk to each other.

• Your people matter: Tech fails without team buy-in and good internal comms.

• Frameworks bring clarity: Use tools like AI radars to cut through the noise and identify real opportunity.

Want to join the conversation?

If you’re interested in how AI can power smarter, more efficient travel experiences, or if you’d like to attend our next AI dinner, we’d love to hear from you.

Book a meeting with us to chat about where AI could take your travel business.

Let’s shape the future of travel together.

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