
This New AI Tool Turns Instagram Reels Into Trip Itineraries—We Tried It Out
The excitement of booking a vacation can dissipate all too quickly when faced with the arduous task of actually planning the trip. Trying to squeeze in all the must-visit sights, figure out which restaurants or bars to prioritize, and plan any excursions you'd like to do takes some serious organization—so anything that can help take the pressure off is always welcome.
Over the past year, various tech companies have experimented with different ways generative AI can be used to plan travel. Now, Expedia has released a new AI-powered tool that can create a travel itinerary from Instagram Reels.
In theory, it sounds pretty great; according to Statista, 75% of travelers use social media platforms as a source of travel inspiration, and an American Express study found that 75% of those surveyed were inspired to travel to a specific destination because of social media. So, a tool that will help turn that inspiration into serviceable information would surely be valuable.

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Fast Company
27 minutes ago
- Fast Company
Uber is launching a new Creative Studio for brands
BY Everyday, Uber books more than 30 million rides around the world. Each of these trips tells the company something about its customers. Where they're going, what they're doing, and when they are there. Then there are the tens of millions of Uber Eats orders processed each day, which clocks what people are buying, how often, and when. Combined, you have an incredibly valuable collection of data for other brands to use in order to get our attention. Now, Uber is officially launching its own in-house Creative Studio to help brands to do exactly that. The new division of Uber Advertising will be working with brands to create not only adds on its digital platform, but custom IRL experiences like special ride offers, giveaways, and more. Uber's global head of sales Megan Ramm says that this is more about formalizing something brands have been asking for given how the company's platform is such a natural bridge between our online and offline lives. 'Uber is where we feel culture shows up in real life,' says Ramm. 'When something big is happening in the world, we see it on Uber. If it's an event or a product drop, a concert, or even coming home from the office, it's all happening in real life. And we're seeing that's when and how brands want to connect with people that are using the platform.' The rapid rise of retail media networks in recent years is well-documented. Everything from store shelves to ecommerce apps have become media opportunities for advertising. Dentsu research has reported that 75% of US consumers are influenced by brands advertised in-store, and eMarketer reported that U.S. Retail Media Ad spending was up by $4 billion in 2024. This new offering from Uber makes perfect sense. The company has already long utilized the captive audience on its apps as a vehicle for brands to get our attention, now it's expanding that to actually working to craft a wider variety of ways for brands to do just that. The extended deadline for Fast Company's Brands That Matter Awards is this Friday, June 6, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.

Travel Weekly
40 minutes ago
- Travel Weekly
Looking inside the mixed bag of travel trends
Jamie Biesiada When it comes to where advisors' clients are traveling now, like many other trends in the agency community, it's a true mixed bag. We recently ran a survey of advisors to gauge how the agency community is faring so far this year. While the majority are experiencing some kind of booking decrease, a number are seeing more bookings than last year, some significantly more. Survey respondents indicated clients are shifting international destinations. In total, 58.9% of respondents said recent shifts in international relations or geopolitical events have influenced international bookings, either significantly (26.5%) or slightly (32.4%). A little more than one-third (35.7%) of respondents aren't seeing any shifts, while 5.5% didn't know. We also asked advisors an open-ended question: Have you noticed any shifts in the popularity of specific international destinations among your clients? A significant portion of respondents simply said no. But among those that offered observations, they fell across the board. Take Europe, for example: Many said interest in the Continent remains high, but a notable number of advisors said that interest has fallen off, clients are canceling trips and they're expressing reluctance to travel there. Italy, specifically, remains hot, according to many advisors. Yet, as one pointed out, some clients are avoiding it as it's a Jubilee year for the Catholic Church, drawing millions of additional travelers to Rome. Japan remains a standout destination in terms of popularity. Like Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean were a mixed bag, with some advisors reporting great interest in the regions and others saying client interest has fallen off. Some indicated clients are interested in domestic travel and staying closer to home. Several advisors pointed to increased client preference for cruises, including both river and ocean cruising. Concerns about anti-American attitudes abroad seem to be weighing on the minds of advisors' clients. A number said clients were concerned about how they would be perceived and treated abroad, with some concerned about safety. "They're all asking questions about, 'Is it safe for Americans? Will people be mean to me?'" one advisor wrote, noting those concerns are usually surrounding trips to Europe. Another wrote: "A handful of clients have expressed hesitation to any international country for fear of how they view Americans right now. But I will say that it is far more common for those that are less traveled."


CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Here's what to know about parking and traffic restrictions for the U.S. Open at Oakmont this week
Information on parking and traffic restrictions for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Information on parking and traffic restrictions for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Information on parking and traffic restrictions for the U.S. Open at Oakmont With upwards of 200,000 people expected to attend the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club this week, here are some things to know about parking options and traffic restrictions that will be in place. All eyes in the golf world will be set on Oakmont as the club is hosting the U.S. Open, often referred to as golf's toughest test, for a record 10th time. The championship is being played from June 12 to June 15. With hundreds of thousands of people descending on the fabled grounds of the historic club, you can expect the parking and traffic situations to be much more congested than on a normal day. Danny Sink, Senior Director of U.S. Open Championships for the United States Golf Association, says that the traffic and congestion will start to ramp up today. An aerial view shows the championship setup for the upcoming 125th playing of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. KDKA Drone Team / KDKA Photojournalist Brian Smithmyer "We like to stress that it is a seven day event even though we don't start keeping score until Thursday," Sink said. Sink says that for the first practice round day ahead of the tournament, the USGA expects 18,000 to 20,000 people in attendance, and that number will crescendo as the week goes on, peaking around 40,000 people on Friday and Saturday. With the massive amounts of people expected to flood the Oakmont area, Sink says the best thing you can do is "practice a little patience." "If you have an alternate route to not use Hulton Road or use the corridor going through Plum, Oakmont, Allegheny River Boulevard, or Allegheny Avenue, we're not telling people those roads are closed by any stretch because they're not," Sink said. "We're just suggesting if there is an alternate route for you and you're not coming to the championship, it might be better for you during the week of the Open." Where will I be able to park for the U.S. Open? For fans attending the U.S. Open, there will be no parking within Oakmont or Plum. Complimentary parking will be available at the RED lot at Hartwood Acres (around 10 miles northwest of the club) and at the BLUE lot at Monroeville Mall (around 10 miles south of the club). Fans heading to the tournament using I-79, I-279, the the eastbound lanes of Turnpike, Rt. 28, Rt. 8, and those coming from the western and northern parts of the area are encouraged to use the RED lot. KDKA The BLUE lot is recommended for fans traveling using the westbound lanes of the Turnpike, the Parkway East, Rt. 30, Rt. 22, and those coming from the eastern and southern parts of the area. Sink says using the satellite parking lots is the most effective way to get to the tournament. "You get parked, we load you on a bus immediately, get you on the Turnpike and get you to the championship as quickly as possible, avoiding traffic delays in Harmar, Verona, Blawnox, Penn Hills, and all the surrounding communities," Sink said. The USGA says that 130 buses will be running daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. to shuttle fans from both lots to the tournament. The shuttles to the championship are expected to take around 25 minutes and will drop fans off around 150 yards from Gate 1, the main entrance for spectators, located on the other side of the Turnpike from Oakmont's clubhouse. "It starts from when you park your car in our general fan parking lots to the time you leave at the end of the day, we try to make sure your experience is top notch from beginning to end," Sink said. The USGA also says that people who live near Oakmont Country Club will be given tags for their vehicles that will allow them to access local roads and neighborhoods near the tournament that will be otherwise closed to traffic. Where can I get an Uber or Lyft to pick me up or drop me off? If you're planning on using a ride share app like Uber or Lyft to get to or from the U.S. Open or planning on having someone drop you off or pick you up, there will be a designated place located a short walk from the tournament. The USGA says that the Tenth Street Elementary School located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Oakmont Borough will serve as the designated drop-off and pick-up location for the tournament. KDKA "We certainly won't allow any drop offs on Hulton Road or Coxcomb Hill Road or any of the surrounding areas," Sink said. From the drop-off location to the closest entrance to the championship will be around a 1/2 mile walk. Ride share and passenger drop-offs and pickups at the school will be limited to vehicles no larger than 15 passengers. Larger vehicles for groups or by private buses will need to use the RED lot at Hartwood Acres or the BLUE lot at Monroeville Mall. COMPLETE U.S. OPEN COVERAGE: