- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
OpenAI Launches Ads Pilot for ChatGPT, Travel Expected to Participate
New ad integration creates commercial access for travel brands inside popular AI assistant.
Published on Feb. 9, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
OpenAI has begun testing ads inside its ChatGPT AI assistant, allowing travel brands to serve sponsored content to users as they plan trips and ask questions about destinations, hotels, and flights. Major travel booking sites like Booking.com and Expedia already have apps integrated within ChatGPT for live inventory, and the new ad pilot is expected to further expand commercial opportunities for the travel industry within the popular AI tool.
Why it matters
The integration of ads within ChatGPT represents a significant new channel for travel brands to reach consumers at a critical point in the trip planning process. As one of the most widely used AI assistants, ChatGPT provides travel companies with access to a large and engaged user base actively seeking information and recommendations about their next trip.
The details
OpenAI's initial ad mockups for ChatGPT have featured travel-related scenarios, including a lodging ad appearing in a conversation about planning a trip to Santa Fe. As users ask ChatGPT about destinations, hotels, flights and other trip-planning details, they may now see sponsored placements from relevant travel advertisers matched to that context.
- OpenAI began testing ads inside ChatGPT on Monday, February 9, 2026.
The players
OpenAI
An artificial intelligence research company that created the ChatGPT AI assistant.
Booking.com
A major online travel booking platform that has integrated its services within the ChatGPT AI assistant.
Expedia
A leading online travel booking company that has also integrated its services within the ChatGPT AI assistant.
What’s next
It remains to be seen how travel brands will utilize the new ad integration within ChatGPT and whether the platform will become a key part of their digital marketing strategies.
The takeaway
The launch of ads within ChatGPT opens up a powerful new avenue for travel companies to connect with consumers as they research and plan their next trips, further expanding the commercial opportunities within this rapidly growing AI assistant.
