A YouTube video pitting travel experts against the internet has been posted by Kuoni.
The film shows several of the operator’s retail staff answering questions unprepared that were also put to a voice activated virtual assistant.
One challenge was to detail the differences between Antigua and Mexico. While the agent pointed out Antigua’s greenery and Mexico’s Mayan ruins and all-inclusive hotels, the virtual assistant gave an answer about life expectancy.
“I don’t think I would tell my customers about the average life expectancy,” said Guildford agent Rachel.
Other questions covered the difference between Patagonia and Chile and which was the best hotel in Thailand, to which the assistant said: “I couldn’t find that one, but I’m working on adding more local businesses.”
Immediately naming her favourite, Kerry from Kuoni’s Brighton branch concluded: “This is why you do not book online. Shall we just finish with that?”
Check out the video here: youtu.be/XDmFgfhIL8E
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