Amsterdam, 12th February – Smiler, the leading innovator in travel photography, announced the launch of the world's first AI-powered photography service, setting a new standard for how the travel industry integrates professional photography into (group) tours and activities.
This revolutionary solution empowers tour operators and online travel agencies (OTAs) to provide their guests with a professional photography experience, capturing high-quality tour photos seamlessly without disrupting the tour activity—solving a long-standing logistical challenge in the travel industry.
Recent travel industry reports, such as GetYourGuide’s Fall 2024 Trends Report, highlight a growing demand for professional photography as an integral part of tours and activities. This demand reflects travelers' desire for sharable and memorable experiences.
Smiler’s photography services offer a scalable, seamless way to enhance these experiences, making them a perfect fit for this emerging demand.
The travel industry stands at a pivotal moment: the demand for share-worthy memories has never been higher, as more and more travelers prioritise capturing and sharing their experiences online.
Until now, operational challenges have made it difficult to integrate professional photography into tours and activities at scale. Smiler bridges the gap by leveraging AI alongside its exclusive photo gallery tool to meet this growing demand and transform the travel experience.
“Our solution goes beyond photography—it’s a powerful tool for OTAs and operators to enhance guest experiences while boosting engagement and revenue,” says Smiler CEO and co-founder Kasper Middelkoop. “Whether they choose to offer photography as a complimentary gift or a premium add-on, our partners have the flexibility to tailor the experience to their audience and maximise the value of their tours.”
The technology leverages advanced AI tools, including facial recognition, to sort, match, and distribute photos through personalised galleries.
For tour operators, this eliminates the operational complexities of providing tour photos, making it possible to capture and distribute high-quality photos of large groups. These photo galleries also open up new revenue opportunities and strengthen brand engagement for its partners.
Smiler’s innovative technology is already being used to enhance guest experiences in the travel industry, with major global players like Big Bus Tours adopting its photography solutions. Starting with the Times Square Tour in New York, Big Bus quickly expanded the offering to additional tours and cities.
“Partnering with Smiler has transformed the Big Bus experience. We've received fantastic feedback from happy customers who love taking home these cherished memories. This collaboration has truly elevated our service!”, said Peter Brown, Director of Business Development at Big Bus Tours.
More tour operators, like The Touring Pandas, have also adopted Smiler’s photography solutions to enhance walking tours. Jaume Vidal Crespo, Founder of Touring Pandas said: “The added value it brings to the group is really unique: our customers have just had the chance to discover some of the most well-known sites in Barcelona, and then Smiler brings the opportunity to capture some memories for visitors to take them home after the trip. We’re really satisfied with the results and we hope we can expand the collaboration to other cities.”
Furthermore, the leading OTA Tiqets.com is incorporating photography as an add-on service in high-traffic venues such as the Colosseum in Rome.
With a staggering 96% engagement rate among guests, Smiler’s photography solution is proving to be an effective way to stay connected with guests after their experience. As more OTAs explore ways to integrate photography into their offerings, the demand is poised for significant growth.
Smiler believes that valuable memories deserve to be captured in high quality. It’s our mission to achieve that on a global scale for every traveler, everywhere. As the world’s first AI-powered photography service tailored specifically for the travel industry, we combine advanced technology with a network of talented photographers to create picture-perfect experiences that drive connection and growth for our partners.
Press Contact: [email protected]
With its proven engagement rates, flexibility, and revenue potential, Smiler’s AI-powered photography service is transforming how travel experiences are photographed, shared, and remembered. Businesses interested in integrating this innovative solution can contact Smiler at [email protected]
