Expedia’s New Trip Matching Feature Turns Instagram Reels Into Bookable Travel Itineraries

Expedia / Trip Matching

Expedia has launched Trip Matching, a new AI-powered feature that lets users DM any public Instagram Reel to its official account. In response, Expedia sends back a personalized itinerary and travel recommendations inspired by the video, complete with direct booking options.

Why It Matters: Expedia is tapping into how people increasingly discover and plan travel through creators on social media. According to its research, 80% of millennials rely on social platforms for travel decisions. By pairing that inspiration with AI and seamless booking, Expedia is shrinking the gap between idea and action.

While the feature is innovative, the lack of compensation for the creators whose Reels help power these itineraries feels like a missed opportunity. Since users can submit any public Reel, attribution gets messy, which may explain the absence of payouts. Still, there’s a clear fix: let creators in the Expedia Travel Shops program opt in and earn commissions when their content drives bookings. That would align incentives and turn this into a true win-win.