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Business Travel

Amex GBT Pushes Ahead Into Automated Bookings With a Chatbot Acquisition

Matthew Parsons

Photo Credit: 30SecondsToFly allows users to book travel through its virtual assistant, called Claire, on Facebook Messenger, Slack, Skype and SMS. Unsplash / Robin Worrall

Skift Take

This deal makes sense. With fewer consultants on the horizon, use some tried-and-tested artificial intelligence to take the strain and help employees book their own tickets.

American Express Global Business Travel on Monday said it acquired 30SecondsToFly, a technology startup specializing in artificial intelligence. It allows users to book travel through its virtual assistant, called Claire, on Facebook Messenger, Slack, Skype and SMS. The terms of the deal, which was completed October 8, were undisclosed. This latest announcement in the corporate travel sector follows Corporate Travel Management’s acquisition of Travel and Transport at the end of last month. In August, FCM Travel acquired travel booking platform WhereTo for an undisclosed sum. Artificial intelligence developers at 30SecondsToFly will join Amex GBT’s team of technology

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