Innovative AI Travel Assistant ‘Ask Astra’ Seeks Agents for Free Trial

Consumers can use Ask Astra to suggest cities, resorts, or touring itineraries and get recommendations before being connected to an agent. With pre-inquiries that elicit from consumers the preferred dates, number of travellers, and their budget, the widget pre-qualifies inquiries.

“My aim is to revolutionise the holiday search,” Champness told TTG. “No one has done this before. I want to match what the OTAs offer, as few, if any, websites ask the question, ‘What would I like to do on holiday?’ – they all push products at you.”

Champness, a seasoned IT and tourism professional and a former partner in FSS Systems, described the widget as ‘where holiday inspiration meets travel agent expertise.’ ‘We’re not trying, nor wanting, to fulfil any bookings; that’s for the agent,’ he says.

He reveals that Ask Astra is set to take on video features sooner rather than later. “We would incentivise clients to upload their own videos like Instagram or TikTok, so we actually become an authority,” Champness states. “The conversion rate with video is far higher – 50% is not uncommon – whereas telephone conversion is probably one in four or five.” Champness says the invention is especially suitable for homeworkers who still need a website since the widget works with Facebook Reels.

Once fully developed, Champness says fees to agents will be “probably no more than £ 20 a month”, underlining the tool’s cost efficiencies. “New leads can cost a third of agents’ commission,” he claims. He argues that Consortia usually charge similar fees as he adds: “No consortia drive leads for you; you have to get them — this is a lead-generating platform.” Champness is also looking for trade investors, approximately £250,000 at first launch.

Chris North, Vertical Systems’ former managing director, also supports the company and has been appointed a non-executive director.