ChatGPT opens to third-party apps — and travel brands are first in line
OpenAI's new app ecosystem lets companies like Expedia and Booking.com plug directly into chatgpt, turning trip planning into a conversational experience
OpenAI has turned ChatGPT into a platform for third-party apps, allowing developers to embed interactive tools directly within conversations. Expedia and Booking.com are among the first partners, enabling users to search, plan, and book travel directly through ChatGPT without leaving the chat.
Key takeaways
- Expedia and Booking.com integrations: users can now ask ChatGPT to “search Expedia” or “find hotels on Booking.com,” receiving live prices, maps, and personalized options inside the chat window.
- No extra downloads: travelers don’t need to install new apps — ChatGPT acts as the interface, making natural-language trip planning seamless.
- OpenAI’s developer strategy: the company unveiled a new Apps SDK and Model Context Protocol (MCP) to let external services connect and operate within ChatGPT.
- Wider ecosystem launch: alongside travel brands, launch partners include Spotify, Figma, Coursera, Zillow, and Canva.
- Toward agentic AI in travel: Expedia calls it part of the “era of natural language search,” blending conversational AI with personalized travel data.
- Monetization still unclear: OpenAI hasn’t yet detailed how it will earn revenue from in-chat apps, though features like Instant Checkout hint at future payment options.
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