Holiday rental group Awaze launches app within ChatGPT

Holiday rental group Awaze launches app within ChatGPT to make it easier for travellers to search and book their next holiday in the UK

Travellers can now search for Awaze properties in the UK directly through the ChatGPT interface by entering destinations and travel dates 

The launch forms part of Awaze’s £45m annual investment in AI and technology as demand for AI-powered holiday planning grows

Awaze, Europe’s largest provider of holiday rentals, has launched a new app in OpenAI’s ChatGPT designed to simplify how travellers discover and book cottages in the UK, as consumer demand for AI-powered holiday planning accelerates.

Launching with Cottages.com, one of Awaze’s core UK brands, the app allows travellers to describe their ideal break in conversational language – from a dog-friendly coastal cottage with a hot tub to a countryside retreat near walking routes – and receive tailored results showing live availability and pricing. Once customers have shortlisted properties, they can review full details and complete their booking through Cottages.com.

The program leverages Awaze’s existing data and machine learning capabilities, and draws on OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a tool that uses large language model (LLM) technology to generate natural conversations.

Unlike static AI trip suggestions, the app connects directly to Awaze’s live inventory of self-catered homes, enabling consumers to move from inspiration to actionable booking options in real time. The experience is designed to complement, rather than replace human expertise, with Awaze’s customer support team and management services remaining a key part of the planning process for customers.

The launch forms part of Awaze’s £45m annual investment in technology and AI, focused on modernising front-end systems, strengthening core services and integrating data and machine learning models across its brands. Over the past year, the group has built the digital foundations needed to innovate at pace, enabling the ChatGPT app to be developed in just a matter of weeks. Awaze has also launched eight new consumer apps across iOS and Android and rolled out an internal “AI Champions” programme to upskill colleagues beyond its core technology teams.

The ChatGPT integration reflects how that sustained investment in digital infrastructure is translating into customer-facing innovation, as AI platforms increasingly become a new front door for travel discovery and booking.

Matthew Price, CEO of Awaze, said: “AI is changing how customers discover and book holidays, and demand for AI-powered planning tools is growing rapidly. Our annual investment in technology and AI learning tools gives us the foundations to enhance the search and booking experience for guests, while strengthening the tools and pricing capabilities that support our property owners. “We’re a holiday company first and foremost and will always have a person at the end of the phone to answer our customers’ questions and help owners manage their homes.  However, leveraging technology to make the booking journey even easier has always been a priority. Launching inside ChatGPT means we can now do this for customers with an easy to use and conversational tool that feels a lot like talking about your next stay with a friend or relative.”