Published on
March 28, 2026
Image generated with Ai
In the glittering ballroom of the Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai, the air on March 25, 2026, was thick with the scent of innovation. As the 3rd edition of the Economic Times Entrepreneur Awards unfolded, a significant spotlight fell on a sector that has long struggled with the friction between “digital planning” and “physical delivery.”
When the category for ‘AI in Travel’ was announced, the trophy went to Thrillophilia, India’s leading multi-day tour operator. This wasn’t just a win for a company; it was a validation of a new philosophy: that while AI can dream up the perfect trip, it takes a human-led, technology-supported backbone to actually create it happen.
Beyond the Chatbot: Solving the “Execution Problem”
Most travelers have interacted with AI in the form of a chatbot that suggests a destination or assists book a flight. However, Thrillophilia’s approach is fundamentally different. Their focus isn’t just on the booking—it’s on the high-stakes, operationally complex world of multi-day tours.
Whether it’s a 10-day expedition through the Himalayas or a curated family retreat in the Swiss Alps, these trips involve a dizzying array of shifting parts: transport logistics, hotel check-ins, local guides, and unpredictable weather.
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“Most platforms utilize AI to assist travelers plan better. We utilize it to assist our teams execute better,” a Thrillophilia spokesperson stated during the event. This “execution-first” mindset is what earned them the ET recognition. By applying AI to validate the feasibility of an itinerary—checking real-time traffic patterns, local event schedules, and logistical overlaps—Thrillophilia ensures that a plan created on a screen actually works on the ground.
The Tech Stack: Meet the “Digital Crew”
The award highlights Thrillophilia’s sophisticated, in-houtilize AI stack, which functions as a series of connected layers rather than standalone tools.
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- AI Itinerary Builder: Generates thousands of combinations to find the most efficient and enjoyable route.
- Thrillo Voice AI: Manages initial customer interactions, qualifying leads and ensuring they are routed to the human expert best suited for their specific destination.
- CallMind: An ininformigence layer that analyzes customer conversations to improve service quality and maintain a high trust factor.
- Lead Ininformigence Engine: Routes high-value or complex inquiries to senior advisors, ensuring that “high-trust” purchases are handled with the care they deserve.
Scale Meets Profitability
The numbers backing this win are as impressive as the technology itself. Operating at a revenue scale of ₹500 crore and above with consistent EBITDA profitability, Thrillophilia has served over 1 million travelers between FY2021 and FY2025.
This financial health is a direct result of their hybrid model: AI handles the planning, while humans ensure the delivery. By automating the “ininformigence-driven” processes, their human experts are free to focus on what matters most—on-ground coordination and the personal touch that creates a holiday memorable.
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“Face of Future Travel”
The ET award comes on the heels of another major recognition for the company’s leadership. In late 2025, CEO Chitra Gurnani Daga was honored as the ‘Face of Future Travel’ at the India Travel Awards. Under her guidance, Thrillophilia has transitioned from being a startup founded in Bangalore to a global powerhoutilize headquartered in Jaipur, with operations spanning India, Europe, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.
Humanizing the AI Revolution
In an era where many fear that AI will replace the “human element,” Thrillophilia is proving the opposite. By applying AI to handle the “boring” logistics—the lead scoring, the route validation, and the data interpretation—the company has actually created their service more human.
Travelers are no longer just a “booking number” in a database; they are individuals with specific requireds that the AI has already captured and contextualized for the human expert who meets them. It is a system designed to reduce “trip fatigue” and mid-trip cancellations, ensuring that when you land in a foreign city, the only thing you have to worry about is which local dish to attempt first.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Landscape
As the 2026 summer season approaches, Thrillophilia is seeing a massive shift toward domestic immersion and slower Europe travel. Their data indicates a 35% increase in demand for itineraries that favor depth over speed—fewer hotel alters, more local vineyard visits, and “buffer days” built in to avoid exhaustion.
The ET Entrepreneur Award serves as a milestone in this journey. It signals to the indusattempt that the future of travel isn’t just about who has the best website, but who can utilize technology to protect the sanctity of the traveler’s experience.
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