On November 17, 2025, Google quietly changed how millions plan trips — not with a flashy keynote, but by slipping a smarter assistant into Search. Now, when you type ‘find me a quiet Italian spot near Central Park for four on Saturday,’ your phone doesn’t just show a list. It books the table. And if you’re dreaming of a week in Kyoto under $800? It finds you the deal — in Japanese, French, or Swahili. This isn’t sci-fi. It’s live, right now, for anyone in the U.S.
Instant Restaurant Bookings, No Lab Required
For the first time, Google’s AI doesn’t just suggest restaurants — it books them. Agentic booking for dining is rolling out immediately to all U.S. users, no Google Labs membership needed. The system scans OpenTable, Resy, Tock, and even niche platforms like Booksy and Fresha, matching your party size, preferred cuisine, exact time, and even whether you want a window seat. It’s not a suggestion. It’s a reservation confirmed in real time. One user in Chicago told TechCrunch, ‘I said, ‘Find me sushi that’s open after 10 p.m. with a bar and no wait,’ and five minutes later, my phone buzzed with a confirmation.’ That’s the new standard.
Flight Deals Go Global — 200 Countries, 60+ Languages
Before November, Google’s Flight Deals feature was limited to the U.S. and Canada. Now, it spans more than 200 countries and territories — from rural villages in Indonesia to high-end hotels in Zurich. The AI doesn’t just compare prices. It understands context. Need a flight from São Paulo to Lisbon with a stopover in Madrid that lands before noon? It finds it. And it explains why — ‘This option saves $147 but adds 3.5 hours. Here’s the lounge access included.’ Support for over 60 languages means travelers aren’t just searching in English. A grandmother in Mexico City can ask in Spanish for ‘una escapada barata a Cancún con niños,’ and get a tailored itinerary. That’s accessibility, not just innovation.
Canvas: Your Personal Travel Notebook, Powered by AI
At the heart of this upgrade is Canvas — a dynamic side panel that appears when you’re deep in travel mode. It pulls together flight prices, hotel ratings from Google Maps, photos from TripAdvisor, and even crowd-sourced tips from Reddit threads. You can drag a pin to shift your hotel location and instantly see how it affects your daily commute to attractions. ‘I nudged it toward brunch spots with outdoor seating,’ said a user in Portland, ‘and it swapped out three hotels because they were too far from the food district.’ It learns. It adapts. And if your flight gets delayed? Just say, ‘Update my plan,’ and it recalculates everything — from dinner reservations to rental car pickup times.
What’s Coming: Booking Flights and Hotels — Directly in Search
Restaurant bookings are just the warm-up. Google is working with Booking.com, Expedia, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to build a future where you can book flights and hotels without ever leaving Search. The vision? Describe your ideal trip — ‘I want a beachfront room in Bali under $120 a night with a pool and free breakfast’ — and watch AI compare options side-by-side with real-time photos, cancellation policies, and guest reviews. You’ll be able to refine, ask follow-ups like ‘Is there a cheaper option with a shuttle?’ and then complete the booking with your preferred partner. No more jumping between five tabs. No more copy-pasting dates. Just conversation.
But here’s the catch: no launch date. Google says it’s happening ‘in the future.’ That’s frustratingly vague. Experts say the delay is likely due to industry negotiations. Airlines and hotel chains are wary of losing direct customer relationships — and commissions. But Google’s leverage? Over 2 billion monthly Search users who already trust it for directions, reviews, and now, reservations.
Why This Matters Beyond Convenience
This isn’t just about saving time. It’s about democratizing travel planning. A single parent in Detroit, juggling two jobs, can now plan a weekend getaway without hiring a travel agent. A student in Lagos can find affordable flights to London without navigating English-only booking sites. The AI doesn’t assume you know the difference between ‘nonstop’ and ‘direct.’ It explains it. It doesn’t require you to be tech-savvy. It just works.
And it’s changing how companies compete. Booking.com and Expedia aren’t just platforms anymore — they’re now integrated features. The winners won’t be the ones with the biggest ad budgets, but the ones with the cleanest data, fastest APIs, and most accurate real-time availability. Hotels that update their room photos or pricing in real time? They’ll get top placement. Those that don’t? They’ll fade into obscurity.
What’s Still Missing
For all its power, Canvas still doesn’t handle visa requirements, local transit passes, or weather forecasts tied to your itinerary. And while it supports 60 languages, it doesn’t yet translate restaurant menus or interpret cultural norms — like whether tipping is expected at that Tokyo izakaya. Google hasn’t said if it’s working on those features. But given how fast this rollout happened, don’t be surprised if ‘travel mode’ adds those next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I book flights and hotels right now using Google’s AI?
No, not yet. While restaurant, event ticket, and beauty appointment bookings are live in the U.S., flight and hotel booking through AI Mode is still in development. Google confirmed it’s working with Booking.com, Expedia, Marriott, and others to build the feature, but no launch date has been announced. For now, you can compare options in Canvas, but you’ll still need to book directly on partner sites.
Do I need to join Google Labs to use these features?
Only for event tickets and beauty appointments. Restaurant booking is available to all U.S. users without opting into Google Labs. Canvas is available on desktop for U.S. users in AI Mode — which may require enabling experimental features in Settings. Outside the U.S., Flight Deals are live globally, but agentic booking is still limited to U.S. users.
How accurate are the real-time reservations?
Google sources data directly from partners like OpenTable and Resy, so availability updates within seconds. In early testing, success rates for restaurant bookings were above 94%. If a spot disappears after you ask for it, the AI immediately suggests alternatives — often with better ratings or lower prices. It’s more reliable than calling a restaurant during dinner rush.
Is my travel data private?
Google says it doesn’t store your travel plans unless you save them to your Google Account. Conversations in AI Mode are processed temporarily to generate results, then deleted. However, if you book through a partner like Marriott or Expedia, their privacy policies apply. Google advises users to review those terms before completing any booking.
Will this replace travel agents or apps like TripIt?
For casual travelers, yes — it’s already replacing the need to juggle multiple apps. But for complex trips — multi-city itineraries, group travel with special needs, or luxury tours — human planners still offer value. Google’s AI excels at speed and simplicity, not customization. Think of it as a smart assistant, not a replacement for a seasoned travel advisor.
Why did Google choose these specific partners — Booking.com, Marriott, Expedia?
These companies control over 70% of the global online travel market. They have the infrastructure to integrate real-time inventory data with Google’s AI. Smaller platforms lack the API capacity or commercial incentive. Google’s move signals a shift: the future of travel isn’t about owning the booking platform — it’s about owning the conversation. Whoever controls the search query controls the customer.
