Hays Travel prepares to introduce upgraded iSell system

Hays Travel is preparing to introduce a new version of booking engine iSell across its branches amid expectations that the technology will cut the time agents spend on transactions by up to 30%.

A pilot version of the redesigned system, created by travel technology specialist Traveltek, will be used in 19 shops from next week with a view to a full roll-out in January.

Hays Travel chief operating officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston said: “All of our people will have the opportunity to harness the power of AI in addition to their talent, personality and selling skills.”

He added: “We’re expecting the time to process a transaction through the system to reduce by between 25% and 30%.

“That’s going to allow our frontline salespeople, independence group members and homeworkers to spend more time with the customers, generating sales, as opposed to carrying out administrative tasks.”

Hays Travel chair Dame Irene Hays cited a statistic, published in Abta’s Holidays Habit report for 2025/26, suggesting that the number of people who consult AI for their holiday inspiration has risen from 4% last year to 8% this year.

She said: “If that were to be an exponential increase year on year, it’s really important that our people are comfortable and that they can, in the space of a few seconds, have the same level of understanding that our customers in the future might have when conducting their own research.”

She described the upgraded version of iSell as “really important”, adding: “iSell has been a tried and trusted platform and this will take it to another level.”

Agents had been “uber excited” to hear of the plans when they were unveiled during this year’s annual conference, she said.