In the past, businesses often grappled with the choice between personalization and scalability. They could either offer deeply personalized experiences but serve a limited audience, or they could scale their offerings to reach a broader market and risk losing the personal touch. This dilemma has been the focal point of many strategic discussions, but the digital age has ushered in new possibilities.

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Travel, an industry built on the promise of uncovering adventures and stories, provides an intriguing case study. One of the noteworthy 2023 travel trends is "slow travel," a movement that encourages travelers to embrace a more leisurely pace.

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Vacationers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact their travel choices have on the environment and local communities, and as a result, they’re prioritizing authentic and ethical travel experiences that allow them to connect with the local culture and people. In a guided tour, experiences tend to be more touch-and-go; but with slow travel, people are intentionally choosing transport options like taking trains, buses, or even cycling. 

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These might not get them to their intended destination as quickly as flying on an airplane can, but are infinitely more environmentally friendly. Better yet, the journey itself becomes an integral part of the vacation. 

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Tour groups and travel agencies are used to squeezing everything there is to do and see into an action-packed itinerary, giving holiday-makers an exhaustive overview of everything a place has to offer. It’s great if you’re on a tight schedule and just looking to get the most out of new places in the quickest way possible. However, the emergence of conscious consumers seeking more meaningful and sustainable experiences at underrated destinations — all while adopting a slower pace — makes it that much more difficult for travel agencies to cater to this growing group of consumers. 

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We took it upon ourselves to have our generative AI design a whole new travel experience for slow travelers using Sphere’s Product Innovation app, which produces both copy and AI-generated images in just a few minutes.

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