The travel planning landscape is shifting as the new startup Boop launches this Tuesday. Moving away from generic AI-generated suggestions, the platform allows users to transform authentic social recommendations into fully bookable travel itineraries. Founded by former Meta and Microsoft executive Nancy Li Smith, the app aims to eliminate the “emotional labor” of trip planning by leveraging real-world experiences.
How Boop Disrupts Travel Planning
Boop functions by tracking a user’s trip in the background—similar to how fitness trackers monitor activity. By utilizing metadata from photos and location data, the AI constructs a structured, shoppable itinerary that can be shared with friends or followers. This approach addresses the common frustration of scouring social media platforms like TikTok or juggling multiple browser tabs to organize a vacation.
“Boop is the first AI travel companion built on social trust,” explains Smith. “Instead of planning from scratch, you can copy a friend’s real trip to Tokyo or Paris, then use AI to personalize it in minutes.”
Monetizing Travel Recommendations
A core feature of the platform is its creator-focused economy. Travel influencers and everyday users can share their trips via a “Boop with me” link. When followers use these itineraries to book hotels or activities, the app leverages affiliate commission APIs from major platforms like Expedia, Booking.com, Marriott, and Viator.
The revenue model is designed to be lucrative for creators. Smith notes that the platform generates industry-standard commissions—ranging from 10% to 25%—with 50% of those earnings funneled back to the creator. For influencers, this creates a potential five- or six-figure income stream based on their travel history.
Institutional Backing and Future Vision
The startup has already secured significant industry support, having raised $3.2 million in pre-seed funding in May, co-led by Bling Capital and BBG Ventures. Its investor roster includes heavyweights such as former Tripadvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer and former Marriott International president Stephanie Linnartz.
Boop is currently available on an invite-only basis, with a public waitlist open for new users. As the company scales, it intends to integrate with user calendars to automatically pull in existing reservations, further streamlining the travel experience.
Smith’s long-term vision is to change the vernacular of travel planning: “In five years, when someone wants to plan a trip, they won’t say ‘check the reviews,’ they’ll say ‘copy my Boop.’”