How WhatsApp Business API is Transforming the Travel Industry in 2025

  • How does WhatsApp Business API works
  • Use cases in the travel industry
  • How to set up WhatsApp Business API
whatsapp business api travel
Table Of Contents

The travel industry runs on one important factor: communication. Since travellers are usually on a tight schedule, every minute matters. In such situations, instant responses from your travel company are extremely important and WhatsApp can be your lifesaver. It allows you to provide real-time assistance with seamless communication, giving travellers the confidence that their journey is in safe hands.

Whether it’s booking confirmations, last-minute hotel bookings or an urgent request requiring real-time customer support, quick support can make all the difference and enhance customer satisfaction. That’s exactly where WhatsApp Business API travel solutions come in.

More than just a chat tool, it’s a scalable messaging platform that helps you deliver immediate assistance, automate key processes and create the kind of seamless experiences that win customer trust and loyalty.

In this blog, we’ll explore what the WhatsApp Business API is, how it’s transforming the travel and hospitality industry, the top benefits it brings, use cases and how your business can set it up to stay ahead of your competitors.
Let’s get started.

What is WhatsApp Business API and how it works

Before we dive into the benefits, let’s clear up what the WhatsApp Business API actually is. Many people confuse it with the free WhatsApp Business App, but the two are very different.

The WhatsApp Business App is built for small businesses that only need basic features like setting up a business profile, creating quick replies or sending out a few automated messages. It works well when you’re managing conversations from a single phone.

The WhatsApp Business API, on the other hand, is designed for growing and large businesses like travel agencies, airlines or hotel chains that need to handle thousands of conversations at scale. Instead of being a standalone app, it connects directly with your existing systems (like a CRM, booking engine or customer support platform) to help you streamline operations so you can manage communication in one place.

Here’s how it works in simple terms:

  • Integration with your systems: The CRM WhatsApp API integration plugs into your travel CRM or helpdesk software so you can track conversations alongside bookings, payments and customer details.
  • Multi-agent support: Unlike the app, the multi-agent WhatsApp API lets multiple agents log in at the same time, ensuring no query goes unanswered.
  • Automation: You can set up automated responses for messaging workflow automation, like sending booking confirmations, reminders or alerts without manual effort.
  • Scalability: Whether you’re handling 50 or 5,000 travellers at once, the API is built to manage communication smoothly.
  • Security: All messages are encrypted end-to-end, enabling secure messaging with WhatsApp.
  • In short, the WhatsApp Business API transforms WhatsApp from a simple messaging tool into a scalable, secure and intelligent customer engagement platform, exactly what today’s travel and hospitality businesses need.

Top benefits of WhatsApp Business API for travel companies

Now that you know what the WhatsApp Business API is, it also becomes crucial for you to understand how it can be beneficial for your travel business. Unlike traditional communication channels, WhatsApp business API helps you streamline customer communication by instant delivery, on-time itinerary updates and resolving customer queries exactly when they’re required the most.

The following are some of the top benefits of WhatsApp business API integration that help you achieve client satisfaction and facilitate real-time communication:

1. Real-time customer support

With round-the-clock support, customers know they can rely on you no matter what time zone they’re in or what hiccup comes their way. That kind of availability reassures travellers that your brand genuinely cares about their journey and increases word of mouth.

2. Personalised communication at scale

Travellers don’t want to feel like just another booking reference number. They want messages that actually make sense for them. The beauty of the WhatsApp Business API is that it lets you personalise communication while still handling thousands of conversations at once.

3. Secure and trusted messaging

Travel involves a lot of sensitive customer data, including passenger names, booking references, payment confirmations and so on. With WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, they can rest easy knowing their details are protected.

That sense of security prevents problems and builds customer loyalty, which is priceless in an industry that relies so heavily on reputation.

4. Easy multimedia sharing

When you’re in the travel and hospitality businesses, sharing booking confirmations and boarding passes is a daily task.

With any other communication channel, it becomes quite chaotic. On the other hand, with WhatsApp business API integration, you can share boarding passes, tickets, maps, images or even short videos directly in chat.

5. Higher engagement rates than email or SMS

Most of your emails and SMS get buried in the inbox and feel outdated. Because of this, emails and SMS have low engagement rates. WhatsApp, on the other hand, is where your customers are already spending a big chunk of their time.

Messages land right alongside their everyday chats with friends and family, which means they’re far more likely to be opened and read almost instantly.

Use cases of WhatsApp Business API in the travel industry

So far, we’ve talked about why the WhatsApp Business API is such a big deal for travel companies. But how does it actually play out in real life?

Let’s look at the practical ways it can transform your customer experience from start to finish.

Booking confirmations made simple

Screenshot of an automated message from WhatsApp Business API of MakeMyTrip, sharing booking details with the customer. - whatsapp business api travel

Nobody wants to second-guess whether their booking went through. With WhatsApp, confirmation messages can be sent instantly and right where customers will see them.

Itinerary and ticket sharing

Screenshot of detailed itinerary shared by MakeMyTrip for a customer featuring property directions, check in and check out timings, property phone number and cancellation policy. whatsapp business api travel

Travellers juggle a mountain of details, including flight times, hotel check-ins, transfers and excursions. Instead of overwhelming them with endless paperwork or emails, you can share their full itinerary and tickets directly on WhatsApp. Everything they need is in one handy thread, ready to be checked in seconds.

Loyalty and retention campaigns

Screenshot of a WhatsApp Business message from popular travel aggregator, MakeMyTrip, providing specialised offers for customer retention.

Staying connected after a trip is just as important as during one. You can use WhatsApp to share loyalty offers, seasonal discounts or personalised recommendations for future journeys. It’s a subtle yet powerful way to keep your brand top of mind long after the trip is over.

Upselling and cross-selling opportunities

Screenshot of an automated message from MakeMyTrip, cross-selling hotel bookings for already planned trip to Udaipur for a customer.

WhatsApp Business API integration can be a goldmine for added revenue if you use it strategically. Once a customer has booked their trip, you already know where they’re going, when they’re travelling and what kind of experience they’re looking for.

This makes it the perfect moment to suggest relevant add-ons like hotel upgrades, guided tours, travel insurance or even local experiences they might enjoy. Because WhatsApp feels like a personal space, these recommendations don’t come across as pushy.

Apart from the above use cases, you can also use WhatsApp API to run referral campaigns for your travel company, leading to an increased word of mouth.

How to set up WhatsApp Business API for travel and hospitality businesses

By now, it’s probably clear that the WhatsApp Business API is more than just a handy tool; it’s a transformative platform for travel companies. But here’s the big question: how do you actually set it up for your business?

Choose a WhatsApp Business solution provider (BSP)

You can’t sign up for the API directly through WhatsApp; it has to be done via an authorised Business Solution Provider (BSP). Think of BSPs as your gateway to WhatsApp’s advanced features. They help you get verified, integrate the API with your systems and provide dashboards or tools to manage everything easily.

Set up your WhatsApp Business profile

This is where you make your brand stand out. Your WhatsApp Business profile should include:

  • Your company name
  • Logo and branding elements
  • Contact details
  • A short, clear description of your services

Travellers will see this when they message you, so it’s a chance to build trust right from the start.

Connect the API to your existing systems

To get the best results out of WhatsApp business API, connect it to your existing systems, like –

  • CRM tools (to manage leads and customer data)
  • Booking engines (to send confirmations automatically)
  • Trusted WhatsApp Chatbots or helpdesk software (for 24/7 support)

This integration is what transforms WhatsApp into a full-scale customer engagement platform. This can provide you with an added benefit if you choose among the top CRM tools for corporate travel management, as that’s where one’s major revenue chunk arises from.

Test, optimise and scale

Finally, start small. Test different use cases like booking confirmations or reminders and see how customers respond. Collect feedback, measure engagement and tweak your approach as you go. Once you’ve nailed the basics, you can scale up to more advanced use cases.

Conclusion

For the travel and tourism industry, WhatsApp Business API can be a powerful tool for boosting customer satisfaction. It can help you in taking post-trip feedback, communicating last-minute itinerary changes and dealing with customer inquiries instantly. Not just that, with personalised marketing campaigns, you can build a base of loyal customers and keep them coming back to you for their next holiday.

The key is to start implementing it in phases. I’d recommend you to begin with the essentials like automated booking confirmations and timely travel updates, then gradually expand to features such as WhatsApp chatbots, upselling opportunities and loyalty campaigns.

This way, you can test what works best for your customers, train your team to adapt smoothly and avoid overwhelming your operations.

Once fully integrated, the WhatsApp Business API won’t just support your customer service; it’ll become an essential part of how you build stronger relationships and create seamless travel experiences that stand out in a competitive market.

Article Author

Aasis Sethi Sehgal

Boost Your Sales with Powerful
CRM Features of Telecrm

© Copyright 2025 Telecrm.in - All Rights Reserved Privacy PolicyT&C

Boost Your Sales with Powerful
CRM Features of Telecrm

White logo

© Copyright 2025 Telecrm.in - All Rights Reserved Privacy PolicyT&C

Book a demo

How many people are there in your sales team?*