Riviera Travel unveils AI tool ‘made by agents for agents’

Digital assistant RIVA AI goes live this week

River cruise and tour operators Riviera Travel has unveiled a digital assistant, ‘built by travel agents for travel agents’.

RIVA AI, which is embedded within agent learning portal Riviera Explorer, is designed to help agents juggle inquiries, chase leads, objection handle, create social media content and emails, and get quick answers to common queries.

Riviera says it is ‘built to cut through the noise’, by delivering ‘instant, intelligent support when time is short and expectations are high’, helping agents save time they can turn into additional bookings and revenue.

RIVA AI has been developed in collaboration with the trade. It offers 24/7 access for agents to tools to help them ‘sell smarter, market faster, and support clients with confidence’. The operator says this will reduce admin time.

Vicky Billing, Riviera Travel’s director of trade and partnerships for the UK and Ireland, said: “RIVA AI marks a bold step forward in how we support our trade partners, and represents an industry first.

“We understand that agents are constantly juggling multiple priorities, and RIVA AI is designed to make selling simpler, smarter, and more efficient. It combines the power of Riviera’s dedicated trade team with intuitive technology, giving agents the tools and support they need for success.

“Built from direct feedback from our agent committee, RIVA delivers instant, intelligent assistance that empowers agents to sell with confidence. It’s a clear reflection of Riviera’s commitment to leading the way in trade innovation.”

Amanda Docherty, head of UK trade, added: “RIVA AI is a major leap forward in how we support our trade partners. It’s built by agents, made for agents, giving them instant access to Riviera’s knowledge and creativity, whether they’re crafting a social post, replying to a customer email, or handling a tricky objection.

“Imagine you are struggling for inspiration for your next Facebook post, just ask RIVA AI! And this is just version one; we’ve got big plans for 2026.”

Training content, marketing materials, and product knowledge are available through the chat-bot, enabling agents to self-serve.

Agents involved in testing the new AI software welcomed the tools it offers.

Zoe Edwards, commercial manager at the Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “We’ve been given an early look at RIVA and it’s set to be a real gamechanger, a brilliant tool that will provide fantastic support for our members. Excited to see it roll out in full.”

Steve Cox, director at Premier Travel, said: “The early news I’ve been given about RIVA is incredibly exciting, it sounds like a real game-changer for travel agents. I can’t wait to see what it can do once it launches.”

Sharon Ingle, retail marketing manager, Fred Olsen Travel, said: “I’ve been given an early heads-up on RIVA and it sounds like it’s going to be transformational, a fantastic support for travel agents. I can’t wait to see it fully in action.”

RIVA AI is live from 12 November for UK travel agents and is due to launch in Ireland ahead of peaks.