Home

Otto The Agent Launches to the Public, Bringing an Executive Assistant Experience to Every Business Traveler

via Business Wire

Otto The Agent, the AI-powered travel assistant built by veterans from Expedia, Egencia, and Concur, today announced its general availability. Designed as an “Executive Assistant for all business travelers,” Otto delivers a concierge-level experience once reserved for top executives to anyone who travels for work.

After nine months in a closed beta, the platform is now emerging as a proven, tested solution for busy travelers who value time, flexibility, and personalization.

“Otto is about freedom and simplicity,” said Michael Gulmann, CEO and Founder of Otto The Agent. “Business travelers deserve more than a search box. Otto acts like a true Executive Assistant for travel, anticipating needs and solving problems in real time. When things go wrong, like when an airline grounds its flights, Otto steps in like your best EA would, finding new options and keeping you on schedule without the stress.”

Unlike generic AI assistants, Otto can complete full travel transactions directly within the user experience. It does not redirect travelers to other websites or require them to re-enter personal information or payment details.

A Smarter Way to Travel

Otto connects directly to a traveler’s calendar, learns preferences, and plans trips proactively, just like a human assistant. Need to be in New York for an 11 a.m. meeting and in Boston for dinner the next day? Otto handles the flights, hotels, and loyalty numbers automatically, even adjusting when plans change.

“I’ve been using Otto to book all my business travel for several months now. Otto knows my preferences, and has simplified the shop and book process down to just a couple of minutes,” said Barney Harford, former CEO of Orbitz Worldwide and former COO of Uber. “The best part? No more infinite scroll! Otto is a glimpse into the future.”

Otto is available for free to individual business travelers as well as small and mid-sized businesses for the next 12 months. New users can sign up at OttoTheAgent.com and begin booking their first trip within minutes. Through a partnership with Direct Travel, Otto is also launching pilot programs with two forward-thinking companies eager to redefine how their employees travel.

“Avenir is our next-generation travel platform, and its open design lets us activate new capabilities like Otto instantly, giving our customers access to smarter tools and more automation the moment they emerge. It’s how we make sure our customers never fall behind - no matter how fast the industry moves,” said Christal Bemont, CEO of Direct Travel.

Travelers can access Otto through web, app, or email interfaces, with deep integrations into Google and Microsoft 365 calendars. The system integrates with Spotnana and Booking.com, combining NDC fares, GDS inventory, and direct supplier APIs to deliver the widest choice and flexibility for business travelers. If travelers need to speak with a human agent, servicing is provided through Direct Travel.

“The future of business travel is personal, predictive, and effortless,” said Steve Singh, Executive Chairman and CEO of Spotnana and Executive Chairman of Otto The Agent and Direct Travel. “Otto takes the concierge-level intelligence and empathy once reserved for the C-suite and deploys it at scale using AI, ensuring every business traveler enjoys a truly seamless, fully supported journey.”

About Otto The Agent

Otto The Agent is an AI-powered travel assistant that delivers an Executive Assistant-like experience for every business traveler. Founded in Seattle by Michael Gulmann, former SVP, Consumer Product (CPO) of Expedia Group, Otto is backed by Madrona Ventures and travel-industry leaders including former CEOs of Expedia, Orbitz, and Concur. Learn more or sign up at OttoTheAgent.com.

Contacts