How loveholidays is making everyone A builder with Codex. Loveholidays uses OpenAI's Codex to enable non-technical staff to build software tools, transforming workplace roles and internal development processes. Published on 27 August 2026 Loveholidays is deploying OpenAI's Codex AI coding agent across its workforce, allowing non-engineering staff to create and modify software tools. This shift aims to democratize software development within the company, reducing bottlenecks and fostering innovation. Online travel agency loveholidays is deploying OpenAI's Codex AI coding agent across its workforce, enabling employees outside of engineering to develop their own software tools. This initiative, announced in a published account by OpenAI, aims to transform non-technical staff into "builders" capable of creating applications with AI assistance, reducing reliance on engineering teams for internal solutions. According to OpenAI, loveholidays has integrated Codex into various departments such as marketing, operations, and customer support. Employees can describe the functionality they need, and Codex generates the corresponding code, allowing rapid prototyping and iteration without traditional programming expertise. The company views this as a way to democratize software development, increase internal agility, and reduce bottlenecks caused by limited engineering resources. Discover more software testing Programming Loveholidays, a major European online travel retailer, relies heavily on digital systems for pricing, content management, and customer service workflows. Historically, internal tools for these functions have been built by central engineering teams, which often created delays. The company's adoption of AI-assisted development aims to shift this dynamic, empowering domain experts to directly contribute to internal software solutions, freeing engineers to focus on core platform improvements. At a glance report When: ongoing, as of August 2026 The development Loveholidays has begun rolling out OpenAI's Codex AI to non-engineering employees, enabling them to build internal tools without traditional coding skills. At a glance report When: reported by OpenAI in its customer stor... The development OpenAI published a customer story describing how online travel agency loveholidays is using Codex to let employees across the company build software, not just engineers. Impact of ai-driven tool building in travel sector. This development demonstrates a potential paradigm shift in enterprise software creation, where AI coding agents enable non-technical employees to build and maintain internal tools. If successful at loveholidays, this approach could lead to faster innovation cycles, decreased dependency on engineering teams, and a broader redistribution of technical work across organizations. It also raises questions about quality control, security, and maintainability when software is created by non-engineers, issues that are still being evaluated. AI coding assistant for non-technical staff. As an affiliate, EarnQA, Inc. earn on qualifying purchases. AI adoption in enterprise software development. OpenAI's Codex, introduced in 2025, has expanded from a developer-focused tool to a platform adopted across various industries. Several companies in finance, retail, and software have reported using Codex for internal automation and application development. Loveholidays' case is notable for its focus on non-engineering staff, aligning with broader industry trends toward democratizing AI-assisted coding. The travel sector's high transaction volume and content-heavy operations make it an ideal testing ground for such innovations, which could reshape internal workflows and employee roles. "By enabling our team members to create their own tools, we're accelerating our internal processes and reducing delays caused by traditional development queues." - Loveholidays CTO As an affiliate, EarnQA, Inc. earn on qualifying purchases. Unconfirmed details on adoption scale and outcomes. OpenAI's published account does not specify how many employees are actively using Codex, how many tools have been created, or the measurable impact on efficiency or business results. It remains unclear whether this is a pilot program or a widespread rollout, and how the quality, security, and maintainability of AI-generated tools are being managed within loveholidays. AI-powered internal tool builder. As an affiliate, EarnQA, Inc. earn on qualifying purchases. Monitoring adoption, performance, and security. Further details are expected to emerge as loveholidays continues its deployment of Codex. Observers will look for metrics on user engagement, the volume of tools built, and how the company addresses challenges related to software quality and security. Additionally, industry analysts will monitor whether this approach influences broader enterprise software practices and employee roles across sectors. As an affiliate, EarnQA, Inc. earn on qualifying purchases. Key questions. How many employees at loveholidays are using Codex? OpenAI has not disclosed specific numbers on employee adoption rates or the total number of tools developed with Codex at loveholidays. What types of internal tools are being built with Codex? While exact details are not confirmed, reports suggest tools related to pricing, customer support workflows, and content management are among those being prototyped or developed. Are there security concerns with non-engineers building software? The published account does not address security or quality control measures, leaving questions about oversight and risk management open for now. Could this approach replace traditional engineering teams? OpenAI and loveholidays see it as augmenting, not replacing, engineering work - allowing engineers to focus on more complex platform development while empowering domain experts to handle simpler automation tasks.

Agents react to surprise launch of TUI direct-sell budget brand. * By Linsey McNeill * 7 August 2026 Agents have reacted with disappointment to news that TUI has launched a direct-to-consumer budget brand in the UK, with some suggesting they'd been let down by the operator. The travel giant said the standalone Sundeals brand, which has been in development for 18 months, had been created in response to customer research 'across a number of European markets'. Designed, it said, for 'savvy deal hunters', it allows customers to pick from more than 20,000 hotels in over 100 destinations, which are packaged with a range of airlines, including easyJet and Ryanair as well as TUI. Customers can choose to add extras such as luggage and transfers. Sundeals' key destinations are Spain, Greece and Türkiye. Customers will be able to book online, with support available via live chat. A TUI spokesperson said: "Sundeals has been designed as an online travel agent proposition and therefore won't be available for sale through independent travel agents. "However, TUI's commitment to the trade is unchanged. Independent agents remain an important partner for TUI and continue to have access to its extensive range of holidays, cruises and touring products. "We've invested significantly in our trade support over recent years and remain focused on helping agents grow their businesses by selling TUI holidays." While some agents said it wasn't surprising that TUI wanted a direct-sell budget brand to compete with the likes of Loveholidays and On the Beach, others suggested the operator had used them. Posting in the Travel Gossip Facebook group, James Love of Tinas Travel said: "Why doesn't TUI just tell the truth? Travel agents are an irritant that they would like to disappear and TUI - "our commitment to the trade is unchanged" - travel agents are not so stupid that you can do the old look at my right had while I rip your wallet out with the left. "This is the problem when you have two main tour operators who practically run a monopoly and no way to dynamic package to compete! Switch sell time people." Another agent, from Samantha Airways, said: "One thing I have learned about TUI is they are notorious for appealing to us, gaining the extra sales and then launching something that affects the trade with the extra sales that trade has given them. It has helped them launch this new venture." Edinburgh-based agent Peter Rintoul, a member of Your Holiday Booking, said: "They have basically been doing that anyhow for 40 years, constantly undercutting trade then smooching up only to do the same thing again." Other agents suggested the move would damage the TUI brand. Zoe Pope, Director of Everything But Ordinary, said: "That's one way to devalue your brand, and another to make you look desperate. I'm not surprised." TUI said the Sundeals platform brings together inventory from across TUI Group and third-party accommodation and airline partners, giving customers access to a broader range of hotels, airlines and package holiday combinations, it said. All flight-inclusive holidays booked through Sundeals are ATOL protected. TUI said it was launching Sundeals first in the UK but with the ambition to roll it out to other European markets. The operation is being led by Head of Commercial and Operations at First Choice Kevin Nelson (pictured), whose role was extended to Managing Director of Sundeals in January, according to his LinkedIn profile. Andy Stern, Head of Sales and Marketing at First Choice, has seen his role extended to cover Sundeals. "Sundeals has been built to serve a different customer need to First Choice," added the TUI spokesperson. "It's a new pan-European travel brand from TUI Group, designed for customers looking for a low-cost, no-frills holiday booking experience, while First Choice continues to operate as a separate business serving its existing customers in the UK "In terms of colleagues, Sundeals is drawing on expertise from teams across the wider TUI Group, including the UK business. Kevin Nelson is Managing Director of both First Choice and Sundeals, and Andy Stern is Head of Sales & Marketing for both brands. "Their involvement in Sundeals does not change their ongoing leadership of First Choice. More broadly, Sundeals draws on talent and capabilities from across the Group." Kevin said: "Travel Gossip know there is a large group of travellers who genuinely enjoy researching and planning their holidays. They're confident, digitally savvy and like the feeling of finding a holiday, and deal, that's right for them. But these travellers told Travel Gossip that they're tired of spending hours going round in circles trying to compare options and work out whether they've truly found the right trip - a feeling that Travel Gossip is calling Bookers Burnout. "Sundeals has been designed specifically for these savvy deal hunters, helping them cut through the holiday clutter and make decisions with greater confidence. "We've launched with a simple user experience focused on the core features customers told us they need most, and over time we'll continue to introduce smart tools and innovations that make finding and evaluating holiday options even easier."

Loveholidays launches app within ChatGPT as research shows 44pc use AI to research holidays. * 44pc of Irish people have used AI search for holiday planning. * Among 18-24 year olds, 71pc have used AI search for travel planning. * Comparing prices (34pc) is the biggest pain point in holiday planning. * 32pc believe AI search could save time during planning. * Loveholidays has launched a dedicated app within ChatGPT. Loveholidays research has revealed that almost half (44pc) of Irish people have used AI search for holiday or travel planning. The survey of 1,000 Irish respondents found that 76pc use AI search in their personal life, with 41pc using it at least weekly and 14pc using it every day. Among 18-24 year olds, 71pc have already used AI search for travel or holiday planning. The research found that comparing prices (34pc), choosing accommodation (32pc), selecting flight times (28pc) and deciding where to go (24pc) are the biggest pain points in holiday planning. Almost a third (32pc) believe AI search could save them time during the holiday planning process, whilst 28pc say it could suggest holiday ideas they may not have considered. Loveholidays has launched a dedicated app within ChatGPT. Clem Walshe, Commercial Director for Ireland, stated the way people search for holidays is changing and it is important that the company shows up in the same places customers are researching their trips. He stated the ChatGPT app makes recommendations tailored to preferences, taking the stress out of holiday planning. Clem Walshe, Commercial Director for Ireland at loveholidays, shared, "The way people search for holidays is changing and as an online travel business, it's really important that we show up in the same places our customers are researching their trips."