Bringing Abu Dhabi to Paris
An immersive AI destination experience for TripAdvisor.
A fully branded AI-powered activation designed to inspire travel, increase destination awareness and create memorable brand interactions.
How do you inspire people to imagine themselves in a destination they've never visited?
That was the challenge behind this activation for TripAdvisor, promoting Abu Dhabi to audiences in Paris.
Rather than relying on traditional brochures, exhibition graphics or promotional videos, the objective was to create a highly interactive experience that encouraged visitors to become part of the destination story.
Photobooths London designed and delivered a fully branded AI-powered photo experience that transported guests into iconic Abu Dhabi-inspired environments within seconds. Each participant received a personalised travel portrait set against stunning AI-generated scenes — combining cutting-edge technology with destination marketing to create an engaging, shareable and memorable experience.
The activation attracted visitors, encouraged meaningful conversations about Abu Dhabi and left guests with both physical and digital keepsakes that extended the campaign long after the event had ended.
People don't just book destinations — they imagine themselves there. So instead of showing photographs of Abu Dhabi, we placed each guest inside the story.
An activation that did more than capture attention.
The experience also needed to feel effortless — allowing guests to participate quickly while maintaining a high-quality branded interaction that lived up to the destination.
- 01Increase awareness of Abu Dhabi as a travel destination.
- 02Encourage visitors to engage with the TripAdvisor stand.
- 03Create memorable interactions with the destination brand.
- 04Generate branded content guests would be excited to share.
- 05Deliver a premium experience that reflected the destination.
- 06Operate efficiently within a busy exhibition environment.
Destinations compete for attention in crowded rooms.
Visitors are surrounded by stands, presentations and promotional material, making it increasingly difficult for any single destination to stand out.
The challenge was not simply attracting people to the stand, but creating an experience that encouraged them to stay longer, engage with the brand and leave with a positive emotional connection to Abu Dhabi.
- Immediate visual impact.
- Fast guest throughput.
- High-quality personalised content.
- Strong destination branding.
- A memorable takeaway.
- Natural opportunities for conversation and sharing.
People don't just book destinations — they imagine themselves there.
This insight became the foundation of the experience. Rather than showing guests photographs of Abu Dhabi, we used AI to place them inside beautifully crafted destination-inspired scenes.
By transforming each visitor into the centre of the story, the activation created a far stronger emotional connection than traditional marketing materials alone. Guests weren't simply learning about Abu Dhabi — they were experiencing what it might feel like to be there.
That personalisation increased curiosity, encouraged conversations with the TripAdvisor team and created highly shareable branded content.
Every element designed to reinforce the destination.
Custom AI prompts generated premium Abu Dhabi-inspired backgrounds featuring luxurious architecture, desert landscapes, contemporary city scenes and cultural influences — all maintained in a polished editorial style.
TripAdvisor branding was integrated throughout the experience, from the welcome screen and user journey to the final printed and digital outputs.
Professional studio lighting ensured every portrait looked natural and premium, while the AI processing delivered realistic transformations within moments.
The activation footprint — branded dome, photography studio and sharing stations designed as one continuous guest journey.
Behind the Scenes
Delivering an exhibition activation involves far more than setting up a camera. Every detail—from positioning the experience to guiding guests and managing queues—was designed to keep participation high while maintaining a seamless brand experience throughout the event.
AI Background Transformation
Guests didn't simply receive a photograph. Using AI, each portrait was transformed into a branded travel-inspired scene within seconds, creating highly shareable content that reflected Tripadvisor's campaign.
Simple, engaging and memorable — in five steps.
- 01
Discover
Visitors were drawn to the stand by striking examples of AI-generated destination portraits and the opportunity to experience Abu Dhabi in a completely new way.
- 02
Capture
Guests stepped into the branded photography area where a professionally lit portrait was captured — welcoming individuals, couples and small groups.
- 03
AI Transformation
Within seconds, AI placed each participant into bespoke Abu Dhabi-inspired environments, creating personalised travel imagery that felt aspirational and authentic.
- 04
Instant Keepsake
Guests received unlimited branded prints, instant QR code delivery, email and SMS sharing and access to a post-event online gallery.
- 05
Brand Engagement
Personalised imagery naturally led to conversations about Abu Dhabi and extended time spent with the TripAdvisor team.
Travel marketing is built on aspiration and memory.
While digital sharing is important, professionally printed photographs created a lasting reminder of the destination experience.
Visitors left with a premium keepsake featuring themselves within an Abu Dhabi-inspired setting — transforming a promotional interaction into something genuinely personal.
Long after the exhibition ended, these photographs continued reminding guests of both the destination and the TripAdvisor brand. Physical and digital content together carried the campaign well beyond the exhibition floor.
Bespoke Abu Dhabi-inspired environments.
Every background was developed specifically for the campaign — designed to feel aspirational, authentic and instantly recognisable as Abu Dhabi.
- 01
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Architectural grandeur reimagined as a personal portrait backdrop.
- 02
Golden Desert Dunes
Cinematic desert landscapes captured at magic hour.
- 03
Contemporary City Scenes
Sleek waterfront skylines styled as editorial travel imagery.
- 04
Luxurious Architecture
Marble interiors and dramatic light for an aspirational feel.
- 05
Cultural Influences
Refined nods to Emirati heritage, styled with polish and taste.
An extension of the TripAdvisor brand — not an outsourced experience.
Every aspect of the activation was customised specifically for the campaign, so the entire guest experience felt native to the destination story.
- Bespoke Abu Dhabi-themed AI-generated environments
- Integrated TripAdvisor branding
- Custom print template design
- Branded digital sharing experience
- Destination-focused user journey
- Consistent visual identity across every guest interaction
Every guest, every format, no limits.
Providing multiple sharing options increased convenience while extending the campaign's reach across both physical and digital channels.
- Unlimited instant printed photographs
- Unlimited digital sharing
- QR code downloads
- Email delivery
- SMS sharing
- Online gallery access after the event
Behind every successful activation is careful planning.
Photobooths London provided a complete managed service, allowing the TripAdvisor team to focus on engaging visitors while we ensured the experience operated smoothly from start to finish.
- Delivery and installation
- Professional setup and testing
- Dedicated on-site booth attendant
- Guest engagement and assistance
- Technical support throughout the event
- Breakdown and removal after the activation
Genuine participation, from first hello to final share.
See the Activation in Action
The best way to understand the atmosphere is to experience it.
Watch how delegates naturally engaged with the AI Photo Booth, interacted with the brand and shared their personalised travel portraits throughout the exhibition.
From the activation floor.
Passive promotion became active participation.
The experience succeeded because it combined creativity with purpose. Instead of asking visitors to imagine Abu Dhabi, it allowed them to see themselves there.
The personalised AI imagery attracted attention, increased dwell time, encouraged meaningful conversations and generated branded content that guests genuinely wanted to keep and share.
By combining immersive technology, destination storytelling and premium guest experience, the activation delivered far more than photographs — it created memorable moments that strengthened awareness of Abu Dhabi and enhanced engagement with the TripAdvisor brand.
Everything designed, staffed and produced in-house.
Looking to bring your destination or brand to life?
Whether you're promoting a city, country, tourism campaign or travel brand, immersive experiences help audiences connect with your message in a way that traditional marketing cannot. We create bespoke AI-powered brand activations that increase engagement, encourage conversation and leave visitors with memorable branded experiences that continue long after the event has finished.