IbizAI is the key to Ibiza. That’s how its creators conceived it: as a local guide who knows all the island’s shortcuts by heart. The local agent who knows the Pitiüses like the back of their hand and who not only shows you the door, but opens it for you and seats you at the table.
Pelayo Pérez and Jorn Walthaus are the founding partners of IbizAI Labs and the creators of this generative AI-based conversational assistant. What makes it special that other language models don’t have? Traditional conversational AI systems, Pelayo argues, are limited to the information they can collect in bulk from the web. “If you ask ChatGPT, Claude, Grok… they’ll simply give you the same information based on Google and TripAdvisor reviews: the big data that has been accumulating for years. We give you access to that. It’s very different.”
The key difference lies in the prior preparation work, backed by more than a decade of life and work on the island. It is in this context that they have forged a deep understanding of the business world of Ibiza and Formentera, which has allowed them to build a network of contacts beyond the reach of the average visitor. The idea is for this tool to pinpoint places on the user’s map that can’t be easily found, not even by searching online. The secret magic of word-of-mouth, stored on any visitor’s cell phone.
What sets IbizAI apart is that when a tourist from another country arrives on the island with their family looking for a breakfast experience, finding a place like Can Musón, for example, is difficult. Can Musón is a rural guesthouse in Santa Eulalia that serves free-range eggs, which fits the “hidden gem” profile that Pelayo and Jorn talk about. “It’s not at all easy to stumble upon places like this—you might only find them on your third or fourth visit to the island.”
The benefits aren’t just for the user. Countless long-standing local businesses at risk of being left behind can also benefit from this innovative showcase. “We’re talking about small and medium-sized local businesses – boats, restaurants, villas, clubs, dance halls, massage centers, etc. – that don’t have a digital channel to connect them with consumers, because they are at a stage where it’s very difficult to keep up.” IbizAI provides them with the platform to join the network of local businesses and get back on track, giving them the visibility demanded by the new technology era. “If you think that simply having a website means your business is up to date, I’m sorry, but you’re completely out of touch with reality. And that’s where IbizAI comes in.”
A key part of the project is precisely to support these established businesses “so they are not left to their own devices.” The potential to boost the off-season, when business volumes decrease significantly – much more so than in Mallorca – is also particularly significant. On the other hand, small and medium-sized local businesses are not the only target; major brands also have a place on the platform. Big names like Amnesia, Pachá, TNL, and Beso Beach have access to this new channel through which to optimize their customers’ experience. “Being able to reserve a table at a nightclub via WhatsApp using a 3D render of the club is something that perhaps no one else will have until 2028.”
Immediacy and reliability
IbizAI also allows this content to be customized. In addition, it guarantees immediacy and reliability. The fundamental problem, Pelayo points out, is that the tourist experience is currently very fragmented by dozens of intermediaries and outdated websites. Furthermore, the power of the Ibiza brand can be a double-edged sword, discouraging entrepreneurs from making new investments under the assumption that the island’s appeal is already enough to attract visitors. This is where the risk of stagnation lies. “Everyone who comes to Ibiza is looking for their own Ibiza, which, moreover, is unique. And this person ends up jumping from one intermediary to another in an attempt to find what best suits their preferences. What IbizAI does is filter out all this digital noise to make the offer much simpler.”
To this end, it uses a platform like WhatsApp—with which the general public is already very familiar—to make it easier to use. Through this platform, consumers and businesses exchange all the necessary information, ensuring that booking a specific product or service is simple, fast, and reliable.
The number of businesses from Ibiza and Formentera joining the platform is on the rise.https://ibizai.love now has more than 100 local businesses and operators offering all kinds of services to customers and who have found a new way to match supply and demand. Similarly, local municipalities and institutions, such as the Chamber of Commerce, have supported a project they see with great interest. Overall, the reactions have been very positive, the project’s founders report enthusiastically. And the secret to its success remains the same idea that has guided the entire project. “The real magic of Ibiza was never found on a website; it was always by word of mouth: a fisherman who knew that quiet cove, a friend who knew which club had the best party night. IbizaAI exists to bring that same feeling of trust to every visitor’s pocket, created by people who live here, for the island we love.”