K-State master's student harnesses the power of AI to simplify travel

Raksa Ma has earned international recognition for developing a personalized AI Travel Concierge System – a project powered by K-State experience and built for real-world impact.

K-State graduate student Raksa Ma, right, developed an award-winning AI Travel Concierge System. | Download this photo.

Exploring new places can bring immense satisfaction, but travelers know that planning for an amazing trip can be stressful. There's a lot to coordinate, from getting to your destination to figuring out the best spots to explore and eat to finding the best place to lay your head at night, not to mention making sure it's all within your budget. Enter Kansas State University student Raksa Ma, who has developed an award-winning solution that has drawn national acclaim: an AI Travel Concierge System.

Ma, a master's student in K-State's data analytics program and a Rise Up Scholar in the College of Business Administration, earned first place in the "Advance the Future of Customer Experience" category for the concierge system at the Hackathon for Progress competition.

The AI Travel Concierge System uses retrieval-augmented generation, or RAG, and IBM watsonx.ai to deliver highly personalized travel itineraries within a minute. The system accounts for preferences, dietary restrictions, accessibility needs and budgets, providing a powerful tool for travelers and a potential asset to the tourism industry.

"Travel planning can be overwhelming — there's so much research involved in finding the right accommodations, restaurants, and activities that match your specific needs and preferences," Ma explained. "I realized that AI could streamline this process and make travel planning more accessible and enjoyable for everyone."

Ma's win was announced during the 2025 Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit at the University of Oxford. Hosted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the University of Oxford, the summit brought together experts, policymakers and innovators to explore climate and humanitarian solutions. The hackathon was part of the summit's official programming and was presented in partnership with Call for Code and powered by IBM watsonx.ai.

"Raksa Ma's achievement highlights the power of student innovation — and the real-world impact of using AI responsibly and creatively to improve lives," said Terry Mason, associate dean of graduate and undergraduate programs. "He is a fantastic student and a great ambassador for K-State and the College of Business Administration. We are incredibly proud of his achievement and look forward to his continued success."

From solo concept to global stage

Ma developed the project solo as Team Lynx, managing all aspects of the solution from design to deployment. Although it was challenging to handle all aspects of development independently, he said it also allowed him to fully explore his vision for the AI Travel Concierge System and push himself to learn new technologies and approaches.

Throughout the process, he designed the system to use multiple AI tools working together, so it could give smart, personalized recommendations that improve over time.

"This project taught me how to build a production-ready application using RAG and IBM watsonx.ai to solve real customer experience challenges," he said. "It gave me confidence that I can develop AI applications to tackle various problems — from enhancing customer experiences to addressing climate change."

Ma said that participating in the virtual hackathon was incredibly exciting and rewarding, and the highlight was the three-minute demo presentation where he showcased how the AI Travel Concierge System works.

His win was announced live during the summit at Oxford, a moment he describes as unforgettable.

"Hearing my name announced at the University of Oxford was absolutely surreal," he said. "I was incredibly proud to represent K-State on this global stage, and sharing the news with my parents was one of the most rewarding moments of the entire experience."

Fueling future impact

Ma credits K-State's Master of Science in data analytics program for preparing him to succeed.

"The curriculum emphasizes practical, hands-on experience. We work on real projects with actual companies, which gives me the skills and confidence to tackle complex problems independently."

The recognition has already opened new opportunities: Ma will attend the IBM TechXchange Conference 2025 in Orlando, Florida, and is now working on a new AI project through his role as an instructional design graduate intern at K-State's Center for Academic Innovation.

"My next project focuses on creating AI agents to convert PDF slides into more accessible formats for students with disabilities. It's another example of how AI can be used to solve meaningful problems and create more inclusive experiences."

With a strong foundation from K-State, Ma's passion for innovation has transformed challenges into opportunities.

Looking ahead, he hopes to use the Travel Concierge System to plan a personal adventure.

"I would use it to plan a trip to Banff, Alberta. The stunning natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies has always fascinated me, and it would be interesting to see how the AI would customize recommendations for outdoor activities and local experiences."

To learn more about the Master of Science in data analytics program, visit https://cba.k-state.edu/academics/graduate/data-analytics/.

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