Step-by-Step Guide: Creating an MCP Server with Azure AI Agent Service for TripAdvisor Marketing Campaign

Step 2: Configure Azure AI Agent Service using TripAdvisor Knowledge

  1. Go the Azure AI Foundry: https://ai.azure.com/

  2. Create an Azure AI Hub and Azure AI Project

    2.1 Create a new resource group named "rg-mcp-hub" for billing and monitoring

    2.2 Select region as "East US"

    2.3 Name resource details as “mcp-tripadvisor-resource”

    2.4 The system will automatically create new Connect AI service include OpenAI as shown in the figure.

    2.5 Click the "Next: Storage" button

    2.6 Keep the default configuration settings

    2.7 Click "Next : Inbound Access"

    2.8 Keep the default configuration settings

    2.9 Click "Next : Outbound Access"

    2.10 Keep the default configuration setting "Public"

    2.11 Click "Next : Encryption"

    2.12 Keep the default configuration setting

    2.13 Click "Next : Identity"

    2.14 Keep the default configuration setting

    2.15 Click “Review + create”

    2.16 Review all configurations and click "Create" button

    2.17 Wait for the deployment to complete

    2.18 Once deployment completes, click "Go to resource"

    2.19 Click “Create project” to create an Azure AI project

    2.20 Name resource details as “mcp-tripadvisor-project”

    2.21 Click “Review + create”

    2.22 Review all configurations and click "Create" button

    2.23 Wait for the deployment to complete

    2.24 Once deployment completes, click "Go to resource"

    2.25 Click "Launch studio" to start building in Azure AI Foundry

  3. Create an Azure AI Agent

    3.1 In the Azure AI Foundry studio, locate and copy the "Project connection string" for later use.

    3.2 In the Azure AI Foundry studio, locate and copy the "Subscription ID" for later use.

    3.3 Click "Agent" in the "Build and customize" menu

    3.4 Click to Select an Azure OpenAI Service resource from the dropdown and choose the default resource

    3.5 Click “Let’s go”

    3.6 Choose "gpt-4o-mini" model to create a new deployment, then click "Confirm"

    3.7 Keep the default configuration setting and click “Deploy”

    3.8 Once deployment is successful, click the Agent name in the list

    3.9 In the right panel, enter your prompt in the instructions as “You are a travel assistant to provide information about locations, including hotels, restaurants, and attractions. In addition, you provide details about them, such as addresses, ratings, photos, and reviews, and assist with planning your travel itinerary.”

    3.10 Locate the Knowledge section and click "+Add"

    3.11 Select "TripAdvisor" to add as a knowledge source

    3.12 Name data source as “tripadvisor_knowledge” and click “Next”

    3.13 Select the connection "tripadvisor_key" that was previously created in the management center for custom keys

    3.14 Click “Next”

    3.15 Click “Add data source”

  4. Test Azure AI Agent

    4.1 Click “Playgrounds” Menu

    4.2 Click “Try the Agents Playground”

    4.3 Type "What is your service?" in the user query box and click the "Add and run" button

    4.4 The agent will respond with a following message:

    “I am a travel assistant designed to provide information about various travel-related locations, including hotels, restaurants, and attractions. I can help you with the following:

    1. Location Details: Get comprehensive information about specific hotels, restaurants, or attractions including addresses, ratings, photos, and reviews.

    2. Travel Itinerary Planning: Assist in planning your travel itinerary by suggesting places to visit, where to stay, and dining options based on your preferences.

    3. Search for Locations: Look up specific hotels, restaurants, or attractions based on your criteria, such as location, category, or keywords.

    4. Nearby Locations: Find places of interest near a specific location you provide.

      If you have any specific questions or need assistance with planning your travel, feel free to ask!”

    4.5 Type "Find a hotel in New York with user reviews" and click the "Add and run" button

    4.6 The agent will respond with a following message:

    Here are some user reviews for Hotel Edison in New York:

    1. Our favorite NYC hotel

    • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    • Review: "It's been 10 years since our last visit to NYC. This trip like all the others before, we chose The Edison as our hotel. I have never been disappointed with this choice. The hotel is centrally located, clean and staff is wonderful. I LOVE that we could check our bags. It took such a weight off (literally). The grab and go breakfast was fantastic! If you're looking for a hotel in the Times Square area, don't hesitate to book a room at The Hotel Edison."

    • User: copakat (Boston, Massachusetts)

    • Travel Date: April 30, 2025

    2. Third stay

    • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    • Review: "This was my third stay at the Edison. Love the location which is convenient to all the Broadway theaters, Radio City, Rockefeller Plaza, and lots more. There can be a few quirks with an older building, but the Art Deco style is charming, the beds are comfortable, coffee maker, bottled water, bath robe, safe, and amenities are supplied in the rooms. The staff has always made us feel comfortable and welcome. As someone with celiac disease, I really appreciate Friedman‘s in the lobby to get safe gluten-free meals, and my non-celiac friends can get regular food, too."

    • User: WRLDTVLRR (Denver, Colorado)

    • Travel Date: April 30, 2025

    3. New York from Time Square

    • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

    • Review: "Excellent position to visit New York, not all the rooms are good but asking for a change the staff was so kind to give us good rooms. Good staff, very poor breakfast for the level of the Hotel and the rates applied. Nice the Wine Hour. Sometimes too crowdy."

    • User: lucagR2154IU

    • Travel Date: April 30, 2025

    4. Edison Lights The Way

    • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    • Review: "Great location and nice spacious rooms. The staff were very helpful, and the hotel retains a lot of its Art Deco charm particularly in the lobby. Right in the heart of the theatre district. It was also just a few blocks from my meetings and an easy walk from Penn Station."

    • User: Camper47216821663

    • Travel Date: April 30, 2025

    5. Family visit to NYC

    • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

    • Review: "Great front of house service, great location for tourists the free walking tours are a bonus! The history of the hotel is interesting and maintained well. Our room was clean and the space reasonably for NYC. The grab and go breakfast from Friedmans and Carve was great; I do not recommend Bond 45, extremely rude production line service was not a great way to start your day - went on 1 occasion would not go back for any meal after the experience. However, would definitely stay again at the Edison."

    • User: tracycD4507RU

    • Travel Date: April 30, 2025

    If you need more information or have any specific questions, feel free to ask!

If testing is successful, your agent configuration is ready to integrate with the MCP server.