How Hotel CEOs Are Really Using AI, From Voice Agents to a Digital Hyatt CEO
Hilton, Hyatt, Accor, Wyndham, and Banyan Group all agree AI should make staff better at their jobs. But they split on how to adopt it.
Share
1008 posts
Trophy Hotels Are Bought With Ego, Not Spreadsheets This month, two European hotels changed hands for more than €1 million per room. In Madrid, a Nômade-backed buyer acquired the building on Gran… | Sonia K.
Trophy Hotels Are Bought With Ego, Not Spreadsheets This month, two European hotels changed hands for more than €1 million per room. In Madrid, a …
Share
I love seeing the insights that come out of the Skift Global Forum. Sadly I couldn’t be in New York last week when it was on, but I’ve learned so much diving into what the leaders were saying since… | Jeremy Jauncey
I love seeing the insights that come out of the Skift Global Forum. Sadly I couldn't be in New York last week when it was on, but I've learned so …
Share
Luxury Hotels Embrace AI for Enhanced Guest Experience: Raffles London, Fairmont Jakarta, and More Lead Innovations
💻 Four luxury hotels are adopting AI to enhance guest experiences and operations. On September 27, 2026, during World Tourism Day in El Salvador, AI highlighted its role in tourism. Raffles London introduced Accor's ALL Concierge for pre-arrival assistance. Torre del Marqués in Spain uses AI avatar Marta for guest services. Fairmont Jakarta reduced food waste by 16% using AI. Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur offers AI tools for events, including a hologram emcee. These innovations demonstrate AI's growing influence in luxury hospitality.
Share
Nowism – Edition 39
The bigger picture from time far away In order to be wise about the fast and ever-changing world of AI, I take steps back. I’m a modern-day Uncle …
Share
Airbnb Plans to Launch Its Own AI Agent by 2027, Says CEO Brian Chesky at Skift Event
💻 Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, views AI as an existential risk but plans to launch an AI agent in 2027. At a Skift event, he emphasized a visual, comparative travel experience, not limited to chatbots. Two AI strategies exist: one where personal AI agents dominate discovery and booking, and one where platforms remain central. Companies like Expedia and OnSeason favor the first, while Booking.com leans towards the second. Airbnb's approach may redefine industry dynamics by 2027.
Share
Bret Taylor of OpenAI Predicts AI Agents Could Disrupt OTAs, While Uber Expands Travel Services at Skift Forum
📈 On September 20, 2023, at the Skift Global Forum in NYC, Bret Taylor, Chairman of OpenAI, suggested AI agents will dominate consumer interactions, potentially sidelining OTAs. Dara Khosrowshahi revealed Uber's travel expansion, offering hotel services with Expedia and future plans for vacation rentals and flights. Uber compensates members with 10-20% discounts by running hotels at break-even. Glenn Fogel emphasized Booking's consumer trust as a key advantage, even as AI gains ground in discovery and transactions.
Share
Meta's Muse Launches, Challenges Online Travel with 2.5M Downloads, Shaking Booking, Expedia, Airbnb Stocks
💻 Booking, Expedia, and Airbnb saw declines of 21%, 18%, and 18% respectively in a month due to Meta's Muse launch on September 8, 2025. Muse hit 2.5M US downloads in two weeks. Agents like Muse and Instinct threaten OTAs by simplifying price comparison and booking. Booking's 2025 GBV was $186B with $27B revenue. OTAs' friction costs face pressure: $54B shifted from aggregators, $321B to Meta. Expedia and Booking's marketing spend was 4-6% GBV, with Booking spending $8B. AI-assisted bookings still under 1% of OTA traffic.
Share
Increasing Number of Hotel Owners Opt for Conversion Over Renovation Due to Rising PIP Costs and Market Shifts
🏨 In the hotel industry, renovation isn't always the best investment strategy. Rising PIP costs between $10,000 to $25,000 per key, deferred maintenance, and shifting demand have made conversion a mainstream solution. Alternatives like multifamily housing or senior living, driven by market demand, often prove more valuable. A case in Tucson saw a hotel's conversion into apartments quadruple its value. Conversion projects typically take 12-24 months. Owners should assess the property's highest value use, balancing costs and market demand critical.
Share
Ambassadors Inn & Suites Joins Borderless Hotel Alliance, First Independent Hotel in Landingplace System
🏨 Harshad and Swati Barot, owners of Ambassadors Inn & Suites in Virginia Beach, signed with the newly launched Borderless Hotel Alliance on September 24, 2026. Their 102-room hotel, located near the Virginia Beach Convention Center, will integrate into the Landingplace Hotels' system by December 2026, maintaining its identity while accessing advanced technology and resources. This initiative targets modernization without sacrificing operational independence, supporting independent hotels against larger franchises.
Share
