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.

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 …

💻 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.

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 …

💻 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.

📈 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.