February 29, 2024

How a Hackathon led to Sabres First AI Product for Hotels

The AI Revolution in Hospitality: Transforming the Hotel Industry through Innovation and Employee Empowerment By Are Morch

Since its launch in March 2024, OysterLink has quickly become a trusted career platform, drawing over 160,000 monthly visitors. With over 10 years of experience in marketing and media, she excels in brand storytelling and strategy. Adnana has lived in five countries and enjoys reading and traveling in her free time. A. The overall cost to develop an AI-powered software in the hospitality sector can vary from $50,000 to $300,000 or more. Partnering with a dedicated development team can help you get exact time and cost estimates based on your custom preferences.

• That’s what the CEO said during the tech giant’s latest developer conference, and we’re seeing it with the company’s own consumer-facing products, and also through partnerships with travel companies.
• IHG first wants to ensure the core of the tool is valuable, with as few bugs as possible.
• These tools use vast amounts of data to predict weather conditions, flight delays, and even crowd levels at popular tourist destinations.
• A recent study indicated that about one-fifth of aviation maintenance technician jobs may go unfilled by 2033.

But it doesn’t stop there—Connie learns from these interactions, constantly improving its ability to deliver personalized recommendations. This combination of AI and human interaction leads to an elevated guest experience that not only satisfies but also delights (Canary HMS). Imagine having access to real data and analytics that show exactly how AI is transforming hotels today—boosting revenue, enhancing guest experiences, and optimizing operations. Since AI grows its capabilities alongside its stores of available data, it’s not difficult to imagine how prompts and chatbots could guide guests through the entirety of their journey in the near future. Diverting repetitive requests to AI presents a more significant impact than simply performing actions faster; it allows operators to rework their position from supervising technology to overseeing the guest experience.

Seamless Multi-Channel Booking Experiences

Despite its potential and successes in many areas, AI in hospitality still has limitations and difficulties. One challenge is the potential for job displacement as AI and automation take over certain tasks. This could lead to employee and union resistance and concerns about the impact on local economies.

The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. Yet other experts are skeptical that Gen AI will significantly change the balance of power in how hotels acquire customers. If hotel companies don’t adequately invest in Gen AI and related capital, they’ll be out-competed technologically. In one vision of the future, tech giants like Apple will apply generative AI to all of a person’s personal data on their phones. Gen AI will allow them to make more relevant travel recommendations than other companies.

IHG Hotels Partners with Google to Build AI Trip Planner

A recent Forrester Consulting study commissioned by Salesforce sheds light on the growing importance of AI in CRM across industries. While not specific to hospitality, the findings offer valuable insights that can be applied to the hotel sector. Let’s explore how AI-powered CRM is set to revolutionize the hotel industry and why it’s chatbot for hotel becoming an essential tool for forward-thinking hoteliers. Together, AI and humans can create an experience that is not only efficient and personalized but also warm and welcoming. This synergy will be essential both now and, in the future, ensuring that the industry continues to evolve in ways that delight guests and drive success.

Research shows that AI’s potential in the hospitality sector is vast, from personalized guest experiences to efficient operational management. For instance, AI can streamline front desk operations, optimize energy management systems, and provide personalized recommendations for guests based on their preferences and behaviors. Similarly, in aviation, AI can enhance customer service, optimize flight operations, and improve safety protocols. Lufthansa Innovation Hub’s Swifty, an autonomous AI travel agent, exemplifies the cutting-edge applications of AI in travel. Swifty automates travel planning and booking, significantly improving customer service and operational efficiency. Similarly, Gauvendi’s AI-driven solutions for personalized guest experiences and room inventory optimization have led to tangible benefits, such as increased direct bookings and revenue.

​​IHG Hotels & Resorts later this year is planning to release a trip planning tool powered by Google’s AI as a feature within its One Rewards mobile app. That’s what the CEO said during the tech giant’s latest developer conference, and we’re seeing it with the company’s own consumer-facing products, and also through partnerships with travel companies. Behind the scenes, tech companies are quietly developing AI technology, and organizations are figuring out how to integrate AI tools in the workplace.

The tool, developed in partnership with Google, has shown significant improvements in call center efficiency and is expected to be made available directly to hoteliers in the future. Sabre’s hackathons, like the G-Blitz competition, foster innovation by allowing employees to experiment with new ideas and technologies. The Hotels Network is an inventive technology company working with over 20,000 hotels around the globe. Boasting an international team of specialists with deep expertise in hospitality, product design and consumer marketing, the company offers clients a full-stack growth platform to power their direct channel. By leveraging a series of integrated tools and analytics, hotel brands can attract, engage and convert guests throughout the user journey.

AI software can help hotels manage their inventory more effectively by predicting future demand based on historical data, seasonal trends, and upcoming bookings. This reduces waste and ensures that resources like food and beverages, linens, and toiletries are available exactly when and where they are needed, improving operational efficiency and reducing unnecessary expenditures. For example, by tracking hotel booking patterns and guest preferences, AI has the power to optimize room assignments and tailor services to individual needs, making each stay a personalized experience.

However, experts caution that this technology should enhance rather than replace human interactions. Businesses’ overreliance on generative AI could lead to artificial-sounding messages that alienate customers. Teams across different departments joined forces to brainstorm AI-powered solutions for our client hotels, experimenting with algorithms like audio-to-text conversion.

At a time when the rush for technological innovation has people afraid to lose human interaction, things like eye contact, a warm smile, and a cheerful “hello” at check in speaks volumes about the service that is to come. Therefore, it’s critical that the hotel PMS is intuitive enough to enable front desk staff to do these engaging tasks, rather than keeping their heads down and eyes glued to the computer ChatGPT App screen. At its heart, the hospitality industry is all about serving people, and AI, when used carefully, can help you do that better. By using AI to personalize the guest’s journey, you can build customer loyalty, enhance satisfaction, and boost revenues. By using AI to complement the human touch rather than replace it, you can create meaningful connections and deliver customer experiences that matter.

Products to Enhance Operations and Guest Offerings

This is the first announcement that Google is making about a hospitality company integrating its generative AI tech, according to Carrie Tharp, vice president of strategic industries for Google Cloud. The hotel giant plans to release the tool in the second half of the year as a feature within its One Rewards mobile app, which the company has been upgrading regularly since relaunching it almost two years ago. IHG Hotels & Resorts sees a future in helping travelers plan their entire trip, not just where to stay. Talsey AI’s communication platform aims to facilitate effective communication between hotels and their guests. Enhancement details will be discussed at Maestro’s Accelerate User Conference, to be held April 15 to 18 at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto.

AI can analyze guest preferences and behaviors to create personalized marketing messages and promotions for customers. Integrating AI and machine learning into business intelligence (BI) goes beyond just improving data management. It offers real benefits like better forecasting, higher employee productivity, and better decision-making in the hospitality sector. By automating routine tasks, AI allows organizations to focus on strategic initiatives and maintain a competitive edge.

Travelers are engaging with hotels via text messages and digital interactions, with the PMS serving as the central hub for behavioral guest information. The future of hospitality lies in creating an environment where AI and human talent don’t just coexist, but actively co-evolve. By embracing the Blue Ocean Fair Process, hotels can navigate this paradigm shift, fostering a culture of innovation that permeates every level of the organization.

With its deep understanding of the hospitality and travel sectors, Puzzle Partner has established itself as a trusted advisor to leading global brands. The agency’s insights and holistic methodologies have helped clients navigate the evolving marketing landscape, maximize brand exposure, and drive revenue growth. IHG Hotels & Resorts is partnering with Google to create an AI-powered trip planning tool, set to launch in the second half of the year within the One Rewards mobile app. The initial focus of the tool will be on the ‘dreaming phase’ of travel, helping users find inspiration for their trips.

Whether hotel revenue managers are looking for information on their average daily rate (ADR), room nights, or revenue pipeline, the process is streamlined and removes the need for manual searches. Related Buyer’s Guides which cover an extensive range of hotel solutions, systems providers and technology, can also be found here. Using its experience in the sector, Hotel Management Network has listed some of the leading companies providing products and services related to AI and some of the leading hotel AI companies.

You can foun additiona information about ai customer service and artificial intelligence and NLP. This balanced approach will not only streamline operations but also elevate the guest experience, ensuring that the warmth and personal touch of hospitality continue to shine through in an increasingly digital world. Predictive maintenance can anticipate issues before they disrupt operations, dynamic pricing models can optimize revenue, and chatbots can handle routine inquiries. Yet, there’s a thin line between enhancing the guest experience and depersonalizing it. A PMS that relies too heavily on AI risks becoming a sterile, automated entity, stripping away the personal touches that define true hospitality. For the travel industry overall, we see the most potential for generative AI to … make every part of the travel experience feel tailor-made, from start to finish.

Real-World Examples of Businesses Leveraging AI in Their Hospitality Operations

Another study found that 78% of travelers are more likely to book accommodations that offer personalized experiences, with nearly half of the respondents willing to share the personal data required to customize their stay. This desire for personalized experiences is particularly prevalent among millennials and Gen Z, two demographics that are spending big on travel in 2024. Given these insights, it’s clear that failing to offer personalized elements is a lost opportunity to differentiate your brand and give customers what they want. By integrating AI into travel planning and customer service strategies, hotels can not only improve operational efficiency but also differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive landscape. In reality, the future of AI in hotels is about human-AI harmony, where people and machines work together to create an enhanced guest experience and optimized business performance.

In this evolving landscape, the real question is not whether hotels should integrate AI but how they can harness it alongside human creativity to deliver unparalleled guest experiences and operational success. This is not a trend—it’s a new reality, and those who embrace it with clarity, engagement, and innovation will thrive in ways previously unimaginable. For example, AI-driven revenue management systems can analyze historical booking data, competitor rates, and even weather patterns to forecast demand. Imagine a hotel where prices automatically adjust based on upcoming local events or peak travel times. The AI system ensures that rooms are neither underpriced nor overpriced, enabling hotels to capture maximum revenue while maintaining a competitive edge (Prismetric, DataArt). These are essential questions for developing a clear understanding of AI’s role in the future of hospitality.

Firstly, AI-powered algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data, including user preferences, booking history, and market trends, to provide tailored recommendations and customized experiences for guests. This level of personalization not only improves user satisfaction and loyalty, but it increases conversion rates and revenue for hotels. For hotels looking to adopt AI, moving operations to the cloud is not just an option—it’s a necessity. Cloud technology allows for real-time data processing, which is vital for creating personalized guest experiences. Imagine a guest checking into their room, and within seconds, the AI system has analyzed their preferences, past stays, and even social media behavior to adjust room settings to their liking. This level of service is only possible when cloud systems are in place to support AI-driven personalization.

Other universities have similar classes, and there are even short-term studies for those already working in hospitality. All ChatGPT of them have proven to be clunky, however, often making it easier to search for bookings the traditional way at this point.

By performing a thorough assumption-implication analysis—focusing on risk-return, target customers, and business scope—hotels can make informed decisions about how to integrate AI into their operations. While automation replaces repetitive tasks, augmentation involves AI tools that assist humans in making better decisions and enhancing their capabilities. This approach marries human intelligence with machine intelligence, enabling hotels to offer superior service. AI-powered voice assistants are becoming increasingly common in hotel rooms, allowing guests to control room features, make requests, and access information hands-free. While the initial investment in these technologies can be significant, hotels are seeing returns through increased guest satisfaction and operational efficiencies. A major international hotel brand reported a 35% increase in loyalty program revenue after implementing AI-driven personalization.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) can be an enormous boon to the travel and hospitality industries, particularly in areas like customer relations, schedule planning and back-end bookkeeping. Customer-facing roles show the most promise, with generative AI systems working to address traveler complaints or assist in tasks such as booking flights and accommodations. Sabre Hospitality has launched a generative artificial intelligence driven tool to boost customer service for hotels.

It requires students to take three classes covering the use of artificial intelligence and data collection in tourism and hospitality. Fu told VOA you can already see AI and robots being used in the hospitality business “quite a lot.” For example, airlines use AI to deal with customer service and airports use AI to manage cleaning work. Get in touch to equip your hospitality business with software that meets current technological standards and sets new benchmarks for personalized service. Integrating new AI technologies with existing hotel management systems can be complex and may disrupt current operations.