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Discussion: Module 1 – AIML-April-2026
The Growing Influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
Welcome to this week’s discussion on the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the hospitality industry. Whether you work in a hotel, a restaurant, event planning, or any other segment of this vibrant industry, AI and ML are shaping the future of how services are delivered and optimized. These technologies are not only enhancing customer experiences but also driving efficiency behind the scenes. As you navigate through this week’s materials, I encourage you to reflect on how these technological advancements are relevant to your current role or interest in the hospitality field. Understanding these concepts will empower you to harness their potential in your work environment.
Activity
This week, you will engage in a discovery exercise by exploring online resources about AI and ML. Your task is to find and evaluate three websites that provide valuable insights into these technologies, specifically focusing on their applications in the hospitality industry.
Submission Criteria
This activity is designed to not only broaden your knowledge but also to foster a collaborative learning environment. I look forward to seeing the variety of resources you discover and how they contribute to our collective understanding of AI and ML in hospitality. For each website, please include:
- The title of the site.
- The URL hyperlink for easy access.
- A brief explanation of why you find this resource valuable, focusing on how it enhances your understanding of AI and ML in your area of interest within the hospitality industry.
Your primary post should be completed by Wednesday. Engage with your peers by responding to at least 2 other posts with constructive feedback or additional thoughts, to be completed by Sunday.
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29 Replies
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OpertoOne This site provides services that support hotel operations and improve efficiencies among support departments. This has the potential to improve customer service through rapid response to operational needs. In addition, human resources can be used more efficiently and less manhours needed to complete operations.
aiOla This site provides 10 tools that can be useful in improving hotel and hospitality operations. https://aiola.ai/blog/ai-tools-for-hospitality/
akia This site functions as an AI agent and suggests possible interface opportunities for the hotel and hospitality industry. https://www.akia.com/
Conclusively, these tools can help leaders in the industry to optimize resource use to generate maximum returns on investment (ROI) and maintain prudent stewardship of the resources entrusted to their charge and oversight. I can also see how these can be generalized to the health industry and even higher education dorm/food management.
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Hi Jack, nice to meet you,
I’m not familiar with Operto.com however i do see some opportunities in my place of work so thank you for sharing. I have a few I’m looking at and will share just as soon as I have evaluated. Thanks for getting an early start.
Craig
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This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by Craig.
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Likewise, Craig. THX for welcoming me. I look forward to interacting.
I am in higher education, and, as a former hospital and nursing home administrator, the “hotel services” in healthcare (food service, linen and laundry, housekeeping, and plant maintenance) form the basis of my interactions and foundational knowledge for the course. I am considering a case involving either virtual agent support for a “MedHotel” or an AI agent for post-discharge from hospitals/rehabilitation care to home. Medical Tourism is a growing sector as well, which I hope to incorporate into my learning.
Again, excited to be in the course.
Best,
Jack
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Thanks Craig:
I hope to be able to keep up as I am cramming the end of the semester with students, grades, and graduation here at the university where I teach! It is humbling to be on the other end of the discussion boards an assignments.
Looking forward tot he projects that my colleagues in the course select!
Best,
Jack
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This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by
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Hi Jack! Thanks for sharing. I have never heard of Akia before but it is something that I think a lot of the hotels I work with could benefit from. With how busy properties are and how quickly guests are coming in and out, it can be hard to maintain strong guest relationships, which is important when trying to encouraging repeat stays. Akia seems like it could make guest communication easier and more consistent, especially for busy hotels where follow‑up can easily get missed.
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Hi Jack,
I really enjoyed reading your post. You did a great job highlighting the operational side of AI, which often gets less attention compared to guest-facing technology. Your point about tools like Operto improving back-of-house efficiency is especially important. When those systems run smoothly, it naturally translates into faster service and a better overall guest experience.
I also liked how you connected AI to resource optimization and ROI. That is a critical leadership lens, especially as organizations evaluate where to invest in technology. Your mention of platforms like aiOla and Akia shows how AI is being used not just for efficiency, but also for communication and responsiveness, which are core to hospitality.
Your extension into healthcare and higher education was thoughtful as well. It really reinforces how transferable these technologies are across service industries that rely on both operational precision and human interaction.
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Thank you for the thoughtful and detailed response, Miranda. There is a lot to unpack in this space; and the collaborative approach through our class interactions will help us all approach this in a systematic and open-minded manner!
Gratefully,
Jack
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Thanks for sharing some wonderful AI sources
Operto– I like the fact that they have programs not just for hotels but for short term rentals and Mixed use infrastructure, too. Today world as a hospitality businessman, by incorporating principles of Hotel and Short-term sectors conversely, learning from data needs of guests at these locations can help foster a very welcoming high level of satisfaction
Akia– I love the fact term Guest Cycle from Welcome to Welcome back
Now that is making sure we close the deal, and this is what I call comprehensive guest assessment
Aiola-During my recent visit to my doctor I was asked if it would be ok for them to use AI tool to record, analyses and upload summary of today’s visit. I promptly said yes.I don’t know what tool they had used but upon reading summary I was pleasantly surprised not just by accuracy of our conversation but also references used pertaining to the visit. And the time saved was put to used in addressing my concerns and for managing the facts.
Aiola could be one such tool which could readly ease out bunch accusintions hotels and employees face and resolutions in jiffy.
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Duetto – Hotel revenue management software & solutions | Duetto
Duetto uses machine learning to help hotels optimize pricing strategies based on demand, competitor pricing, and booking trends. This is important for hospitality marketing because pricing is part of the hotel’s marketing strategy revenue optimization. It helps hotels decide when to raise or lower prices to maximize bookings and profit, making it a real-world example of predictive ML in hospitality decision-making.
inHotel – Marketing Assistant Demo – inhotel.io | AI-driven campaigns & brand management for hotels
This tool is designed specifically for hotel marketing teams. It creates campaigns, writes promotional content, manages online visibility, and integrates with hotel systems like PMS and CRM tools. It is valuable because it shows how AI can act like a virtual marketing assistant, helping hotels generate ads, improve brand presence, and increase direct bookings with less manual effort. This is a strong example of AI-generated marketing strategy and automation in hospitality.
Revinate – Revinate | Hospitality’s leading direct booking platform
Revinate works with hotels to increase direct bookings and revenue by helping them make better use of guest data throughout the guest journey. The platform supports targeted guest acquisition, personalized marketing, and loyalty efforts designed to drive repeat stays. The company focuses exclusively on hospitality and draws on long-standing industry experience to inform its approach to data-driven hotel marketing.
This research helped me see AI and machine learning as practical decision-support tools in hospitality, especially in how hotels handle pricing, marketing efficiency, and guest data.
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This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by Rachel.
duettocloud.com
Hotel revenue management software & solutions | Duetto
Cloud-based hotel revenue management system and revenue strategy solutions that deliver powerful insights on pricing and demand.
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Hi Rachel,
That’s a really strong set of examples that clearly show how AI is shaping decision-making across pricing, marketing, and guest engagement. Love it!
I especially liked your point about Duetto. Revenue management is such a critical lever in hospitality, and your explanation of how machine learning supports dynamic pricing really captures how data is driving smarter, more responsive strategies in real time. It is a great example of AI moving beyond theory into daily operational impact.
Your discussion of inHotel also stood out. The idea of AI acting as a virtual marketing assistant is becoming increasingly relevant, especially for teams that need to scale content and campaigns quickly without sacrificing personalization.
And with Revinate, you highlighted something essential, the power of guest data across the entire journey. That connection between personalization and loyalty is where AI can really elevate the guest experience while also driving direct revenue.
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Hi Rachel: Thank you for a package of sites and tools for digital technology uses in hospitality. What I like about your selected choices is the representation that these bring to the main points of technology uses to optimize performance in this industry. I will be thinking about how these concepts can be generalized and applied to the healthcare field, as there are likely more similarities than differences between the two disciplines.
Gratefully,
Jack
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Hi Rachel,
How interesting is that InHotel Marketing assistant, so this is an area i see any savvy business leader being able to make efficiencies on their payroll headcount by utilizing this technology and re-investing the savings back into the guest. Also love the Revinate name and concept, there are many similar out there, but this name is good.
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Hello Rachel,
Thanks for pointing out Duetto.
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I like Duetto machine learning because it moves revenue management from a “look-back” exercise to a real-time strategy. It feels less like a black box and more like a high-speed engine for growth.
For hotels especially, it stands out because it tracks potential customers looks at a booking site and didn’t book also, it catches demand spikes before they appear in the reservation system.
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Hello Rachel
Thanks for Highlighting Revenue management and sharing Duetto….
Revenue Management is cornerstone of a successful, profitable hotel as it uses data driven strategies to sell right room to right guest at the right time for optimal price. More than anything else this department benefits most form AI tools and Duetto seems to be a great tool to help in this matter.
I sure hope there will more time invested to fine tune such tools.
I was curious to see what else is available in the market and found RoomPriceGenie and Springer-Miller Systems
CRM are lifeline of hotel business, a properly integrated system is the key, and Revinate seems to be able to integrate all facets of hotel management
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This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by
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Hi everyone,
This week’s topic on AI and machine learning really resonates with me, especially given how quickly these technologies are being integrated into hospitality operations and guest experiences. I focused on finding resources that connect both the strategic and practical applications of AI in our industry.
Here are three websites I found particularly valuable:
1. Hospitality Net
https://www.hospitalitynet.org](https://www.hospitalitynet.org)
Hospitality Net consistently publishes industry-focused articles on how AI is being applied in hotels, restaurants, and tourism. What I find most useful is the balance between thought leadership and real-world case studies. For example, many articles highlight how AI is used for revenue management, personalization, and operational efficiency. This helps connect abstract AI concepts to actual business outcomes, which is especially relevant for leadership and decision-making in hospitality.
2. McKinsey & Company (Travel, Logistics, and Infrastructure Insights)
McKinsey provides research-driven insights into how AI and machine learning are transforming industries, including hospitality and travel. I appreciate the data-backed analysis and forward-looking perspective. Their work helps deepen my understanding of how AI supports demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, and customer journey optimization. It is especially helpful for thinking about AI at a strategic level rather than just operational use.
3. Skift
https://skift.com](https://skift.com
Skift offers timely coverage of emerging trends, including AI adoption across hospitality and tourism. I find this resource valuable because it highlights innovation in real time, such as the use of chatbots, voice assistants, and predictive analytics in guest services. It helps me stay current with how companies are experimenting with AI and what that means for the future of guest experience and workforce dynamics.
Overall Reflection:
Across all three resources, a common theme is that AI is not replacing the human element in hospitality but enhancing it. From personalized guest recommendations to more efficient operations behind the scenes, AI is allowing professionals to focus more on meaningful guest interactions. This is particularly relevant to my interest in leadership and organizational behavior, as it raises important questions about training, change management, and maintaining a strong service culture in a tech-enabled environment.
Looking forward to seeing what resources everyone else found and how you are thinking about AI in your own areas of the industry!
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Hi Miranda: Thank you for the great insights and useful digital tools in your post. The opportunity to optimize solid industry outcomes is evident in the resources available to practitioners in this field. I already learning a great deal and appreciate the insights offered as well as the depth and scope of these practical tools.
I see all of these suggestions as augmenting versus replacing the human connection, as guests/ customers want this interactive blend of efficiency and personalization!
Best,
Jack
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Hi Miranda! I found the resources you shared really insightful! I totally agree that hospitality is one of the only industries that AI cannot fully replace. I do think there are many ways it can enhance and simplify the industry in many sectors. I look forward to interacting with you throughout the course!
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Hi Miranda,
Great suggestions, I know McKinsey and Skift so great job finding and highlighting them. Also love the summary you wrote about AI not replacing people but rather enhancing it. My sentiment exactly.
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Hello Mirada,
Thanks for taking the time to point out McKinsey & Company, there definitely a resource I’m going to look into more. I like how they have research on how AI and machine learning is changing the hospitality industry. Also, its a great resource to stay updated as well on what’s going to happen in the future with AI.
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Hello Miranda,
Wow, Thanks for sharing updates on old stalwarts Hospitality.net & McKinsey.It is reassuring that established organizations are keeping up with the times in their own specialized way without losing their core values.
Skift is again a valuable insight forum to keep us abreast with the latest specially to our industry
Thanks
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- The title of the site.
- The URL hyperlink for easy access.
- A brief explanation of why you find this resource valuable, focusing on how it enhances your understanding of AI and ML in your area of interest within the hospitality industry.
– Journey Alliance
– Journey Alliance | The Loyalty Platform for the Leading Hospitality Brands | Journey Rewards™
– I find the entire concept of customer loyalty fascinating, for me it’s an entire ecosystem within itself that can make or break even the best of hospitality businesses, essentially it seems Journey Alliance is analyzing all booking trends and preferences of their guests in order to predict future guest needs before they ask and dare I say it increase their yields. I see so many further uses for that across the entire hospitality sector. People don’t necessarily want to think when traveling but rather just be suggestively told what they want.
journey.com
Journey Rewards™ Official Site
Earn Journey points when you stay at and redeem those points on stays at any Journey Alliance Partner property.
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– Revolution plus
– Similar to one of two of the other suggestions what Revolution plus essentially does is essentially dynamic pricing which predominantly is used for Flights, Hotels and Cruises however there could be an argument it could be used anywhere. There are even bars that have similar fun dynamic pricing that changes with demand so i can see this type or approach becoming more and more explored.
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– AWS Generative AI for Travel & Hospitality
– Generative AI for Travel & Hospitality – AWS
– The granddaddy of AI in terms of above unit decision making and leading the guests to the outcome you want. From analyzing what the guests are searching for so as a decision maker for new openings you can position your brand to be at the forefront and ahead of your competitors to then ensuring what you offer at that new location aligns with the type of guest you are attracting. AWS quite literally can help you in every way you need.
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Site Minder
siteminder.com
This site focuses solely on the backend of hotel operations. Their site explores how AI-driven engines (like SiteMinder iQ) process billions of data points to provide predictive maintenance schedules and dynamic pricing. Another cool thing is its AI Copilots for staff that reduce training time for new hires by providing real-time coaching. With me having a background in operations this is a site that I was definitely intrigued by.
Thunai
thunai.ai
This site provides concrete data on the financial impact of AI. It features case studies from major brands like Marriott and Hilton, showing how AI has been used to recover abandoned bookings, (where a guest leaves a site without paying) and how multilingual AI assistants have reduced guest service costs by nearly 80% in specific regions.
Hospitality Net
hospitalitynet.org
This is a leading source for hospitality news. Their 2026 outlook specifically explores the shift from Generative AI (chatbots that talk) to Agentic AI (systems that act). It covers how AI now handles multi-step reasoning, such as autonomous booking and real-time translation for seamless cultural interaction.
Each of these sites had their own particular niche. Site Minder consisted of revenue management and Operation AI CoPilots, while Thunai focused on data-driven support and multilingual support. With data being such an important aspect in any industry, I see how Thunai can be useful. Lastly, Hospitality Net concentrated on current industry trends and Agentic AI. What better way to keep up with the latest information in the hospitality industry with this site. This is useful for someone entering the industry or someone who wants to continue to keep up with the latest trends.
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James i love this SiteMinder tool! I can see a real case use in my business and am having a demo with them in the next week or so!!! Thanks for sharing.
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No problem! Great hearing from you.
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Greetings Fellow Hospitality Experts,
Well, I am probably the last one to get on the bandwagon, But I hope to catch up activity board sooner than later.
I guess one advantage I had specially for this assignment was that of being able to read, review findings of everyone and be able to see how interestingly all these AI tools are so connected and integrated in so many ways.
For reference, mostly to make sure that I don’t end up sharing a previously reviewed website but as data source too
OpertoOne
ailOla
akia
Duetto
Revinate
InHotel
Hospitality.net
Mckinsey & Company
Skift
Journey Alliance
Revolution Plus
AWS-Generative AI for Travel & Hospitality
SiteMinder.com
Thunai.ai
Personally, my area of focus has been operations with a strong belief that success of any hospitality organization is entirely dependent on guest satisfaction quotient, in a broader layout.
· Guest is always “Right”
· 100% satisfaction Guaranteed
· Experience of a lifetime
Etc ,Etc
These are some of the taglines which we have used for ages to attract guest and their loyalty. And today’s guest believes in practice what you preach philosophy to the core, no gimmicks
I believe we have the capability to deliver today more than at any time of our lives as long as we continue to concurrently spend time and resources for enhancement of workforce which is and will always remain the backbone of hospitality industry.
Keeping this in mind I tried to look for AI tools which are focused on Guest and Employee satisfaction
Being a Seattle Resident, gives are advantage of having access to people and enterprises who are trying to establish and being innovative for future generations.
1) Findit
An AI powered app designed to modernize and simply lost & found systems
Created by a 15 year old High school student. Uses Ai and image recognition to match photos of loss objects with items reported as found. Currently in pilot but with customization this can streamline Hotel lost & found system.
Keep in mind when a guest lost something and then find it , the satisfaction and loyalty will increase manifold
Link https://apps.apple.com/us/app/findit-ai/id6746972916
2) HiJiffy
Guest communication & concierge tools with focus on guest communication primarily using wassup. Messenger tools for direct communication.
Link Guest Communications Hub | HiJiffy
Harri
Frontliner employee experience platform built for hospitality leaders
It uses Ai-powered sentiment analysis and automated pulse survey to detect early indicators of staff burnout or “ flight risk” allowing managers to step in before employee turnover happens
Harri – HCM & Workforce Management Technology for Service Industries
apps.apple.com
Download FindIt AI by NSIT LLC on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like FindIt AI.
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This list was very helpful in preventing repetition for sure.
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1. Hotel Tech Report – (https://hoteltechreport.com/news/ai-in-hospitality)
It is an industry publication usually read by hotel executives. It speaks about how hotels which are adopting AI typically report measurable impact in revenue, cost control, and forecasting accuracy, with revenue gains stemming from improvement in dynamic pricing and higher direct booking conversions.
2. EHL Hospitality Insights- (https://insights.ehl.edu/)
This is published by Echols hoteliers de Lausanne, one of the top hospitality schools globally, with strong academic credibility. It covers how AI-powered systems can create customized dining experiences for guests with dietary restrictions, and how AI is reshaping guest experience management by changing how guests interact with services while giving staff more freedom to focus on details that excite customers.
3. Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals- HFTP (hftp.org)
This is a reputable professional association that bridges finance and tech in hospitality. it frames AI and ML as tools that increase organizational efficiency, decrease costs, and satisfy guests through individualized services and sustainability. They make not of the fact that before these technologies, hotel had to rely in manual controls and pre-set schedules that promoted waste, which is not stron on sustainability.
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