Early days of a new romance…

The luxury hospitality industry is all about creating memorable experiences for guests, whether they are staying in a hotel or dining in a restaurant. As technology advances, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in the industry, providing opportunities for hotels and restaurants to enhance their guest experiences and streamline their operations. In 2022, Lightspeed surveyed over 8,000 restaurant owners, operators, managers, and guests around the world - and some of the results were quite obviously pointing to a new love story between AI and luxury hospitality. For example, 43% of hospitality industry respondents in the U.S. and Canada somewhat or strongly agreed that new technology adoption over the last two years has been critical for their business’s survival.

One of the most significant ways AI can change the future of the hospitality industry is through personalization. With AI, hotels and restaurants can gather data about their guests' preferences and behaviors, enabling them to create more personalized experiences. For example, hotels can use AI to recommend local attractions, events, and restaurants based on their guests' interests, while restaurants can use AI to suggest menu items based on their customers' previous orders. An article published in Forbes concludes that AI “distinguishes patterns in customer behaviors, giving owners insight into repeating successful offers and eliminating past incentives that did not yield results.”

Another thing AI can also improve is the efficiency of hospitality operations, saving time and money for businesses. Chatbots, for example, can handle routine inquiries from guests, such as checking room availability and making reservations. Meanwhile, predictive maintenance algorithms can detect potential equipment failures before they occur, preventing downtime and reducing maintenance costs.

AI is also transforming the hospitality industry by enabling personalized and more efficient learning experiences for employees. At Xenios Academy, we heavily rely on gamification as a scientifically supported method of enhancing employees’ happiness and productivity – this topic has also sparked a significant media interest lately – “Original” , “Diplomacy and Commerce”, and “Bloomberg Adria” have all reported about gamification as an important feature of Xenios Academy’s training program.

Another point not to be skipped when it comes to AI’s effects on the improvement of the hospitality industry has to do with an enhancement of safety and security. Facial recognition technology is starting to be used to improve security measures, while AI-powered tools can detect potential safety hazards, such as spills or broken glass, and alert staff to address them promptly.

Finally, AI can help hospitality businesses to reduce their environmental impact. By analyzing data on energy usage and waste production, hotels and restaurants can identify areas where they can reduce their environmental footprint, such as by implementing more efficient heating and cooling systems or reducing food waste.

Overall, artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize the hospitality industry, making it more personalized, efficient, safe, and sustainable. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more exciting applications of AI in hospitality establishments around the world – and Xenios Academy is all here for it!