Overview
A new report from Mews suggests that 2026 will be a “tipping point” for the hotel industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is moving from a luxury tool to a necessity. By 2035, experts predict that almost every part of a hotel stay—from finding a room to checking out—will be handled or assisted by AI.
​Key Changes Expected
- ​A New Way to Book Rooms
- ​Searching for hotels will change from clicking through websites to having “conversations” with AI assistants.
- ​To stay visible, hotels will need to focus less on expensive ads and more on making sure their data (room types, prices, amenities) is easy for AI to read.
- ​Taking Control Back from Booking Sites
- ​Currently, sites like Expedia and Booking.com dominate the market.
- ​AI gives hotels a chance to win back customers. By using AI to offer personalized deals and better service directly, hotels can encourage guests to book through their own websites instead of third-party apps.
- ​Automating the “Back Office”
- ​AI will take over repetitive tasks, such as answering common guest questions, managing housekeeping schedules, and handling paperwork.
- ​This will make hotel operations faster and more efficient.
- ​Changing Roles for Staff
- ​As computers handle the technical tasks (like payments and data entry), human workers will focus more on hospitality.
- ​Staff roles will shift toward “soft skills,” such as storytelling, empathy, and creating a unique brand experience for guests.
​What Hotels Should Do Now
The report warns that hotels cannot wait until 2026 to start. To be ready, businesses should:
- ​Clean up their data: Make sure all digital information is accurate and organized.
- ​Update technology: Use systems that are “AI-ready.”
- ​Run pilot programs: Start testing small AI tools now to see what works.
​Conclusion
The year 2026 will separate hotels that embrace technology from those that fall behind. The goal of using AI isn’t to replace humans, but to handle the “boring” tasks so that staff can focus on providing better service to guests.
