Four ways travel and hospitality pros can future-proof their jobs with AI

Cyborgs don’t feel pain, but hospitality and travel
professionals do. 

It’s been 40 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger left nothing
to the imagination in that memorable opening scene from The Terminator. A lot
has changed since then – the internet, smartphones, the Governor of California
– many concepts that were considered pie-in-the-sky back then have ultimately
become reality.

But a seismic shift is about to rock the short-term rental
sector, and it’s not something anyone could have imagined, let alone predicted.
Artificial intelligence is going to change everything and few will escape completely unscathed –
especially in hospitality. The role of a human being in short-term rentals is
going to change fundamentally and yes, some jobs will go, too. 

What this all means is that travel and hospitality
professionals who want to protect their jobs tomorrow need to get to grips with
the technologies that are emerging today. Below, we set out four ways
hospitality professionals can start integrating artificial intelligence into
their day-to-day operations, ensuring they’re prepared for the future — no time
travel required. 

Mechanize the mundane

Why squander precious human hours on tasks that a machine
could do on your behalf while you sleep? From scheduling cleanings to managing
bookings, AI-driven platforms and task managers are already more than capable
of handling repetitive tasks. This leaves property managers free to tackle the
challenges that genuinely require a human touch. 

AI-powered guest communications really are just the tip of
the iceberg. From interpreting and analyzing KPIs and overall financial
performance to flagging common guest complaints and maintenance issues, we are
already living in a world where your toughest decision is not which spreadsheet
to tackle, but how to best use your newfound free time. 

The more adept you become at integrating AI into daily
operations today, the more indispensable you’ll become further down the line.

Personalize to
revolutionize

Gone are the days
when addressing a guest by their first name in an email was considered the
pinnacle of personalization. Today, AI is capable of drilling down much deeper
into what makes guests tick – unlocking levels of personalization that were
just a few years ago considered the stuff of science fiction. It can analyze
past interactions, preferences and feedback to tailor every aspect of the guest
experience.

From suggesting personalized travel itineraries to adjusting
in-room settings to a guest’s preferences before they arrive, AI can already
respond and adapt to the guest’s personal tastes more effectively than any
human can – in any language.

Hyper-personalization
in hospitality, leisure and travel will become something guests take for
granted more quickly than most think. Businesses that fail to keep up with the
pace of change risk allowing themselves to be perceived as outdated and
disconnected from the evolving needs of their clientele.

AI as a robo-sidekick

While AI doesn’t have
a crystal ball to gaze into the future, it is capable of leveraging the closest
thing to one – data. 

From maintenance alerts to potential cancellations, AI can
draw on data to predict problems before they turn into guest complaints. From
Wi-Fi woes to air conditioning conundrums, AI’s ability to detect issues before
they become catastrophes feels like having a sidekick that’s always on the
ball, even when you’re sleeping.

Bear in mind also
that, as a business grows, so too will the number of reviews and messages
you’ll be receiving. As your business scales, AI can manage increasing volumes
of data, transforming it into actionable insights and keeping you ahead of
competitors.

Transfer AI to the HR
department

Travel and
hospitality will always be inherently people-focused industries. From
housekeeping to maintenance, humans are here to stay – but AI will ultimately
decide which ones do. 

By integrating AI into the recruitment and performance
monitoring processes, we’re not just talking about finding people to fill
positions; we’re talking about discovering and maintaining passionate
individuals who will propel the industry forward — and be equipped to handle
the huge advancements in AI and technology that are sure to come. 

Final thoughts

The T-800 may have cut a lonely figure, but in the world of
hospitality and travel, AI is actually the ultimate team player – though only
for humans who are willing to play ball. By doubling down on digitalization
today, travel and hospitality professionals can gain an early insight into a
technology that will completely turn their industry on its head.

It’s about
understanding that mastering AI today enables you to pinpoint where human
creativity, empathy and innovation can most effectively complement
technological advancements, guaranteeing you’ll never have to say “Hasta la
vista” to your career.