Artificial Face

We chatted a bit; the conversation was quite pleasant. At the hotel, I scanned my reservation at one of the self-service check-in terminals. Then I went upstairs by lift. I was shocked because my hotel room was on the 34th floor and as I looked down from the window, I felt my legs go soft. Own fault, after all, I had asked the fake man for a nice view. 

I whizzed back down in the lift and looked for someone to help me move to another room. Alas, the lobby was empty. I tried my luck at one of the five check-in terminals and asked the chat robot for help. But the only thing that appeared on the screen over and over again was: 'You are already checked in. Please ask your question again.' Disillusioned, I walked to the restaurant. A bite to eat then to calm down. I took a seat at one of the tables and scanned the QR code for the menu. I read that now all dishes are prepared by AI-powered equipment. Moments later, an all-natural robot rolled through the room, carefully manoeuvred the plate onto the table and wished me a tasty meal. While eating, I scrolled through my phone and consumed the latest news about what is possible in the very near future to completely disable myself and not have to do anything myself. Then I walked to the hotel bar. It was pitch black, the door was locked. 

I zapped the lift back upstairs. In my room, I quickly closed the curtains and was then overcome by a difficult moment as I could not choose from the 55 streaming services on offer. In the end, I chose a documentary about the future of the hotel industry. I learnt that worldwide, all hotel schools are closing their doors en masse. After all, there are no more students applying, their careers have been taken over by AI. The next morning, I woke up feeling empty and depressed. Strange right? I asked ChatGPT what was wrong with me.... 

2025: Do we want our guests to be greeted by robots that pronounce their names stacca-to? Will we take orders en masse via QR codes? Will we trade a beaming smile on arrival for an artificial mug? Will we let human warmth give way to cold AI-driven efficiency? Is this how the soul of our industry disappears? I hope we will choose a balance where AI and technology enrich our work, but never overshadow the essence of hospitality. It is our personal touch that sets us apart, let's cherish that. That is my heart's desire for this new year. 

Marianne Kuiper Founder Efficient Hotel Partner & Music Meeting Lounge Intermediary on finding and booking the perfect venue Read more blogs? www.efficienthotelpartner.nl