Google recently made clear the goal of its Gemini AI: the creation of a “universal AI agent that will be useful in everyday life.”
There has been heated discussion on social media and specialized sites about the expected rise of AI personal agents by 2025 and their impact on travel and hospitality distribution.
AI agents are expected to research, plan, and book travelers' vacations autonomously, bypassing OTAs and other intermediaries.
Some experts even predict that AI agents will dramatically change the current status quo of travel distribution and even make OTAs obsolete, thus establishing the Golden Age of direct relationships between consumers and suppliers.
After all, AI personal agents promise to cut through the complexity of travel planning like a hot knife through butter, connecting directly to suppliers' websites and APIs to create the perfect itinerary.
Other experts claim that OTAs will be the beneficiaries of AI agents, as they are already investing heavily in AI adoption, and just as they mastered SEO, OTAs will master AIO – Artificial Intelligence Optimization, so that their offers are found first by personal AI agents.
The question is: How can hoteliers prepare for the rise of AI personal agents and be the ultimate beneficiaries of this exciting AI Era?
Are we ready?
In interviews with several CEOs in our industry, a specialized American site offered some answers:
Are we ready? No. The truth is, as an industry, we generally don't adopt or adapt technology quickly.
I'm under no illusion that the buyer will accept the first option presented. After all, people are generally looking for a promotion, which therefore requires trust in the information provided by the AI toolset.
Some ideas will take shape: First, agents will converse with each other, so both guests and hotels have their own personalized agents. Second, people/consumers will never call a phone number or speak to a real person: it will always be an AI agent.
Hotels need to prepare for these scenarios, which aren't so much replacements as additions to the current ones. Websites won't disappear, apps won't disappear, and agents will be a new channel for interacting with guests.
How can hoteliers succeed in this new landscape?
To be successful, hoteliers must:
- Training AI as an employee – AI requires structured data and continuous refinement to automate tasks while maintaining a seamless, human-driven experience.
- Train the human team – AI should take over repetitive functions, allowing employees to focus on personalized, high-value interactions with guests.
- Strengthen the relationship with guests – AI can optimize loyalty programs and personalize offers, but hospitality is all about emotional connection, warmth, and intuition.
When properly trained and integrated, AI increases efficiency, supports employees, and improves guest experiences, but it doesn't replace the human touch. Hoteliers who embrace AI as an enabler will lead the future of hospitality.