In a recent episode of the CoStar News Hotels podcast, Kurien Jacob, Partner at Highgate Tech Ventures, shared a powerful vision for the future of artificial intelligence in our industry. His primary message? AI isn’t just a passing trend; it is a tectonic shift that will redefine how we live, work, and adapt.
From “Reporting” to “Deciding”: The Productivity Revolution
Kurien correctly identified that the largest addressable market for AI is the replacement of repetitive human work hours. In the hospitality sector, labor can account for 30% to 40% of total costs. By using AI to automate mundane, repetitive tasks, hotels can realize significant top-line growth and operational efficiency.
The era of the “Revenue Analyst” who spends hours manually gathering data is ending. AI can now analyze massive datasets in seconds 24/7, through weekends and vacations ensuring that no revenue opportunity is missed.
Introducing the AI Wizard: Your Revenue Management Co-Pilot
During the podcast, Kurien specifically mentioned LodgIQ’s latest innovation: the AI Wizard. This marks our evolution from a traditional revenue management system into a comprehensive system that unifies Revenue Management, Business Intelligence, and Generative AI.
The AI Wizard isn’t a “black box.” It is designed to be supportive and explanatory, helping users understand the why behind every recommendation.
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Daily Glimpse: An AI-generated report that digests complex BI information, telling you exactly how you finished yesterday and where to focus for the next two weeks.
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Ask the Wizard: A natural language interface that allows revenue managers and GMs to ask strategic questions like “What should I do for the first week of March?” and receive actionable suggestions instantly.
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Risks and Opportunities Radar: A system that proactively identifies market compaction or demand shifts, allowing you to move on opportunities before they disappear.
“AI will not replace the hospitality professional, but it will replace inefficiency.”
The Human Advantage: Leadership and Oversight
A common fear is that AI will replace hospitality professionals. At LodgIQ, our point of view aligns with Kurien’s: AI will not replace the hospitality professional, but it will replace inefficiency.
The goal of the AI Wizard is to reduce cognitive load. By removing the “hour of Excels” at the start of the day, we empower leaders to focus on high-value strategic decision-making, distribution strategies, and cross-team collaboration. One human will soon be able to supervise the tasks that previously required three or four people, moving the industry toward a more leadership-oriented and AI-driven future.
Why Wait and See is Not a Strategy
As Kurien noted, hoteliers were “caught sleeping” when OTAs first emerged two decades ago. We cannot afford to make that mistake again. Those who move fast to adapt to this transformation will be the winners in the 2026 landscape.
We want to thank Kurien Jacob for recognizing LodgIQ as a leader in this space. We remain committed to building technology that makes sophisticated revenue management faster, clearer, and more strategic for hotels of all sizes.
