#418: How AI Is Changing Guest Expectations and Reshaping Hotels | Raki Phillips

Technology is changing the way hotels operate, from how guests choose where to stay to how businesses manage pricing and performance. But as Raki Phillips explains, hospitality still comes down to the experience guests have and whether they want to come back.

Raki Phillips also shares his perspective on protecting room rates during periods of disruption, the resilience of the UAE's tourism industry, and the growth opportunities across the Middle East and Africa.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

4:05 How hotel groups decide where to open new properties

7:34 The opportunities and risks of investing in Africa

14:50 Why the guest experience matters more than the numbers

16:20 How the UAE's tourism industry is handling disruption

28:49 Hotel occupancy, profitability and protecting room rates

32:02 What UAE travel figures reveal about the industry's recovery

40:32 How AI is changing the way people book hotels

41:26 Will hotel brands still matter when AI chooses where you stay?