Mews: 98% hoteliers used AI

Mews said on May 18 that 98% of hoteliers in its latest global survey had used artificial intelligence in operations during the previous six months, a sign that AI tools are now embedded across much of hotel management. (mews.com) The company said the research covered more than 500 properties worldwide and was conducted between December 2025 and March 2026. Mews said AI is now involved in 11 of the 19 most common hotel tasks and handles more than half the workload in those tasks. At the same time, the survey found hotel operators still want people to control some of the most visible parts of guest service. ### Where are hotels actually using AI? Mews said AI adoption spans front office, commercial functions, food and beverage, and leadership teams. The company said the tools are being used daily and are no longer treated as side projects inside hotel operations. The survey found AI is involved in 11 of 19 common hotel tasks on average, according to Mews. Hotel Management, citing the same research, said the findings point to broad use in day-to-day work rather than isolated pilots. ### Which hotels are furthest along? (mews.com) Mews said adoption is highest in upper-midscale, upscale and luxury properties. The company did not present the survey as limited to one region, saying the results came from properties globally. More than 500 properties were included in the research, according to both the Mews release and follow-on trade coverage. (mews.com) The fieldwork ran from December 2025 through March 2026. ### If AI is everywhere, why are hotels drawing a line at check-in? Fifty-nine percent of hoteliers said the front desk welcome and check-in should stay human-led, Mews said. (mews.com) The company said that preference was strongest among properties already using AI extensively. Wouter Geerts, Mews’ director of market research, said the data showed hoteliers were “optimistic about AI” and willing to use it broadly, but “precise about its role.” Trade publications carrying the survey results said operators still see high-value guest moments as areas where personal interaction remains important. (mews.com) ### What does the survey say about the industry’s stance on AI? Mews said the results show AI has become standard in hotel operations rather than an experimental add-on. Hospitality Net, summarizing the findings, said the research describes a sector with widespread AI use but clear limits around guest-facing moments. (mews.com) The Mews release and related coverage frame the current split in practical terms: hotels are automating routine work across departments while reserving some front-desk interactions for staff. That distinction appears repeatedly across the company statement and trade reports published on May 18 and May 19. (prnewswire.com) ### Where can readers find the next layer of detail? The full dataset is described in the Mews Hotelier Survey 2026, which Mews said was based on research carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. The company published the findings in a press release on May 18, and hotel trade outlets including Hotel Business, Hotel Management and Hospitality Net carried the results the same day and after. (mews.com)