Missed Enquiries Are Costing Hotels More Than They Think

One thing I wish more hotel owners and venue managers understood? Slow or missed website enquiries aren’t just admin issues, they’re lost revenue.

7/7/20254 min read

Guests Expect Quick Answers.

Imagine someone’s on your site, interested about your wedding package and they have a question, potentially about parking or availability. If they can’t get the answer straight away, either from a phone call or on the webpage, chances are they’ll bounce. They’re not waiting for a call-back. They’re clicking off and booking with someone else.

When the enquiry is high value, like a wedding or big event, it matters even more. People want to feel looked after. A fast response tells them they can trust you and a slow one says the opposite.

Most Hotels Don’t Realise How Much Revenue Is Slipping Away

Most venues don’t think this is a big issue. One or two missed messages a week doesn’t sound like much. But of course over time, these missed calls add up. It could be ten or twenty missed enquiries a month. Even if only a few of them were serious bookings, that’s thousands of pounds in revenue you never even knew you lost.

The problem isn’t that people don’t care. Hospitality staff are always running flat out and don’t have the capacity to tend to these calls. No one has time to chase every form submission or stay on top of the inbox all day. Most systems aren’t built for that kind of speed anyway.

But guests still expect answers that are fast!

AI Can Fill the Gap Without Replacing Your Team

This is where AI makes a real difference. I’m talking about custom-built AI agents that actually know and understand your venue.

They’re placed on your website, answer guest questions instantly, and guide people toward booking. All day, every day! With no breaks or delays as they run 24/7.

It’s not about replacing your team but it can provide them with more support. Taking the repetitive enquiries off their plate so they can focus on the bits that actually need a human touch.

Speed Builds Trust. Trust Drives Bookings.

Guests don’t always book the fanciest hotel. They book the one that feels easiest to deal with and makes things simple.

If your website feels slow or unhelpful, you’re more likely to lose customers even if everything else about your venue is spot on. When it feels responsive and informative from the very first click on your website, your chances of winning that booking go way up.

You don’t need to rip everything out and start again. You just need to stop missing the moments that matter, where interest turns into action.

That’s exactly what we do at Autonary AI. We build fully tailored AI agents that live on your website, ready to answer questions and guide guests toward booking at any time of day.

If you're curious what that could look like for your venue, I’m happy to take a look and give you a straight answer. It’s a smarter way to stop losing bookings and revenue.

What You Can Do Next

Test your website like a guest
Try navigating your own site as if you’re a first time visitor. Is it easy to find key info? Is there anywhere obvious to ask a question or check availability?
Look at how enquiries are handled
Do all messages come to one inbox? Does anyone check them outside office hours? If not, you’re probably missing out.
Track missed or late replies
Start keeping count of any enquiries that slip through the cracks or take too long to respond to. You’ll likely be surprised how quickly the numbers add up.
Consider where automation can help
Think about where an AI assistant could step in, not to replace your team, but to make sure no enquiry goes unanswered.
Speak to someone who knows what’s possible
If you’re not sure what good looks like here, ask. The right solution won’t just save time, it should help you get more bookings without adding more to your plate.