The Moment It Clicked: Why Hotels Are Losing Time and Money (And What To Do About It)

When I first stepped into the world of AI for hospitality, I didn’t have all the answers. What I did have was curiosity and a big question: “What’s actually slowing hotels down?” So I did my research by asking and listening. I spent time understanding the roles of hotel owners, general managers, and reception staff to get a grip on the real, everyday problems behind the scenes. They kept explaining the same issue that kept cropping up again and again.

7/14/20253 min read

The Hidden Drain: FAQs Eating Up Time

Nearly every hotel owner I spoke with told me the same story. No matter how big or small the venue, one thing kept dragging their attention away from higher-value work. Repetitive guest questions.

“Is breakfast included?”
“Do you have parking?”
“What time’s check-in?”

They weren’t just being asked once. They were answering these same things every single day. And it wasn’t just receptionists dealing with it, the hotel owners, who should be working on growing the business, were still stuck with these questions. They were getting pinged by guests through email, calls, social DMs, you name it.

It wasn’t just frustrating. It was costing the businesses.

Automation Is Clever

What became clear early on is that hotels didn’t want to strip away their personal touch. Quite the opposite. They cared deeply about the guest experience. But they were burning out. Spending time answering the same five questions over and over wasn’t helping anyone, and least of all the guest who’s still waiting for an answer.

I’ve realised that this wasn’t a tech problem, it was a people problem where AI could quietly, neatly solve in the background.

A chatbot that doesn’t feel robotic when it still reflects the brand. One that can step in 24/7, deal with the repetitive stuff, and free up actual humans to focus on the high-touch experiences that make a hotel stay more memorable.

It’s not about removing or replacing the team. It’s about removing the noise.

Real Impact, Not Just Convenience

One owner put it perfectly. They said having a smart assistant that could instantly answer website questions meant guests no longer had to wait a day or two for an email reply. And that matters because guests don’t wait around, they’ll move on to another hotel’s website.

If someone’s looking at your hotel for a wedding, and they can’t get a simple answer on packages or capacity, they’ll move on. It doesn’t matter how nice your rooms are if they never hit “Book now.”

Even improving conversion by 0.1 or 0.2 percent makes a huge difference when you’re charging £300–500 a night. That’s the kind of lift that changes your monthly numbers. And it doesn’t just help future guests it also helps the ones who are already checked in.

Let’s say someone’s in their room and they want to know when the spa closes. They shouldn’t have to pick up the phone or walk to reception. A chatbot can do that in seconds. No fuss or complications!

It’s About Growth

Some people still hear “AI” and think of gimmicks or useless nonsense. But in practice, the best AI doesn’t draw attention to itself. It just works in the background and supports people’s job roles.

That’s the goal. Let the tech fade into the background and do the heavy lifting, while your team does what they do best: welcome guests, solve real problems, and create unforgettable stays.

This isn’t about replacing your people. It’s about giving them room to breathe. It can reclaim time, boost bookings and create a better experience for everyone, without compromising what makes your hotel special.

Why I Started Building This

That moment of clarity, hearing the same challenge echoed by hotel after hotel, is what pushed me to start Autonary AI.

I wanted to create something that didn’t just solve a surface-level problem, but actually helped hotels run smoother and grow smarter. A white glove chatbot that feels like part of your team. Built custom. Easy to manage. And most importantly, actually useful.

If it helps convert just a few more website visitors into paying guests or wedding clients, that’s a win. If it gives owners and staff back a few hours a week, even better. And if it creates a guest experience that feels more seamless from start to finish, then that’s the kind of hospitality I want to support.