Practical Wins, Not Just Hype — Insights from the UN Tourism Report
Let’s be honest: when small hotel owners hear about Artificial Intelligence (AI), their first reaction is often skepticism. “Sounds expensive”, “Isn’t that just for the large hotel chains?”. At Amiqa, we get it, we work closely with small hotels across Latin America and Europe, and technology talk can feel far removed from the day-to-day challenges of managing staff, dealing with guests, and juggling seasonal demand.
But the truth is, AI is not a luxury anymore. It’s a practical tool, and it’s already creating meaningful results for small and independent hotels. The UN Tourism and Saxion University of Applied Sciences joint report on Artificial Intelligence in tourism makes this clear:
“AI is reshaping every aspect of the travel experience” and offers real, tangible benefits to businesses of all sizes — including small, independent hotels. (p. 17)
This article walks through those opportunities with use case examples, while also engaging with the report’s deeper insights about the risks, responsibilities, and partnerships needed to make AI a force for good in the hospitality industry, and more specifically, small hotels.
Download the full report at UN Tourism website: https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/10.18111/9789284426065
Opportunity 1: Personalization that Builds Loyalty
Let’s start with the guest experience. We all know that the magic of a great stay lies in the small personal touches. AI now helps replicate that kind of attention to detail at scale.
The report notes that AI can “analyze vast amounts of data, including user preferences, past behaviours and trends, to provide personalized recommendations for destinations, accommodations, activities and attractions”. For a small hotel, that might mean suggesting the perfect breakfast time, offering a yoga class before the guest even asks, or tailoring a welcome message in the guest’s native language.
Opportunity 2: Smarter Pricing, More Revenue
We all know how critical it is to price rooms right, too high and you lose bookings, too low and you lose profit. The report calls this out clearly: “AI is used for dynamic pricing and revenue management. Machine learning algorithms analyse historical data, current market trends and competitor pricing to optimize pricing strategies in real time” (p. 18).
Think about that. Even a seven-room hostel can now access the kind of pricing intelligence that used to require a whole revenue management team. Amiqa’s users are already leveraging the power of AI to run their dynamic pricing.
Want to learn more about Dynamic Pricing, read our guide: Dynamic Pricing for Small Hotels: How to Use AI to Increase Revenue
Opportunity 3: Cut Costs and Simplify Operations
“AI helps in predicting demand and managing inventory efficiently,” the report states. That applies to more than just rooms, it can reduce food waste, and improve housekeeping schedules.
Small hotels can implement tools that predict breakfast demand based on bookings and weather. They could cut kitchen waste by 25% and freed up one staff member during low-demand days. That’s not science fiction, it’s smart use of AI.
Opportunity 4: Marketing That Finds the Right Guests
If you’re spending hours crafting emails, answering enquiries on Whatsapp or running Facebook ads with little return, you’re not alone. AI tools can now segment your audience and tailor messages for better conversion.
The report highlights how AI is “used to create personalized and predictive marketing strategies based on customer behavior” (p. 19).
Opportunity 5: Greener Operations
Today’s guests are eco-aware—and AI can help hotels meet their expectations while lowering costs. As the report explains, “AI can monitor energy usage, recommend efficiency improvements, and reduce waste” .
Small eco-hotels in Costa Rica use AI to automate AC shut-off when guests leave their rooms, cutting electricity bills by 18%. That kind of change is both impactful and easy to implement with the right support.
Opportunity 6: Data That Informs (Not Overwhelms)
Let’s face it, many small hotel owners and managers are overwhelmed by the flood of booking data, guest feedback, and social media noise. AI helps by turning data into insight.
As the report emphasizes, “AI algorithms analyze historical data to predict future travel trends, demand patterns and customer behaviors” . With these insights, a hotel owner doesn’t just react to trends, they anticipate them. At Amiqa, we will launch a sentiment review model that analyzes hundreds of reviews of your hotel and turns them into actionable information. Would you like to learn more about this and other features that Amiqa can offer your small hotel?, click here to schedule a consultation meeting today.
Collaboration is Key: Tech Isn’t Enough Without Hospitality
The UN report strongly encourages collaboration between governments, educators, hotel operators, and technology providers like us:
“To move forward, the sector must address challenges… while responsibly leveraging AI’s potential to provide memorable and efficient travel experiences.”
Small hotels don’t need to figure this out alone. At Amiqa, we partner closely with hotels to make sure our tools fit real workflows, not just tech trends. We provide support, onboarding, and ongoing insights, so you don’t just adopt AI, you succeed with it.
Final Thoughts: AI Isn’t About Replacing People—It’s About Empowering Them
The UN Tourism report says “AI is not just enhancing operational efficiency but fundamentally altering the way travellers experience their journeys.”
But for us at Amiqa, it’s not just about the guest journey. It’s about empowering the people behind the scenes—owners, front desk staff, housekeepers, marketers—with smarter tools to do what they already do best.
Here’s how to get started:
- Pick one small win. Automate your guest check-in process, try an AI-powered chatbot, or implement a basic dynamic pricing tool.
- Don’t go it alone. Seek out consultants or partners who specialize in small hotels—not just big tech vendors.
- Train your staff. As AI tools get smarter, your team will need to know how to work with them, not compete with them.
- Stay human. AI works best when it supports, not replaces, genuine hospitality.
Ready to Start?
If you’re curious about where to begin with using AI to optimize the pricing strategy of your small hotel, let’s talk. We specialize in helping small hotels adopt AI to implement dynamic pricing, analyze data from reviews, and more with clear ROI and minimal stress. Click here to schedule a meeting
