Chinese want more AI in Portuguese hotels

Artificial Intelligence will be a game changer for Portugal’s hotel industry according to a study by Mazars.

The Chinese, in particular, base their booking decisions when selecting hotels according to how technologically savvy the hotels are.
The study ‘Artificial Intelligence – A Game Changer in the Hospitality Industry’ looked at how AI could transform and revolutionise the hotel industry in Portugal regarding some of Portugal’s principal and emerging tourist issuing markets Germany, France, the United Kingdom, United States and China.
The results of the study revealed that 48% of Western travellers did not recall any significant experience related to innovation in the hotel sector.
Chinese tourists surveyed were particularly receptive to new services using AI: influencing 75% of travellers from China when choosing a hotel and an average of just 31% from the other countries in the study.
Travellers were found to like customised recommendations for activities close to the hotel, the use of virtual reality to experience a virtual view and tour of the hotel and the presentation of up-to-date prices in real time.
Chinese travellers particularly liked to be able to control facilities and technology in their rooms using an intelligent device as well as chatbots and concierge robots at check-in.
Some 80% of Western tourists and 97% of Chinese tourists are prepared to share at least one personal data to be able to access services related to AI in their hotels.
The study involved 750 upper class travellers from Germany, China, USA, France and the United Kingdom who had travelled on holiday over the preceding 12 months involving an online form.
MAZARS, a consultancy agency has offices in Lisbon, Porto and Leiria employing 150 people.