AI and Your Accommodation Business: Tell Us Which Features You Want in Our AI Survey

After sharing our plans for 2026 in our latest newsletter, we realised that some of the ideas around AI might still feel a bit unclear.

Many people hear the term ‘AI’ everywhere, but it’s not always obvious how it connects to the day‑to‑day work of running an accommodation property. So, we’ve put together a clear, more practical look at what we’re exploring and why it could be useful for you.

AI and the Future of Accommodation The Shift That Will Redefine the Industry

Most of us already use AI without thinking about it. When your phone unlocks with Face ID, when Google Maps finds a faster route around traffic, when Gmail offers a suggested reply, or when your bank spots unusual activity - that’s AI helping in the background.

The same goes for searching online, asking your phone to show photos of your dog, getting recommendations on Netflix or Spotify, or using quick translation tools while travelling. These things don’t feel technical. They’re simply small conveniences that make life easier.  That’s the kind of experience we want to bring into Seekom.

As we look at how AI can support our accommodation providers, we’d love your input. Sharing your views in our quick three‑minute survey helps us understand which tools would genuinely make your day easier.

Where AI can help in real, practical ways

Running an accommodation business means lots of small tasks that add up: checking bookings, adjusting rates, answering questions, pulling reports. AI can help remove some of that friction by simplifying the work that currently takes the most clicks or the most time, such as:

  • Quick reporting
  • Clearer visibility of upcoming demand
  • Rate suggestions based on trends
  • Handling common guest questions
  • Reducing repetitive admin

It’s not about replacing people. It’s simply about making your systems work more smoothly so you can focus on guests and revenue.

What we’re looking into at Seekom

If any of these ideas sound useful, we’d love to know. Your feedback in the AI Feature Interest Survey helps us decide which features to prioritise first.

We’re exploring a range of AI features and would love your input on which ones matter most.

  • A built-in assistant in Seekom
    A new feature that lets you communicate a simple instruction for the system to carry out. Examples:

    What new bookings or changes happened since 6pm last night?"
    “Update this weekend’s rates by 5%”
    "Hold the Standard Queen for Sarah Doe, arriving Friday"
    "Add breakfast for two for booking 91827, both nights, and late checkout on Sunday"
    "Pipe burst in Unit 12. Make Unit 12 unbookable for the next 10 days"

    A tool like this has the potential to save a significant amount of time and reduce the number of screens you need to work through each day.

  • Reporting you can ask for in your own words
    This upgrade would let you build your own reports inside your Seekom account, instead of relying only on the fixed built‑in ones. You could simply ask for what you need, such as:

    “How many bookings do I have for Easter?”
    “What was occupancy by room type for the last 90 days?”
    “Show me revenue for each unit for the past month.”
    “What was occupancy last July?”

    The system would then pull the figures together for you.

  • Helpful pricing suggestions
    We’re exploring a tool that can analyse demand, market data, local events and even trends from similar properties to recommend pricing adjustments. This has the potential to give you clearer guidance when you are deciding what to charge, without needing to compare everything manually. You stay in control of your rates, but you get timely suggestions based on what’s happening around you.  Examples might include:

    “Increase studio rates by 10% for Easter weekend.”
    “Lower tonight’s price slightly to help fill remaining availability.”
    “Raise family unit rates next Saturday due to high demand in the area.”
    “Reduce weekday rates by 5% this month to improve occupancy.”

  • Better guest support on your booking screen
    A chatbot that can answer common guest queries automatically, such as check‑in times, parking, pet policies or what’s nearby. This would help guests get quick answers and reduces the number of routine enquiries your team needs to respond to, even late at night when you're not online.  Examples:

    A guest asks at 11pm
    “Do you have parking?” and gets an immediate reply: “Yes, there’s parking right in front of each unit.”

    Someone wants to know
    “Are pets allowed?” and the chatbot answers straight away with your pet policy.

    A traveller planning ahead asks
    “Do you have any rooms available next Friday?” and the chatbot checks availability and shows what’s open.

    A family browsing your site asks
    “Do you have cots available?” and receives instant confirmation.

    These quick answers help guests feel more confident booking and reduce the amount of back‑and‑forth your team needs to manage.

We’re also working on making the Seekom booking screen easier for AI-driven travel tools to read, which will help properties stay visible as search behaviour changes.

Why this could be especially helpful for Seekom users

AI can support teams of any size by reducing admin, improving response times and helping with decisions that previously relied on manual work. It’s designed to give you a boost, not replace anyone.  

Now we need your feedback

Your input will directly shape which AI features we build first. So have your say, vote, prioritise, and let us know which features matter most to you.

Completing the survey takes under three minutes, and everyone who takes part can enter the draw to win a $100 Prezzy card.

Ready to help shape what we build next?

Complete the AI Feature Interest Survey

  • Log in through your Seekom Support Portal
  • Share what matters most to you
  • Be in to win a $100 Prezzy card

Contact Us

4/234 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com

Connect With Us

 Copyright 2025 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)

AI and the Future of Accommodation: The Shift That Will Redefine the Industry

Artificial intelligence isn’t approaching the accommodation industry, it has already arrived. And just like the introduction of online bookings two decades ago, AI represents a structural shift that will change how providers operate, how guests choose where to stay, and how leading businesses differentiate themselves.

AI and the Future of Accommodation The Shift That Will Redefine the Industry

What makes this moment unique is that most providers are already using AI every day without realising it. It feels futuristic until you notice it’s been quietly improving your life for years

You’re already using AI when you…

  • Unlock your phone with Face ID - that’s AI recognising your face.
  • Use Google Maps or Waze - AI predicts traffic flows and offers the fastest route.
  • Accept suggested replies in Gmail - “Sure, sounds good!” is AI‑generated.
  • Use fraud protection on your bank account - AI monitors spending patterns to keep you safe.
  • Search online - Google now uses AI to rank, summarise and understand results.
  • Let your phone sort photos (e.g., “show me pictures of dogs”).
  • Rely on Netflix/Spotify recommendations - AI learns your tastes.
  • Use translation tools - instant language translation is powered by AI.

None of this feels complicated. It simply feels helpful. That’s how AI will continue to develop within accommodation: simple, intuitive and quietly powerful.

AI: The New Discovery Layer for Travel

The biggest shift unfolding in the industry is the way travellers search for and choose accommodation. AI‑driven travel assistants, ranging from mobile search tools to conversational trip planners, are already shaping booking decisions by interpreting preferences, comparing options and suggesting tailored places to stay.

Over the next few years, these assistants are likely to become the first stop for many travellers. Properties that appear clearly in AI‑powered search environments will gain a visibility advantage long before a guest reaches a website. This makes it essential for your digital presence to be structured in a way that AI tools can understand, assess and present to travellers.

Where the Biggest Operational Gains Will Be

While the future of AI driven search is transformative, the most immediate value of AI sits behind the scenes, removing friction from the tasks that take up staff time.

Forward‑thinking providers are already exploring AI for:

  • Faster, intuitive reporting
  • Pricing that adapts to real‑time demand
  • Predictive occupancy and revenue insights
  • Automated handling of common guest questions
  • Streamlined administrative workflows
  • Fewer manual errors

Staff aren’t being replaced here. What’s disappearing is the repetitive work that slows everything down. Tasks that once meant jumping between screens or manually checking data can now be done in seconds with simple prompts. The result is more time for genuine guest interaction and far less time lost to admin.

Why Small Providers Stand to Gain the Most

Contrary to common belief, AI isn’t a tool built solely for large hotel chains. Smaller providers stand to benefit even more because AI helps them:

  • Reduce administrative burden
  • Do more with fewer people
  • Compete against larger brands
  • Make data‑driven decisions without specialist staff
  • Improve guest response times and service quality
  • Make better use of their systems, even if they’re not technically confident

AI becomes the great equaliser, giving independents the capability once reserved for big operators.

The Mindset Shift Leaders Need

Three shifts define the accommodation providers who will stay competitive:

  1. Viewing AI as core operational infrastructure, not a “nice to have. Just as online booking engines became fundamental, AI will underpin pricing, reporting, communication and demand forecasting.
  1. Designing for AI‑driven travel search. Your digital content must serve both human guests and the AI tools shaping their decisions.
  1. Moving staff focus from task execution to guest experience. AI handles repetition; humans elevate hospitality.

What the Next Three Years Will Look Like

Expect to see:

  • Natural‑language reporting becoming standard, making it faster for teams to access the insights they need
  • AI‑guided pricing used across most properties, leading to sharper and more responsive revenue decisions
  • 24/7 AI guest assistants managing routine queries, improving response times without increasing staffing
  • Booking engines optimised for AI search algorithms so properties surface more effectively in AI‑driven discovery tools
  • Smaller providers operating with large‑hotel efficiency through automation and predictive insights
  • Staff roles shifting from admin to experience delivery, strengthening guest satisfaction and on‑site service quality

AI’s Power to Restore True Hospitality

Hospitality is fundamentally human. But rising admin demands have pushed providers away from guests and deeper into screens. AI offers a path back by reducing the noise, clearing the clutter and bringing people closer to the work they do best.

AI isn’t the end of hospitality. It marks the start of a new era where providers gain the time, clarity and tools to deliver exceptional guest experiences without giving up operational efficiency.

Contact Us

4/234 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com

Connect With Us

 Copyright 2025 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)