Patrick Pacious walked into Choice's 70th annual convention with record revenue numbers and a stack of AI-powered platforms nobody asked for yet. The real question isn't whether the technology works... it's whether 7,500 franchisees can absorb four new systems without the kind of operational whiplash that turns a good quarter into a terrible implementation year.
Marriott just announced its Q1 2026 earnings date, and Wall Street is focused on the EPS beat. But if you're an owner writing checks for PIP compliance and tech mandates, the number that should keep you up at night is the billion dollars they're spending to rebuild the technology stack you'll eventually be required to adopt.
A new study says the vast majority of hotel properties are ramping up AI spending in 2026, but when only half have even piloted a solution and 73% of hoteliers feel overwhelmed by where to start, the gap between "plan to accelerate" and "actually deliver results" is where the money gets wasted.
