Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a futuristic concept for the hospitality industry; it is actively reshaping the landscape. From streamlining bookings to redefining guest personalisation, AI is enhancing precision and efficiency in ways that were once unimaginable. Tools like CheQin.ai are at the forefront of this revolution, transforming traditional processes by enabling real-time adaptability and direct engagement. Asmita Mukherjee spoke with serial tech entrepreneur Venu G. Somineni, the visionary Founder of CheQin.ai (an EaseMyTrip venture), to discuss how the platform is redefining hospitality technology by blending cutting-edge AI with a groundbreaking fair business model, exploring its transformative potential and the promising future it holds for the industry.
How do you see the role of AI evolving in the hospitality industry, particularly in areas like bookings and guest personalisation?
AI is slowly moving from being a background tool to playing a more active role in how bookings and guest choices are handled. Instead of fixed rates and one-size-fits-all options, platforms like CheQin.ai use AI to respond to guest needs in real time — helping match the right offer to the right request. It’s not about replacing the current system, but about making the whole experience a bit faster, more flexible, and easier for both sides.
What does the shift toward zero-commission platforms signal about the future of hotel distribution channels?
It shows that things are starting to move in a different direction. Platforms such as ours are offering a model where hotels keep full control of their earnings without giving away a share every time they get a booking. This shift doesn’t mean the old ways are disappearing, but it does suggest that fairness, clarity, and better cost control are becoming more important going forward.
Many hoteliers rely on OTAs for visibility despite high commissions. What challenges will do they face when adopting alternative platforms?
The biggest challenge is perception. Visibility has been monopolised by OTAs, but at a steep cost — up to 25% per booking. CheQin.ai levels the playing field with AI-triggered exposure: hotels receive direct guest requests and respond competitively in real time. The visibility is smarter — and commission-free.
How do direct engagement and real-time pricing impact a hotel’s ability to maintain occupancy and profitability?
Direct engagement combined with real-time pricing allows hotels to respond with greater precision. Instead of relying on fixed rates, properties can adapt to actual demand and market shifts as they happen. Some AI platform enables this responsiveness, helping hotels optimise occupancy while keeping pricing aligned with value — not just volume.
How is AI redefining the decision-making process for both travellers and hoteliers in an increasingly tech-savvy landscape?
AI is shifting decisions from reactive to real-time. For travellers, it means instant clarity — tailored offers, transparent pricing, and no guesswork. For hoteliers, it’s strategic visibility — they can respond to actual demand, not just predicted trends. Some AI driven platforms bridges both sides, enabling smarter, faster decisions that align with live market behavior.
What are the key barriers to the widespread adoption of AI-driven solutions in hospitality, and how can the industry address these?
Adopting new technologies in hospitality often faces resistance, not due to a lack of potential, but because of the comfort with familiar routines and hesitations around change. Decision-makers frequently weigh the risks over the rewards, particularly when systems seem complex or unfamiliar. Emerging AI-driven platforms are designed to bridge this gap by offering intuitive and user-friendly solutions that deliver clear, measurable outcomes. The key to progress lies not in disruptive overhauls but in fostering confidence through gradual integration and tangible value, helping the industry evolve at its own pace.
Can you discuss the implications of real-time negotiation models on traditional revenue management strategies?
Real-time negotiation is reshaping traditional revenue strategies, adding an agile and responsive dimension to the mix. Rather than replacing established methods like forecasts and fixed rates, it works alongside them, enabling hotels to adapt to live guest demand in real time. Emerging platforms in the space bring the flexibility needed to keep pace with today’s dynamic travel landscape, transforming pricing from a static, pre-planned approach to one that’s smarter, faster, and more attuned to market conditions.
Since zero-commission platforms challenge the traditional revenue model of OTAs, how do such platforms, including CheQin.ai, sustain their operations and generate revenue while maintaining affordability for both hoteliers and travellers?
Our model is intentionally different. CheQin.ai charges a flat, predictable subscription — no per-booking commissions. This creates a win-win loop: hotels retain earnings, guests get the lowest offer, and we scale through value, not volume-based extraction. It’s transparent, sustainable, and built for trust.
Do you believe AI advancements in hospitality technology could potentially lead to significant job displacement within the industry?
AI is undeniably reshaping the core structure of the hospitality ecosystem — from how bookings are handled to how pricing is managed and guest needs are anticipated. Rather than viewing this as displacement, it’s more accurate to see it as redistribution. As intelligent systems like CheQin.ai take over repetitive and logic-driven operations, the industry is gradually shifting toward roles that demand creativity, decision-making, and emotional intelligence. While certain traditional functions may evolve or fade, new ones will emerge — especially around AI strategy, tech-enabled service, and data-driven experience design. The key lies not in resisting change, but in preparing the industry to adapt with it — thoughtfully, and on its own terms.
asmita.mukherjee@saffronsynergies.in
