The findings from a Mews survey of 3,250 travelers reveal that the appetite for AI depends entirely on whether a task is viewed as a necessary chore or a personal choice. While 63% of respondents welcome AI-driven price alerts, only 44% want the technology to handle itinerary planning. This hesitation stems from a desire for autonomy, with 57% of travelers stating they prefer to manage their own trip decisions rather than relying on automated systems.

Data privacy remains a significant factor in how guests perceive these tools. Travelers are significantly more comfortable with AI utilizing information they have explicitly provided, such as past stay history or stated preferences, rather than data harvested from social media or online behavior. This preference for transparency is particularly strong in Spain, where 72% of travelers indicate they would be more willing to use AI services if they were given direct control over their information.

For hoteliers, the message is one of balance. Josef Starýchfojtů, CPTO of Mews, emphasizes that technology should be reserved for mundane, repetitive administrative work to free up staff for meaningful guest interaction. The most successful implementations of AI will not be those that automate every touchpoint, but those that identify which moments require a human connection and which are better served by an algorithm.