The 2026 Agenda

A welcome to Destination AI, an introduction to your emcees for the next two days, David Millili and Steve Carran of The Modern Hotelier, and a look at the key questions shaping this year’s conversations.

A first look at findings from a recent State of Hotel AI research report, highlighting how hoteliers are adopting, investing in, and measuring AI across their organizations.

Real-world examples from hospitality leaders and consultants on AI use cases, early results, and what teams are learning through implementation.

A conversation with Hilton’s technology leadership on how large hospitality organizations are approaching AI, innovation, and enterprise-scale change.

A data-driven look at how AI is showing up in guest engagement across Canary’s 20,000+ hotel customers, with practical insights on how these tools are improving guest satisfaction, operational efficiency, and revenue generation.

A discussion on how hospitality leaders are managing AI-driven change, balancing people and technology, and preparing teams to adopt new tools in day-to-day operations.

For fifty years, software has waited, for a keystroke, a click, a command. Jim helped build that world twice: QDOS, the operating system that became MS-DOS, and the Amazon Marketplace, the platform that rewired global commerce. Now, Jim argues, the waiting is over. Software is learning to act; booking, buying, negotiating, coordinating, and machines will influence trillions of dollars in transactions by 2030. Yet intelligence isn't the hard part; trust and orchestration are. Jim will walk through computing's third paradigm and the network architecture a trillion-actor economy requires, and what leaders must do before software stops waiting for them.

Destination AI kicks off Day 1 with appetizers, drinks, and an evening of networking to welcome hospitality leaders, innovators, and the broader community.

Start the day with breakfast, coffee, and informal networking with fellow Destination AI attendees before programming begins.

A discussion on how AI can help hotels identify risk, strengthen safety protocols, and support human trafficking prevention across properties and teams.

A look at how hotels can prepare as AI agents begin booking rooms, comparing options, managing preferences, and influencing where travelers stay.

Today’s guests are increasingly asking AI where to stay, and this session offers a practical playbook for showing up in those recommendations, from benchmarking AI search visibility to creating citable content, strengthening technical foundations, and building websites that convert both guests and AI agents. Real properties and real numbers will ground each step.

Hotel owners and investors discuss how they evaluate AI investments, what returns matter most, and where technology can create measurable asset value.

Lunch will be open for 1 hour and 45 minutes, with optional roundtables and breakout discussions taking place during the second half. Use the time however is most valuable to you, whether that means networking, meeting with peers, or joining a focused discussion.

A research-led conversation on how different customer segments are using AI, what behaviors vary by traveler type, and what these insights mean for hotel brands, operators, and technology leaders.

This session explores the leadership, governance, data, team alignment, and change management required to move AI from isolated pilots to organization-wide impact.

A global look at where AI can enhance the guest experience, where human service remains essential, and how hospitality leaders are balancing efficiency, personalization, and genuine care.

A practical conversation on the legal, privacy, and risk considerations hotel leaders need to understand as AI adoption accelerates.

Brand leaders discuss how their AI initiatives will improve efficiency, grow revenue, and drive stronger bottom-line results for owners.

Close out Destination AI at an off-site venue with drinks, light bites, and a final opportunity to connect with fellow attendees.