Hotels Turn to AI as Labour Shortage Persists

Hotels Turn to AI as Labour Shortage Persists

By Author

Published on August 24, 2023

Even as hotels are set to offer more wages, flexibility in work hours, and other perks, the struggle to find and fill vacancies for various positions still persists post-pandemic. Such unprecedented shortages even after offering benefits have been leading the industry to turn to AI to overcome their staff shortcomings. 

The industry also faces restrictions regarding the hiring of competent staff, which include education, immigration laws, increasing staff housing needs, and even a lack of trained professionals. This is where the all-knowing AI can come to help out. 

While human interaction can not be completely wiped out in such an industry, the comfortable pairing of both AI and humans can lead to efficient and cross-functional departments and services. According to IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Keith Barr, "AI can enable our colleagues to have more time to provide better services to customers”. AI can be used to provide and simplify many processes in hotels, such as hiring, synthesizing consumer feedback, revenue management and tabulation, inventory and even advertising. 

AI-enhanced smart room technology can provide visitors a more convenient and pleasant stay. Additionally, AI can be used to improve pricing and inventory decisions, estimate demand and make changes in room availability accordingly, monitor and predict maintenance requirements in hotel rooms, enhance energy efficiency, and overall help in lowering the expenses associated with managing and maintaining the hotel.These are only a few of the vast capabilities of AI in the industry. 

AI can help in solving two of the most significant problems of the industry; finding out what the consumer wants and understanding how to better consumer experience. With the availability of big data, it has become possible for hotel management to understand what is missing in their approach toward their consumers and change their strategy accordingly. AI can also allow hotel employees to offer detailed and customized itineraries to travellers, something that requires veteran staff who are very familiar with the place. Keeping all these points in mind, AI can help in understanding and better serving the target consumer more effectively.

It is important to understand that human staff can not be completely substituted with AI, no matter how advanced it becomes. There are some things that AI simply can not do, as human interaction is the foundation stone of the industry. Many guests still prefer to be greeted by human faces. 

Hotels that invest in AI and use it successfully will be able to see significant changes and benefits, including increased consumer happiness, increased productivity among staff, and staying one step ahead of their competitors. 


Zoomcar and Uber Partner to Give Travelers More Road Trip Choices

Zoomcar and Uber Partner to Give Travelers More Road Trip Choices

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 25, 2026

Zoomcar and Uber have joined hands to make road trip planning easier by bringing self-drive and chauffeur-driven travel options together on the Zoomcar app. Travelers searching for a self-drive car on Zoomcar can now also discover and book Uber Intercity rides if they prefer to travel with a driver. This allows users to compare both options in one place and choose what works best for their journey.

The partnership brings together two different ways to travel across select routes, with options available for both one-way and round trips. It is aimed at travelers who value flexibility, convenience and access over vehicle ownership. The integration is now live in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Mumbai, with plans to expand to more cities over time.

Deepankar Tiwari, Chief Executive Officer, Zoomcar Holdings, Inc., said: “Zoomcar is where India’s most intentional travelers come to plan how they move. Some of them want the freedom of a self-drive car. Others, on other days or other trips, want the comfort of being driven. Both needs are valid, and both deserve a world-class experience. By partnering with Uber, we’re making sure that when a Zoomcar user faces that choice, they don’t have to leave our platform to find the answer. That’s what serving the traveler fully looks like.”

Rishant Ghosh, Director of Consumer & Growth, Uber India & South Asia, said: "Uber Intercity has increasingly become the preferred choice for travel across cities, with demand growing across Tier-2 and metro markets alike. We're also seeing more Indians choose road trips for weekend getaways, family visits and holidays. Through this partnership with Zoomcar, we're making Uber Intercity accessible to even more travelers, giving them another convenient way to book reliable, comfortable outstation rides."

Access Over Ownership

The partnership reflects a wider change in how Indian travelers are approaching mobility. Instead of owning a vehicle, more consumers are choosing flexible, on-demand options based on what each journey requires.

For one trip, travelers may prefer the freedom of driving themselves through Zoomcar. On another, they may want to sit back and let an Uber Intercity driver take care of the journey. By bringing these two options together, the partnership gives travelers more flexibility when planning road trips. The same traveler can choose to drive on one journey and be driven on the next, depending on the occasion and their travel needs.

With both options available through the Zoomcar app, the collaboration aims to make road travel more convenient while giving Indian travelers greater choice for weekend getaways, family visits and holidays.


Indus Towers and Bharti Airtel Foundation Strengthen Digital Learning in Guwahati School

Indus Towers and Bharti Airtel Foundation Strengthen Digital Learning in Guwahati School

By Hariharan U

Published on August 22, 2026

Indus Towers Limited, in collaboration with the Bharti Airtel Foundation, has strengthened digital learning infrastructure at GC CRPF Guwahati Montessori School in Assam with the installation of two K-YAN digital learning devices.

Located within the CRPF Campus at 9 Mile, Guwahati, the initiative aims to create a more engaging, interactive and future-ready learning environment for students. The intervention is expected to benefit 114 students by providing enhanced access to technology-enabled and experiential learning opportunities.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ms. Neelam Dhyani, Head, Regional CRPF Family Welfare Association, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The programme also saw the participation of Shri Rajender Gurung, Circle CEO (NESA), Indus Towers Limited, representatives of Bharti Airtel Foundation, CRPF officials, school representatives, teachers and students.

Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Neelam Dhyani highlighted the role of technology in creating more dynamic and enriching learning environments. She said that access to quality education and modern learning tools can help children develop curiosity, improve understanding and engage more actively in the classroom.

Shri Rajender Gurung said that education remains an important enabler of social transformation and that technology can play a significant role in making learning more accessible, engaging and inclusive. He added that the K-YAN devices are expected to support teachers with innovative classroom tools while helping students develop digital skills and confidence for the future.

The initiative is designed to support educators in delivering curriculum content more effectively while encouraging digital literacy, experiential learning and classroom participation. It reflects the shared commitment of Indus Towers, Bharti Airtel Foundation and the CRPF community towards strengthening educational infrastructure and creating future-ready learning environments.

Mr. Sameer Shah, Head, Higher Education and Strategic Relations, Bharti Airtel Foundation, said the Foundation remains focused on enabling equitable access to quality education through innovative and scalable solutions. He noted that technology can make classroom learning more engaging and effective while helping students build competencies required for the future.

The K-YAN platform is an integrated digital classroom solution combining a computer, projector, audio system and interactive learning capabilities in a single portable unit. Its multimedia-based approach enables teachers to create more immersive classroom sessions while giving students greater opportunities to engage with digital content.

The programme concluded with the ceremonial handover of the K-YAN devices, addresses by dignitaries and discussions on the role of technology in improving teaching effectiveness and learning outcomes.

Through the initiative, Indus Towers and Bharti Airtel Foundation continue to support technology-enabled education and contribute towards building more inclusive and future-ready learning environments for students.


Uber Partners with ixigo to Launch Train Ticket Booking on App

Uber Partners with ixigo to Launch Train Ticket Booking on App

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 19, 2026

Uber has announced the launch of Train Ticket Booking on the Uber app in partnership with ixigo, India’s leading AI-native travel platform. The new feature allows riders to book train tickets, check PNR status and manage their first and last-mile travel connections through a single app.

The launch marks another step in Uber’s growing focus on expanding its intercity travel offerings in India. By combining ixigo’s train booking technology with Uber’s mobility services, the partnership aims to make long-distance travel planning easier and more connected for passengers.

Train travel continues to be one of India’s most preferred modes of transportation, with Indian Railways carrying 741 crore passengers in FY2025–26. As online train ticket booking continues to grow, Uber and ixigo are bringing together train reservations and local mobility solutions to offer a smoother travel experience from the starting point to the final destination.

Commenting on the partnership, Arnab Kumar, Director, Business Development, Uber India and South Asia, said, "Train journeys are an integral part of how India travels. For millions of people, the journey starts well before they board the train and continues long after they arrive at their destination. With Train Ticket Booking on the Uber app, riders can now book their train tickets, check their PNR status, and seamlessly connect to and from the railway station, all within a single app. We’re pleased to partner with ixigo to bring together their expertise in train ticketing with Uber’s mobility platform, making the overall travel experience more seamless and convenient for riders.”

Sharing their views on the partnership, Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO and Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO, ixigo, said, “As India's largest OTA in the train category, our focus has always been on making rail travel simpler, more reliable and stress-free. Beyond booking tickets, we've continued to invest in a seamless post-booking experience, better customer support and innovative features that give travellers greater peace of mind throughout their journey. By partnering with Uber, we're extending that experience beyond the train itself, enabling travellers to plan their journey seamlessly from their doorstep to their destination.”

Uber already has a strong presence at railway stations across India, offering dedicated pickup and drop-off zones at locations ranging from Ahmedabad in the West, Secunderabad in the South and Howrah in the East, with more railway stations expected to be added soon.

With the introduction of Train Ticket Booking, Uber is extending its railway station connectivity services to support travellers throughout their entire journey. The company’s multimodal mobility platform now includes Moto, Auto, Cars, Metro, Intercity Cars, Intercity Buses and Train Ticket Booking.

Through this expansion, Uber aims to become a single platform for different travel needs, helping riders move more conveniently across cities and across the country.

How to Book Train Tickets on Uber:

● Open the Uber app.
● Select ‘Bus & Train’ from the home screen or Services section, then choose train tickets.
● Enter the origin, destination and travel date.
● Browse available trains and select the preferred option.
● Complete the booking through the app.
● Access ticket details and check PNR status directly within Uber.
● Book an Uber ride to and from the railway station for a seamless travel experience.

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