Why Automation is the Ally of Hotel Staff, and Not Their Replacement
Hotels across regions are under pressure to operate efficiently despite persistent labor shortages, cost inflation, and global instability. In the US, political tensions, evolving immigration policies, and a slowdown in international tourism have added pressure to the labor market. These challenges have been compounded by the recent government shutdown, which has led the FAA to reduce flight capacity at several major airports, creating further uncertainty for travel and hospitality operations.
In this volatile environment, automation can deliver security through consistent 24/7 operational continuity independent of labor market uncertainties, and predictable costs. Automation is proving to be one of the most effective ways to reinforce, not replace, hotel teams. When implemented strategically, it strengthens decision-making, safeguards accuracy, and allows staff to focus where human connection and judgment truly matter.
From Constraint to Capability
Many hotel leaders still see workflow automation as a technical project. In reality, it has become an operational discipline, an actual lever that transforms fragmented routines into streamlined workflows. Across our client base, digital workers now handle tasks that once absorbed countless hours: reconciling OTA commissions, managing rate codes across systems, or updating marketing data. Each process automated restores time for strategic, guest‑facing, and revenue‑driving work.
The operational challenges are clear. Post-pandemic staff turnover in hospitality is still as high as 70%1. Europe is less affected but still registers high numbers compared to other industries2. IT budgets remain constrained, with most resources consumed by legacy maintenance3. Meanwhile, the amount of operational data hotels must process has multiplied tenfold, and the complexity it takes to process it securely has increased by even more. Doing “more with less” or rather doing more with existing resources, has become a structural expectation. Automation provides a credible response.
What the Data Shows
At a hotel group we work with, automation of rate‑code maintenance freed the equivalent of 72 working days per month. With another, the set up of digital workers who manage OTA advertising decisions in real time optimized spend and eliminated manual toggling between platforms. In yet another case, we deployed workflow automation across marketing, finance, and distribution, and according to the hospitality group, they saw not only faster processes, but higher staff retention. In every case, the same pattern emerges: faster processes, fewer errors, and staff oriented toward value creation, which is more rewarding for them.
Redefining the Role of Staff
Workflow automation is not about reducing headcount but about elevating human roles. It removes repetitive manual tasks such as cross‑platform rate copying, commission tracking, and data‑entry corrections. These are not the moments that define hospitality excellence, they are the moments that make their jobs a chore. By automating them, hotels enhance accuracy and free up employees to apply human judgment where it matters most: guest relations, pricing strategy, and operational decisions.
That shift is already visible, and it demonstrates that technology, when properly directed, amplifies rather than diminishes human performance.
Starting Where Impact Is Immediate
Successful hotel groups begin small, targeting repetitive, time‑consuming workflows within revenue, reservations, or finance. Automations for daily pick‑up reports, VIP tagging, payment routing, or voucher reconciliation can be deployed within weeks and generate ROI in less than 90 days. Importantly, such projects do not require full system replacements, but only clarity on where staff time is being lost and where reliability gaps exist.
At RobosizeME, we have supported over 5,000 hotels worldwide in translating automation into measurable business results. For leaders facing operational bottlenecks or labour constraints, the key question is no longer if to automate, it’s where to begin (you can use our decision tree chart to get started on this).
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About the Author
Born and raised in the mountains of northern Vermont, I developed a passion for the outdoors. I grew up to be a mountain junkie and a travel enthusiast, eager to explore new trails and scale new heights. This penchant for adventure shaped me into who I am today. Over the past 25 years, I have further broadened my extensive knowledge in product development and integration, business development, and consulting. I’ve spent more than two decades years designing and delivering innovative solutions to businesses in the hospitality technology and health tech industries. I worked on collaborative projects with large multinationals and mid-sized companies, and spent significant time working with venture-backed and bootstrapped start-ups.
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