Author: Neel Achary

Travelers will let AI hunt for hotel deals, but not plan the trip, Mews survey of 3,250 travelers finds

New York, NY | Oct 16: Travelers will let AI watch hotel rates (63%) and translate on the spot (56%) but far fewer want it planning their itinerary (44%) or personalizing the room (41%). That’s according to a new survey of 3,250 travelers from Mews, the operating system for hospitality, and it comes down to one question: is the task a chore or a choice?

A price alert or a translation doesn’t need anyone to know a guest personally. It just needs to be accurate and fast. An itinerary or a room setup is personal by definition, and 57% of travelers say they would rather stay in control of their trip than hand over those decisions to AI acting on their behalf. That’s where hoteliers come in.

Guests trust the data they share, not the data gathered about them

Travelers are far more comfortable with AI drawing on what they’ve knowingly shared with a hotel, such as stated preferences (61%) and past stay history (56%), than on what’s collected about them, such as online behavior (43%) or external and social data (34%). Guests aren’t turning away from personalization. They care where it comes from, and it lands best when it’s built on what they chose to share rather than what’s been assumed.

Comfort with shared data is strongest in the US, where 63% are happy for AI to draw on their past stay history. Spain is the market most swayed by data transparency: 72% would be more willing to use AI-enabled services if they had transparency and control over their data.

The pattern holds across markets

In every country surveyed, travelers are less willing to use AI once it’s running a moment of the stay than when it’s helping them plan ahead. UK travelers show the functional mindset most clearly: they’re the least likely to rate personalization during a stay as important (30% vs. 40% on average).

Italy and Spain are the most enthusiastic markets. Italian travelers are the most likely to expect check-in with no front desk at all (58% vs. 42% on average) and the most optimistic about AI’s role five years from now (51% vs. 39% on average, the only market significantly above it). Overall, Spain has the most positive attitude to AI (58%), and the two countries are the only ones significantly more positive  than the rest of the sample.

“Guests have told us where AI helps, and where it doesn’t,” said Josef Starýchfojtů, CPTO of Mews. “Having clever technology is great, but firstly, we should know whether guests want a task done for them or want to be part of it. Get that wrong and even good AI feels intrusive. We’re building for human hospitality: technology handles the mundane, repetitive admin, and hotel teams have more time for their guests.”

What this means for hoteliers

Let AI take on the admin, such as price tracking, translation, and instant communication, so your team has more time for the moments their guests will remember. Deliver personal touches based on what guests have told you directly and be selective about where automation goes. The hotels getting the most value from AI aren’t the ones with the most automation. They’re the ones that know which moments to keep human.

This survey took place in July 2026 and covered 3,250 travelers across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US.

PM Modi to Visit Canada on December 11 to Push Trade Deal and Strategic Cooperation

New Delhi, Oct 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to undertake a two-day official visit to Canada from December 11, with trade negotiations, energy cooperation, technology and regional security expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

 File Photo

The proposed visit follows a recent telephone conversation between Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, during which both leaders reportedly expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and advancing cooperation across key sectors.

The visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to efforts to rebuild and deepen relations between the two countries, with a focus on achieving tangible outcomes in economic and strategic engagement.

Trade Deal in Focus

The proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is expected to be a key priority during the discussions. Canadian authorities have reiterated their commitment to advancing negotiations, while both sides are looking to expand bilateral commerce and create new opportunities for businesses.

The two countries are seeking to strengthen trade ties, with negotiators aiming to double bilateral trade before 2030. Cooperation in agriculture and energy is also expected to remain central to the broader economic agenda.

Beyond trade, discussions are likely to cover technology partnerships and developments in the Indo-Pacific region, where both countries have an interest in promoting stability and strengthening economic links.

Diplomatic Engagement Gains Momentum

Preparations for the December visit are already underway, with senior officials and business representatives engaging with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand recently met Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during her visit to the Indian capital. The discussions focused on reviewing progress in bilateral relations and identifying areas where cooperation could be expanded.

Anand also highlighted the importance of the longstanding relationship between India and Canada, pointing to the people-to-people connections built through families, students and entrepreneurs over several generations.

The diplomatic engagement is expected to help establish the groundwork for the two prime ministers’ upcoming meeting.

Major Canadian Trade Mission Visits India

Alongside diplomatic preparations, Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu is leading a trade delegation of around 300 business representatives on a visit to India.

The Team Canada Trade Mission aims to identify commercial opportunities, encourage business partnerships and strengthen links between companies in both countries.

The scale of the delegation reflects the importance being attached to private-sector engagement as India and Canada seek to expand economic cooperation. Business discussions are expected to complement government-level negotiations ahead of the December summit.

Ukraine and Regional Security Also on the Agenda

The two leaders have also discussed wider international issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the need for greater global stability.

According to the account of their recent conversation, Carney acknowledged Modi’s diplomatic efforts to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Modi, meanwhile, indicated that India and Canada were working together towards a more stable international environment.

The December visit is expected to offer both sides an opportunity to advance discussions on trade, energy, technology and security while reinforcing diplomatic engagement.

With high-level meetings and business consultations already taking place, the visit could mark an important step in efforts to translate renewed political dialogue into concrete economic and strategic outcomes.

The Real Cost of Private Charter’s Race to the Bottom

Private charter broking is coming under pressure from two directions. Customers are becoming more price-conscious, while digital tools are making aircraft availability and pricing easier to compare. In highly competitive markets, this is increasing the pressure on brokers to respond faster and reduce margins. 

At Corporate Jet Investor Dubai 2026, a panel of charter industry leaders discussed what this means for service quality, accountability and the future role of the broker. Steffen Fries, Special Advisor to the Group CEO at Chapman Freeborn, said the challenge is particularly visible in the Middle East, where price can become the deciding factor before the operational details of a charter have been fully considered. 

“In many markets, someone can begin selling a USD 100,000 flight without first demonstrating that they understand the operational and regulatory requirements behind it,” said Fries. “That does not mean every small or new broker lacks expertise. There are excellent brokers of all sizes. The problem arises when limited experience is combined with promises that an operator cannot fulfil.”

The pressure to compete on price

According to Fries, buyers in the Middle East may negotiate over the final USD 500 or USD 1,000 of a charter price without always understanding what separates one proposal from another. 

An available aircraft and an attractive quote do not necessarily make an itinerary workable. Permit lead times, airport opening hours, customs availability, crew duty limits, runway conditions and fuel requirements can all affect whether the flight can operate as proposed. 

“If a broker makes an unrealistic promise, both the broker and the operator lose credibility when it cannot be delivered,” Fries explained. “An experienced broker manages the expectations of the customer and the operator before the flight takes place.” 

Price pressure can also increase exposure to grey-market charters, where private aircraft are offered for paid passenger flights without the necessary commercial operating authority. The aircraft may look no different from a compliant charter aircraft, making the distinction difficult for passengers to recognise. 

The UK Civil Aviation Authority advises paying passengers to confirm who will operate their flight and whether the operator holds the correct certificates, insurance and licences. The US Federal Aviation Administration similarly recommends asking to see the operator’s Air Carrier or Operating Certificate. 

“The passenger cannot identify a grey-market aircraft simply by looking at it,” said Fries. “This is where a credible broker has an important responsibility. We must verify the operator and aircraft rather than offering an unsuitable option simply because it is cheaper.” 

Fries said grey-market activity is a particular concern in the Middle East because of the region’s large population of privately owned aircraft. While owners may use their aircraft privately, accepting payment for passenger transport can turn a journey into a commercial operation subject to different requirements. 

An unauthorised commercial flight may be delayed or grounded if irregularities are identified during an inspection. For customers using private aviation to save time and reduce uncertainty, the cheapest proposal can therefore become the most disruptive.

An industry-led standard 

Fries believes greater accountability should not necessarily mean another layer of government regulation. Instead, established brokers, operators and industry bodies could work together to define common professional standards. 

These could set minimum expectations around operational knowledge, operator due diligence, insurance, contractual transparency and customer care, helping buyers distinguish between brokers offering professional oversight and those competing primarily on price. 

“This is not about protecting larger brokers from competition,” said Fries. “Competition challenges established companies to improve, and that is healthy. What damages the market is making promises without the knowledge or resources required to deliver them. When a customer has a poor experience, trust in the wider industry is affected.” 

AI will expose brokers that add little value 

Artificial intelligence is likely to bring greater transparency to charter pricing and aircraft availability. As customers gain faster access to market information, brokers whose role is limited to finding an aircraft and forwarding a quote may find it increasingly difficult to justify their place in the transaction. 

“If the broker’s only role is to find an aircraft and a price, technology may eventually make that role obsolete,” said Fries. “But complex charter operations involve much more than that. Someone still needs to bring together permits, airport requirements, customs, crew considerations, ground transport and contingency planning.” 

AI could also help brokers anticipate operational problems earlier by identifying periods when fuel services, customs availability or airport capacity are likely to be constrained. Fries expects better use of data to make planning faster and more predictable, while allowing experienced brokers to focus on judgement, risk management and customer support. 

“The role of the broker will change, but it will not disappear,” he concluded. “As information becomes easier to access, judgement and accountability become more important. Customers are not only paying for an aircraft. They are paying for someone to anticipate what could go wrong and make sure the journey works as promised.”