Infor's David Poprawka: hotels will build their own AI, and the real rivals are Google and Anthropic.

Why this matters

The assertion that hotels will develop proprietary AI platforms, positioning tech giants like Google and Anthropic as their primary competitors, signals a notable shift in the intersection of hospitality and technology within institutional CRE. This development reflects a growing recognition among hotel operators that off-the-shelf AI solutions may not adequately address the sector’s unique operational complexities and guest experience imperatives. For institutional investors, this trend underscores a potential bifurcation in capital allocation: between properties and portfolios that can leverage bespoke AI to enhance operational efficiency, revenue management, and customer engagement, and those that cannot. Moreover, the move toward in-house AI development suggests a strategic pivot in how hospitality assets differentiate themselves in a market still navigating post-pandemic recovery and evolving consumer expectations. It also hints at a broader recalibration of vendor relationships and technology integration costs, which could influence operating expenses and, by extension, net operating income profiles. From a capital-markets perspective, lenders and allocators should monitor how these technological investments affect underwriting assumptions, particularly around revenue resilience and cost structures, as AI adoption becomes a competitive necessity rather than a discretionary upgrade.

Editorial analysis · AI-assisted

On the RET wire

• Disclosed hospitality deal value tracked in July 2026: $542.4M across 7 reported transactions. All Hospitality coverage →

Computed from Real Estate Trail’s own tracked coverage

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