This Hotel Giant's CEO Just Said AI Will Eliminate a Third of Its Corporate Jobs

Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin told attendees at this year's NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum that he expects 30 to 40 percent of his company's corporate jobs to be replaced by AI technology within the next 18 to 24 months — one of the most aggressive timelines any major hotel executive has publicly stated.

"I feel the need to warn corporate workers that in 18 to 24 months, they will not be doing what they do today," Bazin said during a CEO panel session in New York. He added that employees shouldn't be afraid, as plenty of jobs will remain, just with different responsibilities.

Other hotel CEOs on stage pushed back on the scale of Bazin's prediction. Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian said he expects AI's impact on the hospitality workforce to be lower, with Hyatt focused on using the technology to handle administrative tasks so staff can spend more time with guests. "We're looking to try to effectively use AI to amplify the humanity that's in hospitality," Hoplamazian said.

IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Elie Maalouf took a similar position, arguing that the more consumers engage with digital experiences, the more they crave real human interaction. He doesn't see his organization ever fully removing the human element from hospitality.

Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta offered the most optimistic take on the technology, saying AI will let the company deliver "exactly what the guest wants when they want it." Hilton recently launched a generative AI-powered digital concierge that helps customers plan trips using conversational language.

The debate plays out against a backdrop of massive investment in hotel technology. More than $1 billion in venture funding has poured into hospitality tech startups over the past year, with property management systems and AI platforms attracting the largest share.

For travelers booking all-inclusive vacations in Jamaica, Cancun, or the Riviera Maya, the shift could eventually mean more personalized service powered by data and automation — or fewer staff on the ground. How the industry's biggest operators balance efficiency with hospitality will shape the resort experience for years to come.