As the pace of digital transformation accelerates across UK hospitality, the Hospitality Tech360 team have been seeing operators reassess how technology can drive efficiency, resilience and guest satisfaction in a market defined by tight margins and shifting consumer expectations. 

In our view, the innovations gathering momentum now will reshape how hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars operate in the years ahead. From predictive AI and modernised tech stacks to IoT-enabled guest journeys and measurable sustainability gains, we think 2026 will be the year when digital tools shift decisively from optional add-ons to essential operational infrastructure. 

Here are four headline trends we think will make waves in 2026.  

AI will become operational infrastructure 

The past year has seen an exponential growth in the use of AI, with the vast majority if hospitality tech suppliers incorporating predictive and generative AI tools in some form into their products.  

From sales forecasting to optimised staff rotas to customer behaviour analysis, AI is going to be transformational for hospitality and 2026 will be the year when it will become a core component of many tech stacks.  

Crucially, AI is becoming more accessible to mid-market operators thanks to cloud-based tools that integrate with existing PMS, POS and CRM systems. This shift turns AI from a specialist capability into part of the operational backbone. We're also starting to see early examples of agentic AI in action - systems that can autonomously adjust pricing, trigger maintenance requests or reorder stock based on predefined rules - reducing manual intervention and giving teams back valuable time. 

Composable, cloud-based tech stacks will become the norm 

One of the biggest challenges that remains for many hospitality businesses is legacy tech that doesn’t speak to other systems. In 2026, we expect to see a continued and accelerated shift towards more flexible, cloud-based systems.  

API-first systems are increasingly enabling operators to add in new features, from payments and loyalty to mobile ordering and digital menu engineering, and have everything integrate into one fluid, interconnected platform.  

This movement mirrors broader UK digital adoption trends, with operators moving away from bespoke builds and towards scalable tools that are interoperable and adaptable from day one. 

Smart rooms and the Internet of Things 

For our hotel community, we’re expecting to see an increase in the use of smart room technologies with Internet of Things (IoT) enabled controls for lighting, leading and entertainment. These aren’t markers of luxury travel but increasingly becoming an expectation for more tech-forward hotels.  

Contactless check-in, mobile key, app-based service requests and loyalty are going to continue to grow, moving beyond a novelty to a tool which demonstrably cuts queue times, reduces check in friction and eases some of the pressures on front of house.  

We talk a lot about keeping the human at the heart of hospitality, and in the best-case scenario all these tools help to free up front of house from unnecessary admin to focus on providing a high level of customer service and human connection for guests.  

Sustainability tech enabling measurable progress 

With rising UK energy costs and intensifying sustainability scrutiny, from investors, consumers, corporate clients, and industry regulators, operators are adopting smart energy-management systems at unprecedented pace. IoT-driven monitoring of refrigeration, HVAC and lighting now delivers measurable savings and helps operators work towards ESG commitments. 

Food waste reduction technology is also moving up the agenda. AI-enabled waste tracking, predictive ordering tools and automated inventory systems support tighter gross profit control while aligning with consumer expectations around responsible sourcing. 

Tracking sustainability initiative has always been a labour intensive and data heavy endeavour, so we’re optimistic that artificial intelligence tools can help to reduce the workload on already stretched teams across the sector.  

In 2026 we expect to see a sector moving decisively towards smarter, more connected and more sustainable operations. The winners in the year to come won’t simply be those adopting the most technology, but those selecting tools that integrate seamlessly, reduce friction for staff and guests, and free teams to deliver the human-centred service that defines great hospitality.  

Join us at Hospitality Tech360 2026, taking place at Excel London from 30 March to 1 April, to learn more about the very latest tech innovations in the hospitality industry. Find out more at hospitalitytech360.co.uk.