With rapid advances in AI, smarter integrations, and rising guest expectations, hospitality tech is evolving fast. So how are hotel operators responding, and what’s next?

In this edition of Tech Stack Chats, we sit down with Gavin Allison, Global Head of IT at Lore Group, to explore the shifts shaping hospitality tech in 2026. From the promise of agentic AI to the reality of data-led decision-making, Gavin offers a grounded yet forward-thinking perspective on what’s changing, what’s improving, and what he's hoping to discover at Hospitality Tech360 (HT360).

What excites you most about the future of hospitality tech?

It has to be the AI aspect, has significant potential. These AI “workers,” so to speak, could create huge opportunities within a business, especially one as interconnected as a hotel.

Hotels are unique in that you’ve got sales, marketing, finance, food and beverage, front desk, all operating under one roof. Without one, the whole thing can come to a standstill. So, the idea of an agentic AI that can move between all of those departments, communicate seamlessly, and help create efficiencies, that’s going to be one of the biggest developments we see in the future.

How has the hotel industry adapted to tech advancements overall?

I think we’re getting a lot better. It wasn’t long ago we were all crying out for API connectivity instead of the old-school interfaces and “fires” we were used to in hotels. And we finally got that.

When you look at what other industries are talking about now, AI, MCP protocols, we’re still playing catch-up. That said, companies like Apaleo are starting to lead the way. They’ve been the first PMS to begin developing MCP layers into their application, which is great to see. It shows that some products in our space are finally paying attention to what’s happening in the wider tech world.

What tech project will Lore Group be focusing on in 2026?

Now that we’ve got access to the data we didn’t have before, we’re moving into that intelligence piece. In 2026, we’ll be working on forecasting and business intelligence. The aim is to better position the business moving forward, using that data to make smarter decisions.

What are you most looking forward to discovering at HT360?

Discovering the latest tech, and understanding what the future looks like. I’m really interested in seeing what people are thinking about, especially from a development point of view. What do their roadmaps look like for the next two and a half to five years?

It’s always useful to see where others are heading and whether we’re aligned, or if we need to adjust course. It’s that kind of perspective that makes events like HT360 so valuable.

Meet operators and industry leaders just like Gavin at Hospitality Tech360 (HT360), launching 30 March - 01 April 2026 at Excel London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.  

Register for your ticket here, and join us in shaping the future of hospitality through technology.