EHL Insights Hospitality Outlook Report 2026

The EHL Insights Report: Hospitality Outlook 2026 takes an expert look at five key trends shaping the future of the hospitality industry.

Based on extensive industry research and expertise from EHL faculty members and the EHL’s renowned network of industry leaders, the EHL Insights Report: Hospitality Outlook 2026 offers an in-depth perspective on where the industry is heading in the coming years.

Through key insights and analysis, it aims to inspire innovation, emphasize human-centricity and collaboration, and enhance our industry, by equipping hospitality professionals with a clear understanding of emerging trends, opportunities, and what challenges lie ahead.

AI Agents in Hospitality: Empowering People and Personalizing Experiences

From predictive analytics to dynamic pricing, AI tools can streamline operations, reduce workload, and elevate guest experiences. The next evolution are AI agents that unlike traditional chatbots, are autonomous systems that act and adapt in real time.

They can handle tasks from guest room allocation to predictive maintenance and housekeeping optimization, saving hours of manual work while improving accuracy and personalization.

Used wisely, AI can automate repetitive tasks, improve scheduling, and support decision-making, freeing staff to focus on the creative and social dimensions that define true hospitality. According to EHL Professor Ian Millar:

AI should complement human skills, not replace them. It can increase efficiency, but without reliable integration, training, and a people-first approach, its purpose remains limited. 

By using intelligent systems to focus more on the human touch, the industry can achieve a new balance between innovation and empathy. The future of AI in hospitality is not about machines taking over, but about people and technology working together to create more optimized and personalized experiences, the report finds.

The Future of Food: From Sustainability in Foodservice to Tech Innovation in Food Production

Food today for many people represents identity, values, and connection. As consumers become more conscious about what they eat and how it is produced, the food industry is entering a period of profound transformation. From sustainable sourcing to innovative technologies, the future of food is being shaped by a shared pursuit of well-being, sustainability and transparency.

EHL Professor Dr. Carlos Martin-Rios, who is featured in the report, says that sustainability innovations not only cut environmental impact but strengthen competitiveness.

These innovations are opening new revenue streams and attracting sustainability-minded customers. 

According to the Hospitality Outlook Report 2026, technology is accelerating this reinvention. From EHL’s experimental edible robot RoboCake to blockchain for food traceability, innovation is redefining how food is made, verified, and experienced. “Blockchain enhances transparency by allowing consumers to trace ingredients back to their source,” explains EHL Professor Dr. Marc Stierand, noting its potential to build trust and ensure food authenticity.

The future of food lies at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and culture. By embracing innovation while honoring authenticity, the hospitality industry can help shape a food system that is more efficient and connected.

A New Era of Leadership: Human-Centric Leadership as the Future of Work

The rise of AI and changing employee expectations have made human-centric leadership essential for building workplaces that are both high-performing and social. This leadership style is rooted in empathy, authenticity, and emotional intelligence.

With global travel booming, the hospitality industry faces a labor shortage. Within the next decade more than 460 million employees will be needed. To attract and retain talent, it is essential to create workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and inspired.

Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are driving this transformation. According to EHL Professor Dr. Stefano Borzillo, in the report he says their expectations for purpose, inclusion, and well-being are reshaping leadership itself.

Students emphasized the need for flatter hierarchies and project-based collaboration, while hotel managers recognized the importance of moving away from rigid structures.

By nurturing empathy, purpose, and well-being, hospitality can create sustainable work environments where both people and businesses thrive.

Hospitality Leading the Immersive Experience Economy

Many studies such show that consumers and guests are increasingly looking for experiences rather than possessions, with travel, wellness, and social events driving growth.

For hospitality, this marks a major opportunity: to shift from merely offering services to designing truly immersive guest experiences and focusing more on the human-touch that is at the heart of hospitality.

“The hospitality industry has always enhanced the guest experience, but the focus is shifting from passive enjoyment to active co-creation. Immersion provides an escape from daily routines and creates emotional connections that last far beyond the moment itself,” says EHL Assistant Professor Dr. Valentina Clergue, who is featured in the report.

From storytelling and gamification to sensory design and virtual reality, hotels and restaurants are experimenting with new ways to create immersive experiences for their guests. By merging creativity and technology, hospitality continues to pioneer how experiences are felt and remembered.

Regenerative Hospitality: From Net-Zero to Net-Positive

Instead of focusing on a merely sustainable approach when it comes to hospitality operations, organizations and operators are trying to go a step further and embracing the more holistic approach of the so called regenerative economics.

This means moving from “net-zero” to “net-positive”. So instead of doing less harm to the environment, this approach has the goal to actively create and leave a positive impact. Regenerative hospitality means giving back to the environment, to people, and to places by building ecosystems that thrive rather than merely survive.

Regenerative Hospitality can create healthier ecosystems, stronger communities, and enriched guest experiences. Hotels are no longer viewed as isolated businesses, but as living systems that are interconnected to their surroundings, from local food producers to cultural heritage and community well-being, capitalizing on the place- and people-intelligence.

As EHL Professor Dr. Alessandro Inversini, author of a soon to be published book on Regenerative Hospitality and co-creator of the Regenerative Hospitality Canva: A Transformative Playbook, explains:

Regenerative economics starts from interconnectedness. Hotels are not single entities; they are embedded in a community and an environment. Regeneration is about making that connection visible, tangible, and positive for all. 

Bianca Lüthy – Corporate Content Manager at EHL Hospitality Business School. Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

This article originally appeared on EHL Insights.