Hunter Conference 2026: A Practical Conversation on AI, Accountability, and Hotel Operations

At this year’s Hunter Conference in March, Mehr Consultancy joined the conversation as a Supporting Sponsor and took part in one of the industry’s most pressing discussions: how AI is actually being used in hotel operations today. That focus aligns closely with the way Mehr approaches growth across its portfolio, with an emphasis on clarity, efficiency, and accountability rather than hype. Mehr’s recent Insights posts consistently frame technology as a tool that supports stronger operations, better visibility, and faster decision-making, while keeping people at the center of hospitality.

During the conference, Mehr CEO and Co-Founder Harmeet Mann served as a Table Host for “The Table: What Would You Do?” and joined John Erhart, CEO of Inn-Flow, for a discussion on Operations: Tech & AI in Hospitality. The conversation stayed grounded in real operating pressure: how to move faster, stay lean, and make better decisions across a growing portfolio without losing visibility or control. That framing reflects the same practical tone seen across Mehr’s recent Insights content on hotel technology, labor visibility, and financial clarity.

AI Has to Solve Real Problems

Harmeet made that point early. “I hope to bring a little bit of a refreshing conversation today, where we’re actually talking about the basic things AI is doing now and not what it’s gonna do in the future.” That distinction matters. For operators, the value of AI is not in abstract promises. It is in time saved, redundancy removed, and faster access to the right information.

She explained it plainly: “AI needs to help save time, free teams of redundancy so they can focus on other things. It needs to create transparency between teams and a management company built around lean operations and owner trust, that is the right test. If a tool does not improve visibility, response time, or decision-making, it does not move the business forward.

Better Workflows, Better Owner Confidence

That operational mindset showed up throughout the panel. Harmeet pointed to practical examples already making a difference, from smarter accounting workflows to guest messaging and issue tracking. Speaking about Mehr’s use of connected systems, she noted that owners need to be able to see every single charge. They need to be able to see where expenses are, where opportunity is. That level of access supports the kind of transparency Mehr has also highlighted in its own communications around portfolio operations and owner reporting.

She also stressed that technology works best when it strengthens people rather than trying to replace them. “When you pair it with humans for feedback and verification, it can complement the power of the human brain and AI, and create an environment for 99% accuracy.” That balance came up again later when she addressed trust. “I think what helps people feel more comfortable is when they know that the AI is paired with human feedback.”

What the Next Generation Will Require

Looking ahead, Harmeet’s view was clear. The next generation of management companies will be the ones that adopt technology thoughtfully, train teams well, and know which partnerships actually improve performance. As she put it, “the ones that will be successful are the ones that empower their teams with training and skills to become more analytical.”

Her closing point brought the conversation back to what still matters most in hospitality: “We’re all gonna have to get over our learning fatigue and learn AI and our human brain and our human teams, free up our time and focus more on the people.” It is a practical view of where the industry is heading, and it fits the way Mehr continues to build: with better systems, stronger visibility, and people still at the center of the work.