Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Tourism and Hospitality
ATLAS SIG AI and Robotics in Tourism and Hospitality Webinar
AI Adventures: Redefining the Future of Travel and Tourism
Tuesday 29 April, 2025
16.00-17.30 CEST
This webinar is organised for students with an interest in AI and Robotics in Tourism and Hospitality. But also non-students are very welcome to join!
Participation is free but registration is required.
Program
Introduction from moderators
Presentation Patrick Shields – PhD Munster Technological University, Ireland
Introduction companies
Presentation of two companies
• Jan Delezal – SmartGuide, Czech Republic
• Michal Dopita – Telma AI, Czech Republic
Round Table
Q&A
Closing
Speakers
Jan Doležal – SmartGuide
Background
MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School, M.Sc. in cybernetics, 10 years as a consultant at McKinsey, experience from several start-ups, currently leading travel tech startup SmartGuide. Strong problem-solver, high-energy, leadership, digital & technology. Conversational Mandarin, extensive international experience, passionate traveler.
Interests
• Chinese – Central European cooperation
• Technology, Telecommunications, Smart environments
• International Entrepreneurship
• Sustainability of mankind
Specialties
Management consulting, Business Development, International project management, Strategy, Advanced data analytics, LEAN operations, Technology, Telecommunications, Networks, Control systems, Energy Efficiency, China, Central Eastern Europe
The company
SmartGuide is a ready-built platform for destinations to publish engaging and certified COVID-safe guides. Destinations can create a guide for free in the SMARTGuide Content Management System in a matter of hours or have the company’s expert team prepare it turnkey for them. They can then offer the guide publicly for free or sell it to visitors for extra revenue, and they’ll never have to worry about maintenance.
The presentation
The presentation explores how AI is transforming visitor expectations and DMO’s capabilities. It covers AI-driven personalized recommendations to combat overcrowding, the power of AI localization in breaking language barriers, and the role of GenAI in creating destination content while addressing issues like hallucinations and repetition. Prague, Carlsbad, and Pilsen case studies highlight real-world applications and impact. Finally, the talk delves into the next frontier—AI itinerary planners—examining their potential and current limitations, followed by a Q&A session.
Michal Dopita – Telma AI
Background
Michal is an enthusiast for modern technologies. He is part of the sales team at Telma AI and is a passionate advocate for modern technologies, growth, and self-development. With over 10 years of experience working with people, he aims to inspire and help others excel in fulfilling their purpose.
His career journey has also led him to the hospitality industry, where he gained valuable experience during his travels. This sector is incredibly close to his heart, and he sees AI as a powerful tool to elevate customer care to a whole new level.
Telma AI is a premium provider of conversational AI, including highly customizable voice bots, chatbots, and analytical bots for customer communication automation. Telma is part of the MAMA AI group.
The presentation
This presentation explores how the hospitality industry can harness AI through chatbots, voice bots, and analytical bots to enhance guest experiences and optimize operations.
It highlights how adopting these AI technologies can boost guest satisfaction, improve efficiency, and drive greater profitability for hospitality businesses. Voice AI can capture guest preferences, deliver instant responses, and personalize interactions, ultimately enhancing the customer experience. Voice AI is transforming the hospitality industry.
Patrick Shields
Patrick Shields is currently undertaking a PhD in the area of Generative Artificial Intelligence on a full time basis at Munster Technological University (MTU). The PhD is part of the TU Rise scholarship programme funded by the Government of Ireland, the European Union and MTU. This research seeks to explore ways to nurture and support innovative enterprises, elevate the global competitiveness of Irish based companies, expand export opportunities and, ultimately, lead to increased revenues and employment in Ireland, focusing on Tourism & Hospitality with transferability across wider industry.
Patrick’s key interests are around employee behavioural management as well as ethics & governance for Generative AI deployment within enterprise. Prior to commencing the PhD, Patrick was a Director with luxury Irish hoteliers CLIFF Group from 2022 to the beginning of 2025 having joined the company initially as General Manager of Cliff House Hotel in West Waterford in 2018. Before returning home to Ireland, Patrick held the position of General Manager with The Sutton Place Hotel at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia, Canada. Patrick has also worked in Hotel & Hospitality Management in the United States and Australia, including with Sydney Opera House, as well as at home in Ireland, garnering this experience over the course of the last 25 years.
With a history of being involved in a number of local enterprise groups, Patrick is a current Chamber of Commerce Director and Past President. Patrick holds an Honours Degree in Hospitality Management (2006) and an MBA in Strategy, graduating from MTU in 2022.
Patrick will provide insights from his research into GenAI adoption strategy for small to medium sized family owned hotels. Grounded in behavioural change theory and qualitative methodologies, the research aims to develop a practical and transferable GenAI adoption framework tailored to the unique challenges and people centric nature of these businesses.
Moderators
The moderators of this websinar are the coordinators for this Special Interest Group:
Angela Wright – Munster Technological University, Ireland
Alžbeta Kiralova – AMBIS University, Czech Republic
Stanislav Ivanov – Zangador Institute, Bulgaria
Join Us!
Registration for the WEBINAR, please fill in the form HERE
More information on the SIG Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Tourism and Hospitality can be found HERE
If you want to contact the SIG coordinator, please fill in the form HERE
If you want to join this SIG, please fill in the form HERE