Endless dial tones, repetitive hold music and confusing phone trees — these are the last things you want defining a guest’s first impression of your hotel. Yet for many properties, especially those facing staffing shortages, missed calls and delayed responses are daily realities.

Outsourced call centers and IVR systems are often considered a fix, but these solutions are increasingly expensive and inflexible. Hospitality-focused AI voice agents offer a better path forward: they handle calls, drive direct bookings and free up staff for more high-touch tasks.

The Problem with Traditional Hotel Phone Support

Even the best team member won’t always be able to answer the phone. In fact, Canary Technologies data shows that up to 40% of calls to hotels go unanswered, and one-third of those are from guests ready to book. These are missed opportunities that directly impact revenue and reputation.

Turning to call centers to bridge the gap brings its own set of tradeoffs. With high setup costs, extensive training requirements and difficulties scaling in response to volume, there are multiple barriers for hoteliers to consider. If you’re trying to improve responsiveness without inflating costs or sacrificing quality, a better solution is a must.

How AI Voice Agents Are Changing the Game

AI voice agents are transforming hotel phone support. Built specifically for hospitality, these systems handle calls with consistency, no matter the volume. Here’s what sets them apart:

• 24/7 availability: Every call gets answered, even after hours
• Conversational responses: Natural language processing means conversations aren’t robotic
• End-to-end support: From booking inquiries to upgrade requests, AI agents can handle every call
• Property-specific knowledge: Your AI is trained on your property for always-accurate responses
• Smart routing: Calls are transferred directly when a live agent is needed

With the support of AI agents, hotels can supplement their call center operations with a scalable, cost-effective solution that doesn’t sacrifice the guest experience.

The Question of ROI: What Hoteliers Stand to Gain

Think of AI voice agents as your team’s most reliable extension. They never miss a call, don’t require scheduling and are always ready to deliver accurate information. This reliability translates into real ROI — revenue is captured from previously missed calls and inefficient staffing costs become a thing of the past.

Whether navigating peak season or a surprise surge in call volume, you’ll always be able to meet demand. And, when AI integrates with your existing systems, there’s no need to disrupt daily operations to see the benefits.

Better Than IVR: A Seamless Guest Experience

Guests don’t want to navigate a numbered menu or repeat their questions — they want answers. AI voice agents understand guest intent and respond in real time, eliminating frustration and providing a natural conversational flow.

And, because AI voice agents recognize each request and route to a human when needed, unnecessary transfers and long hold times become a thing of the past. It’s a faster, more intuitive experience that improves guest satisfaction from the very beginning.

Is an AI Voice Agent Right for Your Hotel?

Adopting an AI voice agent is more than just a tech upgrade. It’s a strategic way to increase direct bookings, improve the guest experience and provide better support for your team. It’s especially valuable if you:

• Struggle to keep up with call volume during peak times
• Hear complaints from guests about hold times or frustrating menus
• Spend too much staff time focusing on repetitive FAQs
• Miss out on potential bookings or upsells due to unanswered calls
• Want to grow without increasing headcount or investing in a call center

Whether you’re managing a boutique property or a growing portfolio, AI voice agents work behind the scenes to deliver consistent, 24/7 guest support — while integrating seamlessly with your existing systems. For hoteliers looking to modernize their operations, it’s a smarter way to provide better service from the first ring. If you’d like to see it in action, book a demo with Canary today.

About Canary Technologies

Canary Technologies is revolutionizing the hotel tech stack with its award-winning Guest Management Platform, digitizing everything from post-booking to checkout. Trusted by 20,000+ hoteliers in 90+ countries, including Marriott, Four Seasons and Wyndham, Canary is the top-rated solution on HotelTechReport. Canary’s solutions include Canary AI, Mobile Check-In, Smart Checkout, Dynamic Upsells, Guest Messaging, Digital Tipping, AI Voice and more. Canary eliminates paper processes, boosts revenue, increases staff efficiency, enhances the guest experience, and reduces chargebacks and payment fraud.