How to Reclaim Your Guest Journey and Get Direct Bookings in Ai Search - Ai 4 Tourism Podcast

In this episode, I speak with Brad Brewer, Founder and Chief AI Officer at Agentic Hospitality, about how hotels can reclaim control of their guest journey and drive direct bookings in the age of AI. 

Brad shares insights from working with over a million hotels worldwide, including major brands like Club Wyndham and Marriott, and discusses how AI search and agentic hotel technology are transforming the hospitality landscape. We explore how independent hotels can bypass OTAs, own their data, and use AI to deliver more personalised guest experiences while staying competitive and profitable. 

Whether you’re a boutique lodge, motel, or luxury resort, this conversation offers practical strategies for reducing OTA dependency, improving guest retention, and preparing for the next wave of AI-driven travel. 

Key Takeaways 

• How OTAs are dominating in AI search and what that means for your visibility in generative and conversational results. 

• Direct bookings mean data ownership. Many hotel and accommodation owners don’t realise they don’t fully control their guest journey once an OTA is involved. Brad explains how to take back that control and own your customer relationship end-to-end. 

• Agentic assistants are replacing chatbots, offering more natural, personalised guest interactions that feel human. 

• How small hotels can now compete with big brands by leveraging AI-driven distribution and guest analytics themselves. 

• Understanding what MCP is and why it’s becoming essential for being found in AI search. 

• Personalised experiences matter more than ever. AI helps identify guest intent, preferences, and emotional triggers to deliver unique stays that create loyalty and word-of-mouth. 

• The future of hospitality lies in human-AI collaboration, allowing teams to focus on genuine guest connection while AI handles repetitive tasks. 

Episode Chapters 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 
00:45 Meet Brad Brewer 
02:34 The Threat of OTAs in AI Search 
06:34 Data Ownership and Commissions 
09:30 Reclaiming the Guest Journey 
13:34 AI in Hotel Distribution 
25:30 Implementing AI Solutions for Hotels 
32:13 MCP Explained 
36:22 Agentic Assistants vs Chatbots 
43:13 Personalising the Guest Experience 
47:49 Affordability and AI Implementation 
49:33 Future of AI in Hospitality 
53:01 Final Thoughts and Contact 

Links and Mentions 

• Agentic Hospitality: https://www.agentichospitality.com 

• Learn more about AI Search Training for Tourism at The AI Marketing Club: https://www.theaimarketingclub.com