Precision Over Hype: Why hospitality finance demands a different kind of AI

Hospitality Net

22-05-2025

Firechat with Sundar Sitaula, Data Scientist at Fairmas
Host: Kinza Raheel
Introduction
The hospitality industry has traditionally been cautious about adopting new technologies, but change is no longer optional. As artificial intelligence (AI) gains momentum, it is not just a buzzword. It is a practical next step with the potential to transform how hotels plan, analyze, and optimize their finances.
At Fairmas, we are not focused on flashy features. We believe AI must be secure, purposeful, and designed to solve real business challenges, especially in a data-sensitive and highly complex field like hospitality finance.
To explore this further, our International Marketing and Communications Manager, Kinza Raheel sat down with Sundar Sitaula, our Data Scientist at Fairmas, for an open conversation about the real role of AI in financial planning. From revenue optimization to access security, Sundar shares an honest and insightful view of how AI is evolving within our industry and at Fairmas.
Read the interview below for more insights on the subject:
Kinza: Sundar, welcome! Let's get right into it. The hospitality industry often seems hesitant to embrace new technologies. Why do you think AI still feels 'futuristic' to so many in this space?
Sundar: Thanks, Kinza! Great to be here. Yes, AI still feels futuristic because most people associate it with consumer experiences, like voice assistants or travel apps. But when we talk about AI in hospitality financial planning and analysis, we are dealing with a whole other level of complexity. It is not about novelty. It is about precision, security, and actual business outcomes.
Kinza: So let's talk application. Where exactly is AI making an impact in hospitality finance?
Sundar: There is a lot of value across key areas:
Dynamic pricing and revenue management . AI fine-tunes rates based on real-time demand.
. AI fine-tunes rates based on real-time demand. Forecasting and budgeting . It identifies patterns that humans might miss.
. It identifies patterns that humans might miss. Operational efficiency and cost optimization . Smarter allocation, lower waste.
. Smarter allocation, lower waste. Energy management . AI helps reduce utility costs.
. AI helps reduce utility costs. Automated reporting . Time-saving and consistent.
. Time-saving and consistent. Anomaly and fraud detection. Especially important for maintaining financial integrity.
Kinza: That's powerful. But I imagine with great data comes great responsibility. Let's talk about access security.
Sundar: Exactly. And this is where things get serious. Most general AI models are not built with deep access control in mind. Anyone can ask anything, and that just does not work for us. In hospitality finance:
Not everyone should be allowed to access everything.
Nobody from outside the organization should have entry.
Internally, access must be very granular and highly specific, based on user roles.
And 100 percent accuracy is essential. Financial data leaves no room for approximation or 99% accuracy.
This makes our use case far more complex than consumer tools. We are not asking AI for a holiday recommendation. We are asking it to support critical business decisions that can impact millions in profit.
Kinza: So AI in this context is not just another fancy tool. It has to be secure and purposeful.
Sundar: Absolutely. Even though, from a sales & marketing point of view, it is sometimes tempting to offer a quick and simple 'wow' effect. However, it is not in our nature to resort to sudden or superficial gimmicks. Our goal is to provide relevant solutions that deliver genuine value to users, while upholding our established standards of excellence in data protection and confidentiality.
Kinza: That's a great philosophy. On a more personal note, based on your experience, how does this compare to other B2B AI use cases?
Sundar: It is significantly more demanding. Compared to other B2B AI use cases, hospitality finance involves a unique level of complexity and unpredictability. Unlike industries such as manufacturing, where conditions are relatively stable, hotels operate in an environment that can change hourly. Factors like weather, local events, traffic conditions, and even last-minute group bookings can dramatically impact performance and planning.
What makes it even more challenging is that no two hotels are exactly the same. A hotel near a major attraction will have very different business dynamics than one in a quiet business district. These differences mean that financial planning must be highly customized, with constant adjustments based on real-time inputs. That's why at Fairmas, we focus on building AI that is not just powerful but also deeply tailored, responsible, and secure, because in hospitality finance, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Kinza: Well said. Thank you, Sundar, for sharing these real-world insights. It is clear that AI in hospitality finance is not about hype. It is about building meaningful, secure, and practical solutions that truly make a difference.
Conclusion
AI is not a magic solution, and it should not be treated as one. As Sundar highlighted, it is a tool that supports human decision-making. The strength of AI in hospitality finance lies in its ability to process vast amounts of data, identify trends, and enhance accuracy and efficiency, all while keeping data protection front and centre.
At Fairmas, we do not chase hype. We are focused on delivering solutions that provide real value to our customers. Every AI feature we are currently developing must meet the highest standards of data security, accuracy, and business relevance. The financial planning needs of the hospitality industry are complex. But with the right application of AI, they can be handled more intelligently, more securely, and more effectively. Fairmas software solutions, further integrated with AI, will help drive smarter decision-making and ultimately boost profitability.
Kinza: So AI in this context is not just another fancy tool. It has to be secure and purposeful.
Sundar: Absolutely. Even though, from a sales & marketing point of view, it is sometimes tempting to offer a quick and simple 'wow' effect. However, it is not in our nature to resort to sudden or superficial gimmicks. Our goal is to provide relevant solutions that deliver genuine value to users, while upholding our established standards of excellence in data protection and confidentiality.
Kinza: That's a great philosophy. On a more personal note, based on your experience, how does this compare to other B2B AI use cases?
Sundar: It is significantly more demanding. Compared to other B2B AI use cases, hospitality finance involves a unique level of complexity and unpredictability. Unlike industries such as manufacturing, where conditions are relatively stable, hotels operate in an environment that can change hourly. Factors like weather, local events, traffic conditions, and even last-minute group bookings can dramatically impact performance and planning.
What makes it even more challenging is that no two hotels are exactly the same. A hotel near a major attraction will have very different business dynamics than one in a quiet business district. These differences mean that financial planning must be highly customized, with constant adjustments based on real-time inputs. That's why at Fairmas, we focus on building AI that is not just powerful but also deeply tailored, responsible, and secure, because in hospitality finance, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Kinza: Well said. Thank you, Sundar, for sharing these real-world insights. It is clear that AI in hospitality finance is not about hype. It is about building meaningful, secure, and practical solutions that truly make a difference.
Conclusion
AI is not a magic solution, and it should not be treated as one. As Sundar highlighted, it is a tool that supports human decision-making. The strength of AI in hospitality finance lies in its ability to process vast amounts of data, identify trends, and enhance accuracy and efficiency, all while keeping data protection front and centre.
About Fairmas
Fairmas is a software development company, with a global presence, offering financial planning, management reporting and controlling solutions including data management for hotel assets to hotels. Since our foundation in 2003, our focus has been on the development of innovative, tailor-made hotel software. With our continuous growth and steady expansion of our product range, more than 5,500+ hotels worldwide are satisfied with Fairmas solutions. (www.fairmas.com).
Kinza Raheel
International Marketing & Communications Manager
Fairmas GmbH
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