Roundtable

Jesse MacHill, commercial director at One80 Technology Group

The outlook for the South African hospitality sector is looking rosy, with revenue per available room rising 18% year-over-year to R1 395 in 2025. Occupancy rates, meanwhile, are at just under 70%, with average daily rates at just over R2 000.

In both the retail and hospitality sectors, digital and business transformation is delivering value, and here, AI is helping to personalise the experience of customers. But as important as technology is, it’s not a replacement for the warmth of human service.