Key Takeaways
- A new report has predicted that AI will be instrumental for the hospitality and convenience store industry as customers seek more personalized experiences.
- AI has the ability to provide large-scale customization for individual customers, including by sending out relevant promotional messages and enabling predictive ordering.
- Beyond the use of AI, digital-first customer preferences suggest that technology will still be a key tool for these businesses moving forward.
According to a new report from Paytronix, AI will play a critical role in the hospitality and convenience store industries to come, as customers favor personalized experiences with brands.
The report suggests that AI can assist in providing customized promotional messages on a large scale, enable predictive ordering, and leverage a dynamic pricing strategy.
As well as with AI, technology remains an essential tool for hospitality businesses in 2026, particularly as customers place additional value on digital and mobile-first experiences.
AI Will Drive Personalized Customer Experiences in Hospitality
According to Paytronix’s 2026 Trends Prediction report, AI will play an instrumental role in how customer experiences and relationships develop within the hospitality and convenience store industry.
Customers are now seeking more emotionally resonant and personalized experiences with brands, the report claims, where personal relevance is valued higher than prices.
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Paytronix’s annual report provides an in-depth view into the future of the restaurant and convenience store industry and has hailed AI and technology as essential for businesses moving forward.
How Hospitality Businesses Should Leverage AI
In short, AI is no longer optionalfor hospitality businesses. “AI-based hyper-personalization” the report states, can provide “customization on a large scale” for hospitality customers, “skyrocketing guest satisfaction and loyalty.” To stay competitive, hospitality businesses are urged to utilize its power.
On the one hand, AI can provide personalized messaging on a large scale, where consumers can be informed of promotional offers that are relevant to their experience with a brand. This could be, for example, the reduction in price of a favorite item.
Likewise, AI can enable predictive ordering systems that anticipate the needs of guests through analyzing past behavior and transaction histories. It can also take into consideration external factors that have influenced purchase history, such as the weather and time of day.
Thirdly, AI is able to assist in providing a dynamic pricing strategy. This will enable prices to be modified based on customer satisfaction and demand data, in real-time. Again, this will give customers access to personalized deals that could lead to more long-term brand relationships.
Digital Hospitality Experiences Are Key for Longevity
The report also claims that AI and automation will help hospitality businesses navigate a challenging environment. Tim Ridgely, vice president of engineering at Paytronix, has said that automation will provide “a lifeline for small operators navigating rising costs in an already high-risk industry.”
Beyond AI, hospitality and convenience stores should be focused on technology as a key driver of longevity within an increasingly pressured and competitive environment.
In the report, Paytronix detailed how customer preferences are now strictly digital-first. Gen Z and Millennials want mobile-first brand experiences, and Gen X and Boomers value digital experiences for simplicity and reliability.
Therefore, even outside of AI, technology is still set to play a key role in satisfying hospitality customers.
