# Robots, ledgers, and RevPAR: a blockchain-enabled AI–robotics conceptual model for sustainable hotel revenue and asset management

## TL;DR

This paper proposes a new model combining AI, robotics, and blockchain to improve hotel revenue, sustainability, and asset management.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel conceptual framework integrating AI–robotics and blockchain for hotel operations and revenue management.

## Key findings

- AI–robotics and blockchain can enhance hotel revenue and sustainability performance.
- The model links digital capabilities to financial and environmental outcomes.
- Ten propositions outline mechanisms and boundary conditions for implementation.

## Abstract

Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly reshaping hospitality by automating frontline and back-of-house processes, augmenting service encounters, and expanding the analytical scope of revenue management. Yet, existing research remains fragmented: service-robot studies largely emphasize adoption and human–robot interaction, while revenue-management research prioritizes pricing and distribution, sustainability research focuses on environmental practices, and hotel real-estate scholarship foregrounds governance and asset value. Meanwhile, blockchain technologies—through distributed ledgers, smart contracts, digital identity, and tokenization—offer a complementary trust and value-transfer layer that can address coordination and verification problems across hotel ecosystems (e.g., data sharing, sustainability claims, and owner–operator contracting).

Drawing on an integrative literature synthesis, this conceptual article develops an integrative framework linking AI–robotics and blockchain capabilities to three interdependent hotel decision domains: (1) revenue management (demand forecasting, dynamic/open pricing, channel and loyalty optimization), (2) sustainability and operations (resource optimization, waste circularity, predictive maintenance), and (3) real estate and hotel asset management (digital twins, CapEx planning, valuation and risk analytics, and tokenized financing).

A conceptual model is proposed in which AI–robotics and blockchain jointly build digital operational and market-intelligence capabilities that improve financial performance (RevPAR/GOPPAR and net operating income), sustainability performance (carbon and resource intensity), and long-term asset value. Ten propositions articulate mechanisms and boundary conditions related to governance, ethics, privacy, cybersecurity, organizational readiness, regulation, and market context.

The article concludes with implications for hotel managers, owners, investors, and researchers, and outlines a future research agenda for hospitality, tourism, service management, and real-estate scholars.