Let me be honest. I really wanted Artificial Intelligence to write this article. It felt poetic AI writing about itself, like a robot memoir, except with less trauma and more semantic precision. But alas, as the clock ticked and my guilt grew fatter than a post-Iftar stomach, I realized something tragic: no prompt, however artfully engineered, could capture the sheer absurd brilliance of what went down at our recent AI in Hospitality event.
So here I am flesh, blood, and a dangerously caffeinated brain doing what GPT-4 wouldn’t dare attempt: telling the truth with a wink.
Scene One: The Setup
The venue? The ever-glamorous Sarraj in the heart of Riyadh’s Hittin area. Think chandeliers, velvet seats, and lighting that makes everyone look 30% more important. A place where deals are whispered, selfies are taken with strategic backlighting, and every cappuccino is foam-sculpted like Michelangelo was moonlighting as a barista.
But enough about aesthetics let’s talk vibes. Because this crowd wasn’t your usual “show up, check LinkedIn, zone out” crowd. No, sir. Something strange happened.
The Last-Row Uprising
Now, let me set the stage: in every event known to mankind, the back row is the Bermuda Triangle of engagement. It’s where attention goes to die. But not this time.
Those glorious backbenchers? They came to fight. First to ask questions. First to raise hands. First to launch philosophical debates that made the front row fidget in existential confusion. The middle-row folks, those poor, neutral warriors, didn’t stand a chance. It was like watching an academic version of a rap battle between Team Espresso and Team Herbal Tea.
Some wore glasses. Some didn’t. Some sat next to the coffee station. Others sat dangerously close to the speakers. But all were united by one thing: a strange, beautiful hunger to actually participate.
It was like LinkedIn Live met a TED Talk and had a baby in a five-star hotel.
When AI Became Human (Almost)
Instead of spoon-feeding the audience the usual PowerPoint pancakes (you know, the flat kind), something magical happened. We all learned from each other. I came to explain how AI is changing hospitality, and left realizing that half the room could teach a masterclass in “How to Make AI Your Business Co-founder.”
Discussions flew, minds opened, and yes even shy people spoke (you know who you are, and we love you).
And then came the cherry on top…
Mic Drop Moment: AI Speaks Human
As the finale, we introduced our latest AI-powered marvel: an intelligent reservation system that can book your table, your room, and maybe even your next vacation in any language and with a voice so human, you’d think it was someone’s overly polite cousin answering the phone.
People clapped. People stood up. One person may have cried (okay, it was me but I was proud, alright?).
Final Words from a Happy Organizer
Now, I could tell you it was a great event, but I’m biased I helped organize it. What matters is that the applause was real, the coffee was strong, and the conversations… electric.
A heartfelt thank you to the brilliant attendees, the magnificent Sarraj Venue team, our event partners, and of course, my extraordinary crew. The success wasn’t mine. It was yours.
So here’s to the future of hospitality where tech gets personal, AI gets fluent, and even the back row becomes the front line of innovation.
