TL;DR
A virtual concierge is a digital assistant that handles guest communication across channels like WhatsApp, SMS, and webchat, before, during, and after the stay. It answers common questions, manages requests, supports upsells, and operates 24/7 in multiple languages. It helps reducing front desk workload and improving guest experience.
Leading virtual concierge solutions include Runnr.ai, HiJiffy, Duve, Canary Technologies, and Chatlyn, each with different strengths depending on property size, region, and operational complexity.
For accommodation providers, virtual concierges help scale guest service without adding staff by automating repetitive interactions while keeping human teams focused on higher-value guest moments.
If you’re choosing a hotel chatbot for 2026, these are the 7 best platforms for hotels, hostels, aparthotels, holiday parks, and campings:
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Runnr.ai – AI-powered hotel chatbot and virtual concierge built specifically for hospitality
https://www.runnr.ai -
HiJiffy – Hotel chatbot focused on guest messaging and bookings
https://www.hijiffy.com -
Duve – Guest experience platform with chatbot and digital services
https://www.duve.com -
Chatlyn – Guest communication and chatbot automation platform
https://www.chatlyn.com -
Akia – Guest messaging and automation platform with conversational features
https://www.akia.com -
Canary Technologies – Guest management system with messaging and automation
https://www.canarytechnologies.com -
DialogShift – AI-driven hospitality messaging and chatbot solution
https://www.dialogshift.com
In this article, we'll look at these chatbots in more detail and advise who each one is best suited for.
What is a hotel chatbot?
A hotel chatbot is an automated messaging assistant that communicates with guests before, during, and after their stay.
A modern hotel chatbot can:
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Answer common guest questions instantly (check-in, breakfast, parking)
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Communicate via WhatsApp, SMS, webchat, and OTA inboxes
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Work 24/7 in multiple languages
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Handle guest requests and route them to the right team
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Send proactive messages and upsell offers
The best hotel chatbots do more than answer simple FAQs - they automate guest communication end-to-end and reduce workload for your team.
For hospitality teams, this means fewer repetitive questions, faster replies, and less pressure on the front desk.
Best overall hotel chatbot in 2026: Runnr.ai
If you're looking for the quick answer to which chatbot to use for your accommodation business, Runnr.ai is the best choice.
Runnr.ai automates up to 95% of guest interactions and supports communication across the full guest journey from pre-booking to post-checkout.
Unlike other more generic chatbots, Runnr.ai was built specifically for accommodation businesses and doesn’t just reply - it actively manages guest conversations and removes repetitive workload.
1. Runnr.ai
Best suited for:
Hotels and accommodation providers with 10+ rooms or units that want maximum automation with minimal complexity.
Key strengths:
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Up to 95% automation of guest chats
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Proactive messaging that reduces inbound questions by up to 75%
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Chat-native upsells instead
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Simple, transparent pricing per room or unit
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Designed specifically around hospitality workflows
Runnr.ai is ideal for accommodation providers who want high-touch, personalized service with a lean front office team.
2. HiJiffy
Best suited for:
Hotels that want a chatbot mainly for website chat.
Things to consider:
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Strong booking assistant and FAQ handling
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Limited automation during the stay
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Less flexible for larger operations compared to Runnr.ai
HiJiffy works well for capturing leads but is less complete as a full hotel chatbot solution.
3. Duve
Best suited for:
Larger hotels and resorts that want a broad guest experience platform.
Things to consider:
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Powerful feature set including digital check-in and upsells
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Can feel complex for daily staff use
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Guest interaction often relies on web apps rather than chat
Duve is feature-rich but may be heavier for leaner teams focused on conversational automation.
4. Chatlyn
Best suited for:
Hotels that want advanced workflows and omnichannel guest messaging.
Things to consider:
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Wide range of features and customization
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Requires more setup and management
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Automation may still need manual review in some cases
Chatlyn offers deep configuration but can feel overwhelming for smaller properties.
5. Akia
Best suited for:
Hotels with structured guest journeys and a focus on messaging automation.
Things to consider:
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Strong workflows and automated sequences
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Messaging capabilities are solid
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Not purely a chatbot-first automation platform
Akia works well when guest messaging is part of a broader automation strategy.
6. Canary Technologies
Best suited for:
Mid-sized to large hotels, mainly in the US, that want messaging as part of a guest management system.
Things to consider:
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Messaging is part of a broader suite
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Less AI-native conversational automation
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Focused on operations as well as messaging
Canary is solid but less specialized as a pure chatbot tool.
7. DialogShift
Best suited for:
Hotels that want AI-driven automated replies across many languages.
Things to consider:
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Strong multilingual capabilities
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Good AI response generation
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Less focused on in-chat actions like upsells and requests
DialogShift is strong for automated replies, but lighter on operational workflows.
Conclusion: the best hotel chatbot for 2026
To succeed in 2026, a hotel chatbot needs to:
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Automate guest communication across channels
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Work where guests already message (WhatsApp, SMS, OTA inboxes, webchat)
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Integrate with hotel systems like PMS
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Be simple for staff to manage
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Boost guest satisfaction and revenue
Runnr.ai meets all these needs best. It’s purpose-built for accommodation businesses, easy to set up, and focused on real automation - not just messaging.
Why Runnr.ai stands out
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Built specifically for hotels, hostels, aparthotels, holiday parks, and campings
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Conversational AI that understands rooms, units, facilities, and on-site rules
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Works on WhatsApp, SMS, webchat, Booking.com, and Airbnb
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Uses real booking and guest data from your PMS
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Takes action inside conversations (upsells, requests, check-in links)
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Fully customizable tone of voice to match your brand
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Fast setup - most properties are live within an hour
👉 Book a demo and see Runnr.ai in action:
