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Beth McDermott, Area Revenue Manager, First Hospitality, HSMAI Rising Revenue Optimization Leader Council Member
Shelby Livingston, Cluster Revenue Manager, Rosewood Hotels, HSMAI Rising Revenue Optimization Leader Council Member
A recent discussion of the Revenue Rising Leader Council explored how AI can help further career growth. The conversation focused on practical ways AI is being used today, where it creates efficiency, and how it may help rising leaders spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on analysis, communication, and decision-making.
Participants reported using AI daily and current applications included meeting transcription, note-taking, report summaries, data validation, code interpretation, email support, knowledge searches, and identifying action items from daily reporting.
The strongest theme was time. Several participants described AI as a tool that helps surface information faster, allowing more attention on strategy and problem-solving. One discussion centered on using AI to identify trends, booking window shifts, length-of-stay changes, and other patterns that revenue professionals already review manually.
As one participant put it:
“If AI can tell us what the issue is, then we can just think about what we’re going to do about it.”
The group also discussed limitations. Participants noted that AI output still requires review and validation because mistakes can occur. While many viewed AI as an advantage, the group poll showed most participants saw it as an equal mix of opportunity and risk.
Career development emerged as a second major theme. Participants shared examples of using AI to improve public speaking, executive communication, leadership presence, and learning. Others highlighted AI’s ability to help locate information across meetings, messages, and documents, reducing time spent searching for context.
The discussion reflected a broader reality for revenue professionals: AI is already embedded in daily workflows. The question is becoming less about whether to use it and more about how to use it effectively.
Recommended Readings
- AI GAINS AREN’T JUST BOOSTING EFFICIENCY – It’s Quietly Erasing the Next Generation of Workers
- Human skills will matter more than ever in the age of AI | McKinsey
Questions for Teams
- Where in your current role do you feel stuck in “doing” instead of “thinking,” and how could AI help shift that balance?
- What is one career goal you’re working toward (next role, skill, or responsibility), and how could AI help you get there faster?
- Looking ahead 3–5 years, which skills will distinguish top revenue leaders, and what role will AI play?
The Rising Leader Councils are powered by the HSMAI Foundation. As part of its mission to power the people behind the business of hospitality, the Foundation invests in emerging commercial leaders through professional development, networking, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. The Rising Leader Councils help cultivate the next generation of talent across sales, marketing, revenue management, and distribution.