Lighthouse, a commercial operating system powered by artificial intelligence (AI), has launched The Hotels Network app, which allows you to book hotels directly within ChatGPT.
The app is powered by Lighthouse’s Connect AI engine and is available for all hotels, including chains, groups, and independent hotels. Lighthouse acquired Hotels Network for an undisclosed sum last April.
“AI is the biggest change in how travelers plan their trips and find hotels since Google,” said Juanjo Rodriguez, Head of Direct Bookings at Lighthouse, adding that online travel agents (OTAs) are already making the leap into AI discovery.
Lighthouse’s Connect AI, announced last June, is built on the Model Context Protocol, which other industry players such as Mirai have recognized as a connector to help hotels compete in the AI era.
Connect AI aims to serve as a “live data bridge” between hotels and AI platforms, evolving as the AI ecosystem develops (such as WebMCP) and increasing visibility for hotels, Lighthouse said.
Within the Hotel Network app, hotels are listed with branded content, including live rates and direct booking links that redirect users to the hotel’s website to complete their reservation. No changes are required to your hotel website, property management system or booking engine to participate.
Rodriguez said the Hotels Network app gives you more control over finding accommodations.
Rather than relying on potentially outdated information or AI-scraped summaries, the app allows hotels to share real-time information with their brand narrative, ensuring AI recommendations reflect real-life experiences. Hotels can also offer their own rates within the AI conversation. This means you can offer competitive pricing and direct booking benefits like upgrades, loyalty benefits, and price guarantees. Connect AI also helps hotels understand the questions travelers ask AI.
“This is not an incremental improvement,” Rodriguez said. “This is a new distribution channel.”
The app is available to hotels around the world for a flat subscription fee. The Lighthouse does not take a booking fee, and Rodriguez confirmed that the hotel is acting as the seller of record.
“This is a core infrastructure role. We don’t want to be a cheap OTA,” he told PhocusWire.
The Hotels Network app joins several other travel brands that have already released apps on ChatGPT, including Skyscanner, Expedia, Booking.com, Viator, and hotel brands Hyatt and Accor.
