Biteluxe lands on Grant Thornton’s 2026 hospitality watchlist

Biteluxe, a Berkshire-based AI guest messaging platform for independent 4- and 5-star hotels, has been named to Grant Thornton’s Hospitality, Retail & Travel Tech: Ones to Watch report for 2026. The recognition puts the owner-managed business among 100 UK companies singled out for product strength and innovation as it expands across the independent hotel sector.

Why it matters: - Biteluxe’s inclusion gives an owner-managed hospitality tech company a spot on a 100-company UK watchlist that is otherwise weighted toward venture capital and private equity-backed firms. - The recognition signals growing interest in AI tools that support hotel staff instead of replacing front-desk operations. - The platform is positioned as a revenue driver for independent hotels by turning guest messaging into upsells, booking changes and service requests.

What happened: - Biteluxe announced its inclusion in Grant Thornton’s Hospitality, Retail & Travel Tech: Ones to Watch report on June 24, 2026. - Grant Thornton identified 100 UK-based companies across hospitality, retail and travel tech. - Biteluxe was listed in the hospitality category alongside companies focused on guest experience, distribution and operations. - Biteluxe’s LinkedIn page was provided with the release.

The details: - Biteluxe provides conversational AI for hotels through WhatsApp, the channel many guests already use daily. - Guests do not need to download an app or create a login. - The platform connects WhatsApp to a hotel’s existing property management system, point of sale and other operational tools. - A single guest conversation can check availability, place an order or update a booking without manual staff coordination between systems. - Biteluxe says the business now processes thousands of guest conversations every month. - The service covers pre-arrival, in-stay and post-stay messaging. - A human team monitors and tunes the AI throughout. - Hotels can choose a fixed-fee model or a pay-on-performance commercial model. - At The Bromley Court Hotel, the approach quadrupled upsell conversions. - Biteluxe works with independent luxury properties including Hyll Hotel and Bowood Hotel & Spa. - The company continues to expand its managed messaging service across the UK independent hotel sector.

Between the lines: - Grant Thornton said it selected companies for strong product capability, meaningful innovation and differentiated market offerings. - The firms were identified through publicly available information, market reports and sector events. - Biteluxe’s model stands out because the company manages the AI on the hotel’s behalf rather than leaving teams to operate it alone. - Chairman Douglas Waddell, former chief operating officer of Hand Picked Hotels, gives the company operational credibility with hotel operators. - Founder and CEO Prem Jethwa-Odedra framed the recognition as validation for AI that supports the front desk rather than trying to replace it. - The report’s emphasis on context and human judgment matches Biteluxe’s pitch that AI works best when it stays in the background.

What’s next: - Biteluxe is expanding its managed messaging service across more UK independent hotels. - The company will likely use the Grant Thornton recognition to deepen its profile with operators weighing AI adoption. - Grant Thornton’s report is available on the firm’s website for readers seeking the full list and sector analysis.

The bottom line: - Biteluxe is using a human-managed AI model to win traction in hospitality, and Grant Thornton’s watchlist slot gives that approach more visibility in a crowded market.