Can technology learn hospitality?

Artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics are no longer just a thing of the future. They are gradually making their way into the restaurant and hotel industries—from inventory management and staff scheduling all the way to the kitchen.
But as technological capabilities continue to grow, a fundamental question arises more and more frequently: Which tasks can technology take on—and which ones are best left to humans?
“Alles für den Gast” 2026 is dedicated to precisely this tension, under the overarching theme “The New Hospitality – AI & Humans.”
On the GASTRO CIRCLE stage in Hall 10, this topic will not only be discussed but also brought to life. Visitors can look forward to special program highlights that demonstrate how innovation and hospitality might interact in the future.
One of these will raise the question of how far technology is already capable of supporting traditional kitchen processes today. This is not about replacing chefs or service staff, but rather about how intelligent systems can alleviate the workload for businesses.

After all, especially in times of labor shortages, cost pressures, and rising demands, one thing becomes clear: technology can support, simplify, and create new opportunities. However, true hospitality continues to thrive where people design, make decisions, and create personal experiences.
The GASTRO CIRCLE stage will open up new perspectives on the kitchen of the future. We won’t reveal just yet what these will look like.
Just this much: Visitors can look forward to a demonstration showing just how exciting the interplay between people and technology can already be today.
The answer to the question of how much human touch the gastronomy of the future needs will be revealed from November 7–10, 2026, at “Alles für den Gast” at the Salzburg Exhibition Center.