Enjoy Your Hilton Honors Stay

The AI Way

In November of 2024, I booked a room at for Philcon, a horror and science fiction convention I had attended for the past three years, where I speak on various writing panels, read from my work and, autograph copies of my books, including my poetry chapbook A Shadow of Your Former Self, published by Alien Buddha Press. The hotel, Doubletree by Hilton in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Like most businesses, integrated AI into the guest experience, with the intention of streamlining operations. Instead, I felt extremely uneasy. The creepiness factor was high. The email I received the day prior to my arrival prompted me to download the Hilton Honors app on my iPhone for contactless check-in. That was a hard no for several reasons. In the likely event the app was hacked, the hackers could stealthily enter my room and steal my belongings; not only that, in the event of a power outage, it seems highly likely, that the door sensor would stop working. Plus, I know from previous stays that front desk attendants hand guests a warm, cookie, either chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin, depending on availability. AI can’t dispense freshly baked cookies upon my arrival, yet…