Gianni Buonsante to lead ENIA’s AI & Hospitality commission

Fondazione ENIA has named Gianni Buonsante coordinator of its new AI & Hospitality study and research commission, with a mandate to develop responsible AI adoption guidance for hotels, tourism and related services. The project puts AI literacy, governance and risk management at the center of how the sector uses intelligent systems.

Why it matters: - Fondazione ENIA is putting hospitality and tourism at the center of its AI agenda, a sector where guest trust, data protection, service quality and human judgment all matter at once. - The commission is meant to turn AI from a broad technological trend into practical tools, rules and training for managers, professionals and operators. - The work could shape how hotels and tourism businesses adopt AI without weakening the human side of the guest experience.

What happened: - Fondazione ENIA named Gianni Buonsante coordinator of the “AI & Hospitality” study and research commission. - Valeria Lazzaroli, president of Fondazione ENIA, formalized the appointment on Aug. 7, 2026. - The announcement was published in Milan on Sept. 9, 2026. - The commission will oversee a research and development project focused on responsible AI use in hospitality, tourism and related services.

The details: - The project will cover applied research, AI governance, organizational innovation, AI risk management models, specialist training, operating guidelines, use-case analysis, scientific and public-facing publications, and national and international networking. - Early priorities include AI literacy for managers, professionals and operational staff. - The commission will also work on guidelines for responsible AI adoption. - Another priority is building AI risk management models suited to hospitality and tourism. - The group will study how AI affects guest experience and service personalization. - The commission will examine how the general manager role is changing as hotels become more connected to intelligent systems. - The mandate covers the wider ecosystem of hospitality, tourism and connected services. - Particular attention will go to environments where technology, reputation, data, security, operations and human relationships must work together in one coherent experience. - Gianni Buonsante said the challenge is not to adopt more AI, but to govern it well, improve decisions, reduce friction and preserve what makes hospitality deeply human. - Buonsante also said the goal is to turn AI discussions into research, methods, guidelines, use cases and training paths that are useful for businesses, managers and operators.

Between the lines: - The commission frames AI as a management issue, not just a technology purchase. - That approach reflects a broader shift in hospitality, where AI is increasingly tied to governance, accountability and service design. - The emphasis on automation versus human enhancement signals concern that AI should support staff rather than replace the core hospitality experience. - The project also positions ENIA as a convening body linking operators, researchers, technology providers, institutions and professional groups.

What's next: - The commission is expected to develop practical resources for hospitality and tourism organizations. - It will likely produce training content, operational guidance and real-world case studies. - Networking activities are expected to connect professionals and organizations across Italy and abroad. - The group will continue building models for responsible AI adoption that balance competitiveness, safety, accountability and guest relations.

The bottom line: - ENIA is betting that hospitality can become a real-world test case for responsible AI, with Buonsante tasked with turning that idea into usable guidance for the sector. - Gianni Buonsante on LinkedIn - Gianni Buonsante on Instagram