Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. Hotels are increasingly investing in wellness as more travelers are placing an emphasis on their physical and mental well-being coming out of the pandemic. So how can hotels best take advantage of the booming consumer interest in wellness? Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill turns to one expert for answers in this week's Early-Check In column. Gregory Miller, an analyst at investment firm Truist Securities, said hotels have to tread carefully in wellness. He acknowledged that even luxury hotels have a hard time running spas profitably, noting that poorly executing a product could damage a company's reputation.

Early in February, rumor had it that Apple is once again eyeing the smart car market, both electric and self-driving. Improved batteries and new environment regulations might make smart cars a promising new business area. According to USA Today, the "iCar" is certain to be an electric vehicle costing over $40,000. But a self-driving car could introduce a "longer timeframe" in part due to Apple CEO Tim Cook's cautious approach to unveiling new products, Ives said. Automakers and tech companies have yet to solve the thorniest challenges associated with autonomous driving.

AI is now playing a crucial role in the digital transformation of the HR function. We examine what's driving this trend, key challenges, and the future roadmap for AI deployment. From witnessing large-scale adoption across the enterprise to its potential for business transformation coming of maturity – AI, machine learning (ML) and deep learning are already impacting organizations in a big way. In a recent roundtable survey, recruiting technology provider, Montage, found that business transformation is the primary reason leading organizations to adopt AI in their HR function. This does not come as a surprise given how prevalent the need for digital transformation is, but it is clear that talent acquisition (TA) leaders are still working out the kinks in their AI strategy.

Chatbots are becoming increasingly popular owing to the convenience and connect they offer for customer engagement. Many enterprises are already investing in building and deploying their own chatbots, with intent to reach the customer faster and first. A chatbot platform, which caters to the specific target audience of the brand, requires a high degree of customization in its construction. The business of brands is becoming more real-time, and customers are connecting and engaging with them round-the-clock. Moreover, today's customers want to be served in a jiffy and in the best possible manner.