Hotel Linkage Partners with Özyeğin University to Advance AI-Driven Hospitality Education

Hotel Linkage, a global hospitality technology firm, today announced a three-year academic partnership with Özyeğin University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences to support the integration of artificial intelligence applications into hospitality education.

As part of the initiative, RecepAI, Hotel Linkage’s AI-powered guest communication and hotel operations platform, will be incorporated into the HMAN 132 — Rooms Division Management and Technologies course at Özyeğin University. The course will be led by Assoc. Prof. H. Kader Şanlıöz Özgen within the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

The partnership will span the 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 academic years. Approximately 30 students each term are expected to gain hands-on experience with the RecepAI platform, exploring practical applications of AI in hotel operations, guest communication, service management and guest experience.

Under the agreement, Hotel Linkage will provide RecepAI educational licenses, proprietary learning materials, faculty training and ongoing technical support at no cost to the university. In addition, Hotel Linkage CEO Erhan Kaya will deliver at least one guest lecture each academic year, offering students direct insights into AI adoption in hospitality, travel technology innovation and the digital transformation of hotel operations.

The initiative reflects the growing need for hospitality education to evolve alongside rapid advancements in hotel technology, automation, guest experience management and AI-enabled service delivery. By integrating RecepAI into the classroom, students will have the opportunity to engage with AI not only as a theoretical concept but as a working technology built around real-world hotel operations.

RecepAI is designed to support hotels across multiple operational functions, including AI receptionist services, concierge support, guest relations, operations management, review management, sales and reservations. Through the platform, students will be able to examine how AI can respond to guest inquiries, route operational requests to relevant departments, assist with online reputation management, support direct booking conversations and enhance the consistency of guest communication.

“Hospitality has reached an inflection point where AI is moving from a discussion topic to an operational necessity,” said Erhan Kaya, CEO of Hotel Linkage. “By integrating RecepAI into the classroom, we are ensuring that the next generation of hotel leaders, revenue managers and guest experience professionals gains early, practical experience with the technologies that will define their careers. We view this partnership as a strategic investment in the future of our industry.”

Kaya noted that the collaboration also reflects Hotel Linkage’s broader commitment to strengthening the connection between academia and the hospitality sector.

“At Hotel Linkage, we believe that industry expertise belongs in the classroom,” Kaya added. “Empowering students with working technologies rather than just abstract theories is how we foster innovation and bridge the gap between hospitality education and the realities of modern hotel operations. Bringing RecepAI into university coursework is a meaningful step toward achieving that goal.”

The cooperation is represented on behalf of Özyeğin University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences by Prof. Gökhan Özertan, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences. The academic use of RecepAI will be carried out as part of the university’s hospitality curriculum, with the platform serving as a practical learning resource for students.

The collaboration comes at a time when hotels worldwide are increasingly adopting AI-powered technologies to improve operational efficiency, personalize guest communication, manage service requests and support revenue-generating interactions. As AI, automation and digital service platforms become standard components of hotel management, hospitality schools face a growing need to prepare students for this evolving professional landscape.

Hotel Linkage plans to expand similar academic partnership models with additional universities and faculties, making RecepAI and its broader hospitality technology expertise available to more students pursuing careers in tourism and hotel management.

About Hotel Linkage

Hotel Linkage is a global hospitality technology company that helps hotels increase direct booking revenue, strengthen digital operations and enhance guest experiences through AI-powered solutions.

Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, Hotel Linkage serves hotels across multiple markets with teams in Istanbul, Madrid, Athens, Warsaw, Bangalore and New Delhi. The company provides end-to-end solutions in direct booking technology, channel management and distribution, revenue management, hotel websites, digital marketing, online payment solutions and AI-powered guest communication.

RecepAI is Hotel Linkage’s AI-powered guest communication and hotel operations platform designed specifically for hotels. With AI agents supporting reception, concierge, guest relations, operations, review management, sales and reservations, RecepAI helps hotels manage guest inquiries, operational requests, online reviews and direct booking conversations more efficiently.