IHG taps McDonald’s VP to guide artificial intelligence strategy

Core Insights - IHG Hotels & Resorts has appointed Wei Manfredi as senior vice president of AI and architecture to lead the company's artificial intelligence strategy [1][2] Group 1: Appointment and Role - Wei Manfredi is tasked with enhancing IHG's technical and data architecture while fostering partnerships with leading technology organizations [2] - Manfredi has extensive experience in technology and franchise understanding, previously serving at McDonald's, Google Cloud, Lululemon, and Visa [3] - IHG aims to ensure its AI approach is innovative, operationally excellent, responsible, and secure under Manfredi's leadership [2][4] Group 2: Industry Context - IHG's competitors, including Marriott International, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and Hyatt, are also investing in agentic development, which may reshape hotel booking by 2026 [5] - The appointment of Manfredi reflects IHG's commitment to technology leadership to deliver significant benefits to owners, guests, and teams [4]