Sadie AI was named the winner of the 2026 Tech Pitch Competition hosted by Asian American Hotel Owners Association and co-powered by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals during AAHOACON26 in Philadelphia.
Sadie AI—a voice-based front-desk platform designed for hotel operations—was selected from a group of eight finalists that also included Lilo; Ocra; Roomiy Finance; StayNow; TakeUp AI; VSR Network Technologies; and WithCoverage. Roomiy Finance finished second, followed by Ocra in third place.
"We're honored to be recognized at the AAHOACON 2026 Tech Pitch Competition," Sami Hilal, CEO of Sadie, said in a statement. "What we heard consistently from hotel owners is that missed calls remain a major source of lost revenue. Teams are stretched, and it's not always possible to answer every call. Sadie was built to solve that instantly, ensuring every guest inquiry is handled, and more of those conversations turn into bookings.”
"Hospitality is evolving quickly, and the Tech Pitch Competition showcases the ideas that are helping owners adapt and thrive," added AAHOA Chairman Rahul Patel.
The judging panel included Nishant (Neal) Patel, AAHOA Past Chairman; Rohit Mathur, CEO, Bridge; Deepak Jain, COO, Unify AMS; William Sullivan, professor, University of Delaware; and Frank Wolfe, president and CEO, HFTP. The judges evaluated participating companies on technology application and relevance to hotel operations.
The annual Tech Pitch Competition highlights emerging technology providers focused on operational efficiency, guest engagement and financial performance in the lodging sector. Finalists presented their solutions live during the AAHOACON Trade Show. As part of the award, Sadie AI will receive an exhibit booth at AAHOACON27, scheduled to take place in Anaheim, Calif.