Do guests know they're talking to an AI?

Yes — by default, every new conversation opens with a one-time AI-disclosure message. This is sent before any AI-generated reply and is required by the EU AI Act Article 50(1), California SB-1001, and similar bot-disclosure laws emerging in other jurisdictions.

What guests see (in their own language):

"Hi! I'm your AI concierge, here to answer questions about your stay 24/7. Anything I can't handle, I'll pass straight to the host."

Then the AI answers their actual question normally. The disclosure is once per conversation, not on every message, so the warmth of the experience isn't disrupted.

Why default-on?

• The EU AI Act has extraterritorial reach — it applies wherever the AI's output is used in the EU, not just to EU-based properties. A US property with a German guest is in scope.
• Penalty ceiling for non-compliance is €15M or 3% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher.
• HostPal acts as the provider of the AI system under Art. 50; you, the host, act as the deployer. The provider's obligation is to design the system to disclose. We do.

Can I turn it off? Yes — there's a per-property toggle in your settings. If you turn it off, HostPal asks you to confirm that:

• Your property is not subject to AI-disclosure law in any jurisdiction your guests are reached from
• You accept full responsibility as the deployer of the AI system
• You understand the change is recorded in our audit trail

We don't recommend turning it off unless you've taken legal advice for your specific situation.

Won't this hurt the guest experience? In practice, no. The disclosure is short, warm, and front-loaded. After it's sent, the bot answers naturally for the rest of the stay. Guests typically find the speed and 24/7 availability of an AI concierge a feature, not a downside — especially at 3 AM when their phone doesn't work and they need the WiFi password.