Inside The Bodhi Lab: Engineering 100% Guest Satisfaction

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Innovation at Bodhi isn’t theoretical. It’s tested, measured, and proven every day inside the Bodhi Lab: a live environment built to simulate real-world hotel operations, troubleshoot integrations, and refine the intelligence that powers every Bodhi product.

When Will Gilbert, Co-Founder of Bodhi, first introduced the Lab to The Modern Hotelier, he described it simply as “where everything comes together.”

“We built the Bodhi Lab so we could test every system and every integration live,” Gilbert explained. “It’s where we press buttons, run code, and make sure that everything we deploy in the field works exactly as it should.”

The Lab is more than a testing space. It represents Bodhi’s engineering philosophy: full control, deep understanding, and a relentless pursuit of reliability.

From a One-Off Solution to a Global Platform

Bodhi’s origin story began with a single property facing a universal problem: fragmentation.

“About 12 or 13 years ago, we were working with a high-end mixed-use property,” said Gilbert. “They had all these smart systems and electronics being installed, but no way to manage them in one place. Every device had its own interface. We started building software just to solve that.”

That project became the foundation for Bodhi. What started as a one-off integration grew into a scalable, manufacturer-agnostic platform now used across hotels, resorts, and multifamily properties worldwide.

“Our biggest competitive advantage is being 100% manufacturer agnostic,” Gilbert said. “Nobody else can really claim that. We integrate with everything, and that gives us access to every data point we need to ensure performance.”

Why the Bodhi Lab Exists

The Bodhi Lab is where that manufacturer-agnostic promise is made real. Inside the Lab, engineers recreate the full hotel environment, from door locks and HVAC systems to lighting controls and PMS connections.

Each integration is tested under live conditions, allowing the team to see how devices interact, identify potential weak points, and perfect code before it ever reaches a guestroom.

“We can replicate any property setup,” Gilbert said. “If an integrator calls from a hotel in the field having trouble with an integration, we can run the same code here, press the same buttons, and see exactly what’s happening in real time. That’s why we built it.”

Building for Intelligence, Not Just Integration

Early on, Bodhi made a deliberate decision not to rely on existing middleware or third-party APIs. Every integration layer was written internally, giving the company complete control over data and system behaviour.

“We went to every manufacturer directly,” said Gilbert. “Sometimes our software even runs on their hardware. By doing that, we can bring in all the data directly, and we own that relationship. It also means we can localize data globally, which is critical when you’re working in regions like Asia or the Middle East.”

That depth of control powers one of Bodhi’s boldest claims: 100% guest satisfaction.

“Because we’re watching every data point across the property, we can predict what’s going to happen next,” Gilbert explained. “So when a guest checks in, they’re never walking into a room that’s too hot or too cold. Everything just works.”

The Three Layers of Intelligence

Bodhi’s AI ecosystem operates on three interconnected levels. Each layer plays a role in predicting issues, simplifying operations, and enhancing the guest experience.

• Bodhi SuperAgent is the platform’s always-on technician, monitoring hundreds of thousands of signals per second, from temperature fluctuations to motorized shades.

“Right now, we’re receiving about a quarter million messages a second,” said Gilbert. “The SuperAgent watches all that data in real time and can act before something becomes a problem.”

• BodhiGPT turns building data into conversation. Operators can simply ask, “How’s my building doing?” or “Which rooms used the most energy last night?” and receive instant, meaningful answers.

“We have a great dashboard,” Gilbert said. “But BodhiGPT makes it even easier. You don’t have to dig through data, you can just ask.”

• GuestGPT brings the same intelligence to the guest side, removing the friction of traditional apps.

“When a guest checks in, we send them a text or email with a link,” Gilbert explained. “They click it, and they can unlock their room, control the temperature, order food, or chat with our AI assistant. If they say their room feels warm, the system fixes it automatically and notifies the staff.”

Each product shares the same foundation: predictive technology designed to make every stay effortless.

Expanding Beyond Hospitality

While Bodhi was born in hospitality, its technology is increasingly shaping the multifamily sector.

“Hospitality isn’t spelled H-O-T-E-L,” Gilbert said. “When you’re living in a building, you’re still a guest, just long-term.”

Through the Bodhi Resident App, the same intelligent control used in hotels is being adapted for residential environments, integrating video doorbells, intercoms, and smart home features within a single branded interface.

The goal remains the same: to ensure comfort, reliability, and proactive management at scale.

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