Why I created AIVA Revolution

Running a wedding and events venue is one of the most rewarding jobs in hospitality — and one of the most demanding. At Silchester Farm, our team has the privilege of hosting couples on the most important day of their lives. But behind the scenes, anyone in hospitality knows the reality: long hours, constant communication, and the pressure to deliver perfection, season after season.

When I first opened Silchester Farm, I underestimated just how relentless guest communication could be. Enquiries arrived through every possible channel: emails, social media, phone calls, even late-night WhatsApps. Couples often plan years in advance, which means the questions never stop. And of course, most of those questions are urgent — or at least feel urgent to the couple asking them.

At the same time, our staff were focused on delivering events in real time. On a Saturday afternoon, while a wedding was in full swing, new couples were already trying to book their own. During quieter months, when we turned our attention to the restaurant, stays, and farm shop, the wedding pipeline still needed nurturing. The result? A constant juggling act — and a very real risk of guest messages slipping through the cracks.

And here’s the truth: in today’s world, people don’t want to wait for answers. They expect instant replies, 24/7. But hospitality margins are tight. Staffing for that level of responsiveness just isn’t realistic.

That tension — between delivering incredible experiences onsite and meeting rising expectations online — is what sparked the idea for AIVA Revolution.

What we learned at Silchester Farm

Before building anything, I asked myself: what would actually make a difference to hospitality teams like ours?

The answer wasn’t another generic chatbot. We’ve all had experiences with those — robotic, impersonal, and frustrating for guests. What hospitality needs is something different: a solution that understands the rhythm of the industry, the peaks and troughs of seasonality, the importance of tone, and the value of personal relationships.

At Silchester Farm, we tested AIVA in the real world. We fed it the information couples really wanted — capacities, menus, accommodation, pricing, policies — and trained it to respond in our own warm, natural voice. Very quickly, it began to take the strain.

Today, AIVA handles around 70% of guest enquiries instantly. Our inbox traffic has dropped by 75%. Couples get the answers they need at any time of day or night, while our staff focus on what they do best: creating unforgettable moments in person.

It’s been transformative. And perhaps most importantly, couples don’t feel like they’re talking to a machine. They get quick, clear, personal replies — the kind of communication that builds trust and keeps them excited about their wedding journey.

Built by Hospitality, for Hospitality

AIVA Revolution wasn’t designed in a boardroom. It was born out of lived experience — the realities of running a busy venue, the pressures on teams, and the rising expectations of guests.

That’s why I believe so strongly in the idea of “built by hospitality, for hospitality.” Because unless you’ve stood in the shoes of a wedding coordinator trying to answer enquiries at 11pm after a 14-hour day, you don’t really see the problem clearly.

What we’ve built is simple, affordable, and proven. But more than that, it’s grounded in empathy for the people who make hospitality happen.

Looking Ahead

The hospitality industry is evolving fast. AI isn’t about replacing people; it’s about enabling them. It’s about taking the repetitive, time-consuming admin off their plates, so they can focus on the heart of hospitality: creating experiences, building relationships, and making memories.

At Silchester Farm, we’ve seen first-hand how AI can free our staff to do more of what they love. My hope is that AIVA Revolution can help venues across the UK — and beyond — achieve the same.

Because at the end of the day, hospitality is, and always will be, about people. AI just helps us give them more of our time.