Want a Different Kind of Work Trip? Try a Robot Hotel
1 min read
Summary
Hotel brand Henn na, which means ‘strange’ in Japanese, first introduced humanoid robots to its chain of hotels in 2015 to positive reception.
At its peak in 2019, the chain operated more than 200 of the robots as receptionists and virtual assistants for guests, however, complaints that the robots disturbed guests by mistakenly interpreting snoring as a request led to half of the robot workforce being decommissioned.
The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated public demand for touchless technology, and interest in the robots has seen resurgence.
Robots allow the hotel chain to keep room rates low and offer a novel experience for guests seeking to minimise human contact in the post-lockdown age.
The hotel now operates approximately 150 robots at 14 of its Japanese hotels, with duties tailored to their strengths.
Researchers found robots improved operational efficiency and, crucially, never take a break, although they note that guests tend to expect robots to be able to perform all human abilities, which can lead to disappointment.
