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AssetID: 40711999

Headline: U.S. Hotels Use Robots To Deliver Room Service, Towels And Snacks To Avoid Human Contact

Caption: IN PHOTO: Wally at the Residence Inn by Marriott Los Angeles LAX/Century Blvd Seven California hotels are using adorable three-foot robots to provide room service to guests while avoiding human contact. With hotels beginning to reopen around the world, some people are still unsure about the human contact that comes with room service. These Social Distancing Robot Ambassadors provide contactless deliveries and peace of mind to guests. The robotic ambassadors are able to cater to the needs of guests but in a totally touch-free manner. All of these hotels have had the robots for years, but they transitioned in March from beloved amenities to vital necessities. The helpful robots can effortlessly glide onto elevators and find rooms, without human interference. Scattered in a series of hotels around California, the Social Distancing Robot Ambassadors include: Winnie at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles International Airport North; Wally at the Residence Inn by Marriott Los Angeles LAX/Century Blvd; Hannah at H Hotel Los Angeles, Curio Collection by Hilton, as well as Homewood Suites by Hilton Los Angeles International Airport; Beverly at Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills; Ace at AC Hotel by Marriott Beverly Hills, and Rosé at Hotel Trio Healdsburg. Wine is a popular delivery for Rosé at Hotel Trio Healdsburg as the hotel is located in Sonoma County next to three famed wine producing regions. Wally at Residence Inn by Marriott LAX delivers pet treats as many guests bring their dogs. All of the hotels offer complimentary shopping service and have grocery lists in the rooms so the robots can deliver items to use in the guest room kitchens. Families love having pizzas and popcorn delivered for in-room movie nights. After a guest calls the hotel's front desk requesting a contactless delivery, a staff member loads the robot with the item requested. As the robot leaves their docking station in the lobby, they send a signal to the elevator that they want to get on board. There’s an interface between the robot and the telephone system so they know where to go as the room is programmed. The robot can ride the elevator independently. When they arrive at a room, the guest receives a call that the robot is waiting outside with their delivery. Guests are in awe when they see the robot’s digital eyes blink and hear sci-fi sounds as the robot effortlessly glides onto an elevator flashing a digital message, “I’m on a guest delivery." If a guest rates the robot's delivery with a five-star rating on its panel, the robot does a quick shimmy dance. The robots have many sensors and can sense if there’s a person in front of them and walk around them. While they’re limited to what they can take based upon the size of their compartment, the Social Distancing Robot Ambassadors are fast and can get to a room in four minutes. Each robot is thoroughly sanitised after every delivery. Since the robot has no arms, it does not replace staff members as it cannot carry luggage, make beds or take reservations. They enhance the guest experience while providing the necessary social distancing to keep both guests and staff members safe. The hotels have put in place a multi-pronged approach to meet the health and safety challenges presented by COVID-19 including Hilton’s CleanStay program and Marriott’s Commitment to Clean program. These new standards include rigorous levels of cleanliness, as well as modifications for guest and staff social distancing including food and beverage modifications such as grab & go breakfasts. Reservations departments at these seven hotels have reported an increase in leisure and corporate bookings from zip codes within driving distance. The Social Distancing Robot Ambassadors are proving popular with guests of all ages providing them with a sense of safety, as well as a smile.

Keywords: feature,photo feature,photo story,tech,technology,design,robot,robotics,hotel,no human contact,room service,delivery

PersonInImage: Wally