6) Getting Back to BusinessMany hotel GMs are turning to technology for answers. Staff shortages, fears of contracting the virus, employee anxieties, and guest expectations can all be mitigated to some degree through technology. Mobile and kiosk check-in, text alerts about room status, and streamlining online food ordering are examples of technologies that are widely used every day. Adding to these automation tools are delivery robots making routine room service deliveries — and helping to free up employees to focus on fulfilling guest requests and improving operational efficiencies.
Relay Robotics® Relay+® Service Robots can deliver food, beverages, housekeeping, and convenience items without exposing guests or staff to COVID. In addition, because people love interacting with these robots, they drive higher demand for food and beverage orders with some hotels seeing their room service deliveries and revenues double, even triple.
While their service robots are providing faster times for the lower value deliveries, GMs can then redirect their people to offer more of a white-glove guest experience and engage with them at a deeper level.
On social media platforms, Relay+ Service Robots are having a positive impact as well. Guest postings are generating millions of views and “Likes” for hotels throughout the country. For example, at Dream Hollywood Hotel in Southern California, General Manager Vaughn Davis said, “We’re delighted to cultivate a social media sensation like Alfred (their Savioke robot). One guest was responsible for over 250,000 impressions on TikTok, which happened organically because our service robot is so cool.”
From the Radisson Sunnyvale hotel in Silicon Valley, a recent local ABC TV news report on a Relay Service Robot ran on over 50 news outlets globally, and then was featured in the opening monolog on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert! Clearly, service robots have already become a welcome addition to the hospitality industry.
