How Robotics is Stepping Up to Support Travel and Leisure

Summer is the unrivaled king of the vacation calendar, and this year will see Americans taking full advantage of all that these warmer months have to offer, with 82% of adults planning to travel. If you’re among the vast majority of people planning a trip, you might be surprised to find that some of this leisure activity is now being supported and enabled by robotic automation.

 

Despite a robust economy and low unemployment numbers, many industries are still facing a labor shortage that began during the pandemic and has yet to reverse course. This is particularly true for the hospitality and service industries, where staffing issues are a continual source of stress for business owners and customers alike. 

 

Service robots are now being incorporated into many hospitality settings to address this issue. These types of robots can assist with everything from hosting and guiding; food running and bussing; to delivery, housekeeping and disinfection. When businesses can shift time-consuming, repetitive tasks to robots, staff are able to focus on higher-value, engaging work that directly impacts guest satisfaction and profitability.

 

Airports are a natural fit for service robots given their large footprint, high foot traffic, and frequent need for 24/7 staffing. With nearly 52% of Americans planning to fly this summer, travelers might see autonomous robots being used to improve airport operations and customer experience in many ways. 

 

Given the large amount of floor space needing to be cleaned and maintained throughout the day, some airports have begun to incorporate autonomous floor cleaning robots. Large autonomous scrubbers like the CC3 and CC5 feature wet and dry cleaning modes for simultaneous sweeping and scrubbing hard floors and can cover up to 15,000 and 40,000 square feet per hour, respectively. The smaller, extremely versatile CC1 floor cleaning robot can automatically clean both hard floors and carpeted areas in both large, open spaces, and smaller, more complex spaces.

 

Some airports are now employing robotic technology to keep travelers safe from infection, using disinfection robots like the Puductor 2 and BubbleFish to sanitize the environment. Wayfinding and delivery robots like TemiBoT and SwiftBoT are also beginning to show up in airport terminals, helping passengers directly with things like directions, information, and carrying luggage.

 

Over 75% of American adults intend to take a road trip this summer, and for good reason. A country as large and geographically diverse as the US means that rest, relaxation or adventure are limited only by your imagination (and your gas tank). At one point or another, nearly every roadtripper will make a stop at a convenience store to stock up on gas and food, or to simply stretch their legs and use the facilities. And if they’re lucky, they might encounter efficient floor cleaning robots helping to keep the space looking its best. 

 

Forward-thinking c-store owners are increasingly installing autonomous floor cleaning units like the CC1 to boost efficiency, improve hygiene, and elevate the customer experience. With round-the-clock cleaning capabilities, floor cleaning robots give store owners and staff the ability to maintain a pristine environment without the need for constant manual intervention. This means that staff can devote valuable time and attention to offering great customer service, restocking shelves, and deep cleaning high-touch surfaces and restrooms, creating a more positive retail experience for customers.

 

With 79% of U.S. hotels experiencing staffing shortages, ensuring that existing hotel staff have the time and bandwidth to provide top-notch customer service is an ongoing struggle. Hotel owners and managers are increasingly looking to automation to fill some of these gaps, so don’t be surprised if you encounter robotic assistants during your next hotel stay. 

 

Many hotels around the world are already successfully using smart delivery robots to help with room service and delivery of other guest items. Robots like the W3 and FlashBoT easily navigate hotel corridors, elevators and automatic doors, delivering food, toiletries or linens directly to guest rooms. These types of robots can be programmed with passcode protection to ensure that guest deliveries are kept secure. 

 

If your hotel has onsite dining, you might get to see a different type of delivery robot in action. Interactive delivery robots like BellaBoT, KettyBoT and HolaBoT are very helpful in restaurant settings, where they can assist waitstaff with greeting, food running and dish bussing. And just like airports and other large facilities, hotels can gain immense value by supporting and augmenting housekeeping staff through the automation of monotonous, labor-intensive floor cleaning.  

 

Hoping to hit the gym or get pampered at a spa on your vacation? Robots just might make an appearance here as well. During the pandemic, many health club operators struggled to attract and retain members as safety concerns kept patrons home. But savvy owners looked to technology to provide sanitization and cleaning services, opting to invest in autonomous disinfection robots like Puductor 2 and BubbleFish to enhance safety and offer peace of mind. These robots proved so beneficial that they’re still being employed in health club settings several years on. What’s more, specialized delivery robots like FlashBoT are showing up in these settings as well, thanks to their ability to disinfect items like towels and supplies while on the move.

 

Gyms and spas have also been very receptive to autonomous floor cleaning solutions like CC1 and CC3. That’s because for many health clubs, the onus of rigorous daily cleaning falls on existing staff and owners, adding additional burdens to already packed schedules. Incorporating floor cleaning robots allows staff to focus on providing great customer service instead of sweeping and mopping. 

 

Those seeking the thrill of the chase, world-class entertainment or swanky dining options might seek some R&R at a casino this summer, and they’ll be far from alone. In fact, a record-breaking 102 million people visited casinos last year. And—you guessed it—casinos are actually one of the top hospitality settings where you’re likely to see service robots on the job. That’s because casinos often operate as self-contained “mini cities,” housing numerous business units within one complex, all of which have demanding staffing needs. Due to this operational complexity, you’re likely to encounter autonomous robots in several different casino areas. 

 

Whether you’re checking into a casino’s hotel, booking spa treatments and restaurant reservations, or racking up points in a player rewards club, don’t be surprised if you can do all of that and more by interacting with an autonomous hosting robot like TemiBoT. AI-powered robots like Temi have the ability to integrate numerous aspects of an entertainment complex’s operations in one user-friendly package. You might also be greeted and shown to your desired destination, or even offered water/appetizers on the casino floor by a versatile wayfinding and delivery robot like KettyBoT.

 

If you visit an onsite restaurant, you might get the chance to be served by the charming and efficient BellaBoT, or watch as tables are turned over efficiently thanks to a dish bussing robot like HolaBoT. You’re also increasingly likely to see floors cleaned and maintained by autonomous floor cleaning robots, giving housekeeping and custodial staff more time for deep cleaning while keeping floors spotless.

 

As the American public continues its long tradition of summertime travel and entertainment pursuits, vacationers will encounter service robots more and more frequently. Robotics and AI are becoming integrated into daily life at a rapid pace, and the travel, hospitality, and retail industries are jumping onboard with these useful technologies for the benefit of employees and consumers alike.  

 

If you’re interested in learning more about robotics for the travel, hospitality, retail or general facilities management industries, get in touch with our experts today!