10 robots will help run new Japanese hotel

Back in August, Electronic Products told the story of a robot that provides concierge services at the Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, CA. As one might expect, the trend of using robots for tasks that have typically been managed by humans continues to grow, and one new hotel in Japan intends to open in July with 10 human-like robots on staff.  

The Henn-na Hotel, which literally translates to “the Strange Hotel,” is planned to open later this summer at Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park in Japan's Nagasaki Prefecture. The plan is to open with 10 robots that will perform traditional hospitality tasks, such as assisting guests with check-in and check-out as well as housekeeping responsibilities. The robots will also be multilingual, speaking fluent Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and English.

The hotel’s motto expressly states a commitment to evolution, and with on-staff robots serving guests, it certainly hits the mark. The Henn-na Hotel plans to employ three robots with very strong human likeness that will work in the hotel lobby/reception area. These blinking and “breathing” actroids are expected to be capable of having intelligent conversations with hotel guests. In addition, there will be four service and porter robots at the hotel, and three others that will be charged with performing cleaning tasks.  

One of the main benefits to employing robots and using other advanced technologies in the hotel is to keep prices at bay for guests. Through the use of robots in these 10 positions, the efficiency of the hotel is expected to dramatically increase. In fact, Huis Ten Bosch president Hideo Sawada has stated that he hopes robots will eventually manage 90 percent of the property.

“We'll make the most efficient hotel in the world,” Sawada recently said. “In the future, we're hoping to build 1,000 similar hotels around the world.”

Additional technological features that will contribute to keeping costs down include facial-recognition technology to let guests into their rooms, and in-room tablets that will allow guests to request amenities only when necessary. And instead of constantly running air conditioning, the hotel will include a radiation panel in every room to detect the body heat of guests and adjust temperatures accordingly.

So, what kinds of prices are we actually talking about for a stay in a hotel staffed by human-like robots? Interestingly, rates will fluctuate depending on demand. Guests will have the opportunity to bid for rooms during peak times. In those instances, the highest bidders will reserve the available rooms, though the hotel says they will institute a price cap on bidding. At opening, room fees for a single room are expected to be as low as $60 per night.

At this time, the first phase of the Henn-na Hotel is expected to open in July 2015 with 72 rooms. The hotel’s second phase, which will add 72 additional rooms, is slated for completion in 2016. Eager to get your reservation in now? Fortunately for you, the hotel is already taking reservations through its website.

Via CNN and the Verge