Tourism Industry: Artificial intelligence and robotics are real and here to stay
Robert Rauch, CEO of RAR Hospitality explains in the following article posted on ehotelier.com that artificial intelligence (AI) in the hospitality industry has arrived and is here to stay:
Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are real and here to stay. AI is a fast-moving technology that enables machines to perform tasks that could previously be done only by humans.
In 2017, robots have begun to have an impact on the guest or associate experience one way or another. One of the benefits of robots will be the data they provide us as guests utilize the services. Our Fairfield Inn & Suites in San Marcos, California opened in May of this year with a robot (developed by Savioke) as an employee. Hubert, as we fondly call him, is desired by guests and has boosted guest satisfaction, tripled sundry shop sales projections, reduced the need to call team members for deliveries and provides safety and security at night allowing our night auditor to stay at the desk. Hubert is programmed with our elevator, allowing him to accurately maneuver to the guest rooms.
Hotels will utilize robots just as much for customer service and excitement as it might be doing for ultimate savings on labor costs. Maidbot has developed a housekeeping robot, Rosie, and Hilton has Connie the Concierge. While there is a threat to workers whose jobs are “routine,” it will not cause mass unemployment. It may, however, have a positive impact on net income as a capital expense replaces a labor cost and at the same time may require many workers to learn new skills. The overall result of mechanization in the past has created new jobs. Only time will tell but let’s look back at where robotics has already been successful and realize that the future is now. Think about medical robots—I just had hernia surgery and my doctor used a robot to significantly reduce post operation recovery.
Take a look at other trends in the vicinity of technology trends and virtual reality (VR) pops up. The hotel industry is honing in on the opportunity and has been developing virtual reality to sell rooms, sell the experience and provide guests an opportunity to try something without doing it. It is now easy for an entire family to preview their trip—thinking about a mountain bike ride? Check it out and see what level of adrenaline rush the bike trip will provide. Is it too much for the kids? Try something more serene like snorkeling. VR can also provide sample views from balconies, allowing you to check out the destination before arriving and give you a real “feel” for the destination.
VR also allows hotels to provide a panoramic 360-degree view of available guest rooms. According to Intelligent Operations, “Digital and IoT user interfaces can prompt an individual to log requests including preferred TV programs, dinner reservations and in room amenities and controls. IoT enables a guest room to be connected and always “on”, minimizing room down time from equipment malfunctions and repairs such as lighting and heat.”
So where is the next robot or “cobot”, as a collaborative robot is sometimes called? I like the idea of hiring a robot to assist housekeepers by vacuuming the room. Housekeepers often complain of repetitive injury from vacuuming. This will reduce room cleaning time and save our housekeepers backs all in one fell swoop. So when you hear that robotics is not personalized service and that we are going in the wrong direction, explain to the naysayers that change is good. Leave the vacuuming to Rosie the Maidbot and have your housekeepers create the personal touches guests yearn for.
by Robert Rauch, CEO of RAR Hospitality
Read more here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Source: ehotelier.com
- 1) IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece
- 2) Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025
- 3) Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024
- 4) French defense company signs deals in Athens with Greek electronics and drones firms
28/03 18:41
Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
28/03 17:32
Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form
28/03 15:46
Greece's Meteora Pyli Geopark added to UNESCO Global Geoparks network
28/03 14:44
IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece
28/03 11:49
IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects
26/03 23:51
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
26/03 21:59
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
26/03 17:56
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
26/03 11:45
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
23/03 17:43
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
23/03 16:49
Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend
23/03 16:47
Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm
22/03 21:54
US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever
22/03 19:51
High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
22/03 19:32
Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece
22/03 14:19
22/03 00:24
Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress
22/03 00:02
Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle
21/03 22:41
21/03 15:33
Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens
20/03 22:48
Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries
20/03 21:52
Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens
20/03 21:44
Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote
20/03 20:55
Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance
20/03 18:01
Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece
19/03 22:28
President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens
19/03 20:57
19/03 20:25
FinMIn: Moody’s analysis records significant progress in the Greek economy
19/03 11:15
Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin
18/03 22:20
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association honors Past Supreme President
16/03 13:01
Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens
16/03 12:56
Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto
16/03 11:28
Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
15/03 21:50
Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania
15/03 13:45
PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece
15/03 12:55
Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation
14/03 23:43
President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava
14/03 22:58
American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024
14/03 22:52
Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures
14/03 22:49
US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki
14/03 22:43
Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos
14/03 19:32
No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time
14/03 18:36
Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday
14/03 14:48
14/03 12:54
Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May
13/03 22:23
13/03 20:11
Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece
13/03 19:15
US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis
13/03 17:19
13/03 12:26
Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony
12/03 22:46
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’
12/03 21:38
The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15
12/03 20:29
First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki
11/03 23:58
Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective
11/03 23:47
Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March
11/03 19:40
11/03 18:49
Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport
11/03 17:53
Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece
09/03 22:23
08/03 14:27
Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth
08/03 14:24
Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests
08/03 14:24
Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February
08/03 13:18
Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday
07/03 14:12
Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe
06/03 22:51
WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals
06/03 20:28
Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector
06/03 19:47
Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday
06/03 18:43
European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece
06/03 16:37
'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved
06/03 14:40
Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'
05/03 14:28
Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida
05/03 14:21
05/03 14:11
ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023
05/03 12:24
Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'
04/03 22:02
Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly
04/03 21:47
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary
04/03 20:27
Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025
04/03 19:44
Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday
04/03 15:12
Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background
29/02 22:54
Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday
29/02 21:44
Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation
29/02 21:30
Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points
29/02 21:03
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system
29/02 21:02
29/02 20:47
Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition
29/02 19:58
Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals
29/02 19:49
Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF
29/02 15:39
'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament
29/02 12:39
Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds
28/02 21:34
Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night
28/02 17:31
CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe
28/02 17:04
New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe
28/02 12:21
Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024
28/02 11:57
27/02 17:25
UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists
27/02 15:00
Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive
27/02 14:26
Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world
27/02 13:15
Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1
27/02 12:46
Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion
26/02 18:30
Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend
Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm
Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece
US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever
High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
Greek Deputy Transport Minister flies in first test seaplane flight from Lavrio port
Athens streets reopen after private university protest rally and minor incidents
3-year stay and work permits approved for 30,000 undocumented migrants in Greece
Minister: Greece to support Bulgaria and Romania in joining the Schengen zone
Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form
IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects
AEGEAN concludes transfer of stake in Animawings to Memento Group
Sailing from ports of Piraeus and Lavrio back to normal after high-velocity winds end
Ski resort on Mt. Pelion of central Greece in full operation
Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress
Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion
Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe
Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin
IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece
Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups