skift take
— Justin Dawes
Nearly 350 exhibitors showcase their hospitality technology products at the HITEC conference in Toronto this week. Asset management systems and new door locks are vital to your business.
But those aren’t the exhibits that draw crowds. Of course it’s robots and holograms. Because even in a giant room full of hoteliers bent on finding the best products, everyone loves a good robot.
Below are some of HITEC’s most unique products.
Robotis
Crowds gathered around the Robotis booth this week to watch a robot called the Gaemi Wheel circle a model hotel.
The robot, equipped with an AI-enabled arm to push elevator buttons and knock on doors, has demonstrated its ability to move around the hotel and deliver wine directly to guests’ rooms.
Robotis is a publicly traded company based in South Korea that has been manufacturing humanoid robots for 20 years. Robotis chief business development officer Aaron Park said the company is now poised to strengthen its presence in the hospitality industry.
The company has introduced Gaemi robots to select hotels in Japan and South Korea, including Courtyard by Marriott and Mayfield Hotels & Resorts.
“But this is the first time in North America,” Park said.
Robotis is looking for hotel companies to participate in the pilot program.
“As we recover from COVID-19, many have sought something that could relieve at least some of their symptoms. [staff] We’re short on the delivery side,” Park said.
holoconnect
There were a lot of holograms again this year.
The first was Frank Wolf, CEO of Hospitality, Financial and Technology Professionals, which hosts the annual conference. A pre-recorded hologram of him announced “Welcome to HITEC” to attendees entering the conference area.
A demonstration on the show floor by Holoconnects allowed attendees to become holograms themselves.
On one side of the booth, participants stand in front of a white background looking at camera setups. On the other side of the booth, that video will be projected onto his Holobox product. The Holobox product is a box lined with LED lights and hidden Bose speakers intended to create the illusion that someone is actually standing inside.
Holoconnects, based in the Netherlands, is launching its product in the hotel industry with its first location at the new Aiden hotel in Herning, Denmark, as a way for front desk staff to service multiple hotels from one remote location. is advertising to
(See Skift’s story and comments from Holoconnects CEO Andre Smith.)
piaggio fast forward
Piaggio Fast Forward sells the Gita, a robotic storage container that can track its owner at speeds up to 6 miles per hour.
The company has been focused on the consumer market, and this year Dominic Locasio was hired as senior director of hospitality sales to help it expand into the industry.
The Boston-based company showcases the product as something hotels can offer as an amenity to their guests or rent. For example, a guest on their way to a resort pool can fill the container with towels, sunscreen, a water bottle, and a book. When the user stands in front of the robot’s face and presses the activation button, the robot locks onto the user and begins following.
“In practice, it is important to introduce robots that augment staff to make the work of people working in hotels easier, or introduce something that can actually be used as a wow factor to impress guests,” Locasio said. said.
Piaggio is looking for partners to test the product in their hotels.
“I would say this is a transitional period from being a cool toy to something that can actually affect your property,” Locasio said.
positive good
The Aggressive Good sells technology-enabled snack dispensers aimed at reducing food packaging.
The system is in use in some offices, and the company is now expanding into the hotel industry, said Jennifer Rookhon, CEO of the Canada-based company.
Dispensers will be placed in common areas of the hotel. Guests touch their hotel keycard to the device’s card reader and the displayed snack price is charged to their room. Users select the amount of snacks to purchase and press a button to release that amount into a paper bag or other container.
“The idea is to get rid of all the snacks in the room,” Luk Hong said. “We get exactly the amount we need, which also reduces food waste.”
Software is also connected to the dispensers, which will help hotels track inventory and streamline logistics, she said.
Photo credit: Robotis robots can be delivered directly to a guest’s room.
