NEWS SPECIAL REPORT
Robots are moving out of Hollywood and into hospitality, leading the Travel Convention to consider whether we’re on the cusp of a new machine age. By Ian Taylor
Robots could be used as bartenders
Are people ready for the robot era?
Consumers anticipate increasing interaction with robots and are comfortable with the prospect, according to research for Travelzoo.
It suggests four out of five consumers in nine major markets envisage robots playing “a big part” in their lives by 2020, with two-thirds happy to deal with robots in travel. Richard Singer, president of
Travelzoo Europe, will report on the survey on the opening day of the Travel Convention. He says: “The research looked at how people feel about robots, and overall, they feel positive. But there are some quirks. The Chinese are mostly pro-robotics. The French and Spanish have reservations.” In Singer’s words, “lower-skilled
jobs top the list” of roles in which people expect to see robots. “But the French were dead against having robots as waiters or bartenders,” he adds. He says: “The overall sentiment
was that robots will be more efficient and make people’s lives better. People have an idea of robots as the Terminator, but you could have a robot taking drinks or
“There is new research looking at how robots will impact on the travel trade”
bed linen to your hotel room. We’re talking about automatic processing that does not really need human interaction. There is an impression that check-in is inefficient because you have to queue, and it could be more automated. “When we set out on the research,
we thought the topic futuristic, but these things are already happening. Hilton has the IBM Watson robot. Starwood has butler robots in its
Aloft brand. Costa Cruise Line has Pepper the robot. “The reality now is that it’s a bit
of a gimmick.” However, Singer expects
robotics to become much more central. “It will take time, but as costs come down, it will go from being a marketing gimmick and a marketing cost to playing a much bigger part in low-skilled areas such as hotel check-in. Would it work for [Starwood’s] Ritz or St Regis? Probably not, but it probably would work for W Hotels.” Singer says: “Gatwick’s easyJet
bag drop is a good example of automation. There are rows of machines but there is somebody
Ideal as porters but don’t tell them a joke
Travelzoo commissioned research among 6,211 travellers in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, US, Canada, Brazil, China and Japan. It found most consumers
would accept robots as porters (73%), room-service providers (68%) and receptionists (62%).
A majority thought robots would be better at data handling (81%), different languages (79%) and have better memories than humans (76%). However, 75% thought robots impersonal, 75% that they threaten jobs and 70% that they wouldn’t understand slang, dialect or irony.
there – technology and humans working together. “Companies in the leisure sector
are investing in this now as a way of differentiation. Longer-term investment will depend on the return on investment, as costs become lower. As the technology develops, costs come down and more consumers see robots, it will become standard.” He cites American football team
the San Francisco 49ers’ stadium as an example, saying: “An app shows you to the nearest car park space and guides you to your seat. You can order a drink from your seat. That is what people in the stadium now expect.” Singer will have fresh survey
results to reveal at the convention: “There is new research with more of a trade angle, looking at how robotics and artificial intelligence will impact on the travel trade.” So could a robot replace him? He
laughs: “You couldn’t replace me.” l The Robot Revolution, featuring
Richard Singer (Travelzoo), Mario the robot and Roger Langhout (Marriott), and Stuart Leven (Royal Caribbean International), is scheduled for the afternoon of October 11.
18
travelweekly.co.uk Travel Convention 2016
Richard Singer, Travelzoo Europe
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24