Robot butler at your service: Savioke to pilot hospitality bot at Aloft Hotel

In a press release today, Savioke unveiled its new robot, SaviOne, a robot butler that was designed for the hospitality industry. Starting August 20, guests requesting items from the front desk at Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, California can have that item delivered by a robot butler.

Savioke is partnering with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the parent company of Aloft Hotels, and has plans to expand its pilot program to include additional hotels early next year. According to the press release:

the robot is approximately 3 feet tall, weighs less than 100 lbs., has a carrying capacity of 2 cubic feet, and is designed to travel at a human walking pace.  It can even travel independently between floors via the hotel elevator.  When Aloft’s A.L.O. arrives at the appropriate guest room, it phones the guest to announce its arrival, delivers the goods and makes its way back to the front desk.  A.L.O. will know when a guest opens the door via an onboard camera. Once the door opens, A.L.O. will unlock, open its lid and provide instructions through onscreen prompts for guests to remove the item and close the lid.

We believe the staff has more important things to do than deliver a toothbrush or a package of chips to a room, and that they would prefer to spend their time creating a more personalized experience for guests.

Aloft will be the first major hotel brand to hire a robot for both front and back of house duties.

Hallie Siegel robotics editor-at-large

Hallie Siegel robotics editor-at-large