Whether humanoid robots will make working in the tourism industry a thing of the past?

Last year, Marriott Hotel Ghent in Belgium introduced Mario the hotel robot. Standing just under 60 cm tall and weighing six kilos, Mario the hotel robot has been part of the team since last year and is also a pioneer in the hospitality sector. Robots in the foyer and at the hotel bar are still the exception rather than the rule, but the signs point to growth. 

According to the European Commission, by 2020 the market for humanoid robots will reach a volume of Euro 100 billion a year. Robots such as Mario are already employed in the health sector and even in schools. 

That is reason enough for this past ITB looked at the topic in detail. Under the event’s key theme of digitalization, leading hotel experts have discussed robots, hi-tech innovations and innovation labs at the ITB Hospitality Day. Mario the hotel robot was there as well. The hotel manager Roger Langhout shared about Mario’s various daily tasks. The hotel was keen to stress that he will on no account be making his co-workers redundant. Although he could answer questions about rooms and accompany guests to conference rooms, but he lacked the qualified service approach of the hotel that only a human being can bring to the job.

We also notice that there were studies about robots take place of human being in the future job market by the researchers Dr. Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne, which has attracted widespread media attention. They predict a 50% decline in jobs and an employment crisis in the near future.

As our point of view, we should note their presence as welcome and providing assistance to the tourism industry, capable of taking over many of our daily tasks. Nevertheless, there is no substitute for a welcoming smile at reception or a tip from the concierge for an evening out to remember. Therefore, nothing can replace a one-to-one personal encounter. 

There are many as yet untapped possibilities for sensibly combining the capabilities of robots and humans, which can result in guests enjoying an even more unforgettable experience in hotels and tourism.