Japan’s first Robot-staffed hotel: from a dinosaur on reception to a machine offering room service
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Version 0 of 1. An English-speaking dinosaur receptionist is the first image to greet you as you begin your stay at Henn na Hotel, aptly translated as Weird Hotel, in Sasebo, south-western Japan. The video above is incredibly amusing but creator, Hideo Sawada, insists it is not a gimmick. He believes there will be a demand for low-cost hotels as there is currently for low-cost airlines. Staying at Henn na Hotel starts at 7,000 Yen (£35) per night which is relatively cheap in Japan. So what does the future look like beyond dinosaurs and robot humanoids on reception? There are machines to take your suitcases up to your room, and there’s no need for a room key anymore – facial recognition systems are in place to make your stay even easier. Of course not all tasks can be passed on to robots just yet – humans are on hand at the Weird Hotel offering concierge services like booking taxis; and as security guards. |