Hospitality industry turns to AI amidst labor shortage

When you walk into the Dream Hollywood Hotel in California, you are promptly greeted by Alfred. Wearing a white collar and a black bowtie, Alfred swings into action anytime a guest requires anything. Then what's unique about Alfred? isn't this a regular activity for hotel staff? well, Alfred, named after Batman's butler is no ordinary staff member, it is one of the two robots employed at the hotel to serve guests and assist employees. 

It's no news that the hospitality industry was hit brutally by the pandemic, even after its relaxation they are still struggling due to staffing shortages. At a time like this many hoteliers have turned to AI. Vaughn Davis, the hotel's manager said that the labor shortage gave them an opportunity to test the technology they had been working on. Leisure and Hospitality accounted for 78,000-428,000 jobs added according to BLS but, the employment rate in the sector is still down by 8.5%. Other than supplementing for the lack of human capital, multiple business owners believe that added robots have other uses like increased face-time with the guests.

Sheldon Suga, the vice president, and managing director of Hawks Cay said that the robots help minimize the number of times an employee has to walk back and forth from a table. Staff members who used to previously vacuum hallways for 4-5 hours can now engage in more guest-friendly activities. The same technique is used by other hotels as well, since a map of the hotel is programmed into the robot, the can operate autonomously, for example, if a ballroom needs to be cleaned on a Saturday night the employee just clears the floor and set the robot and the next morning the place is spotless. This chore would otherwise take an employee 1-2 hours. Not only that, labor is the most expensive cost at a hotel, a robot will require a lump sum amount upfront but will work on a 12-hour battery on average which eventually saves money. Hoteliers believe that robots can be used for more menial tasks.

Source: The Washington Post