Want a Different Kind of Work Trip? Try a Robot Hotel

Japan's Henn na Hotel greets guests with humanoid robot receptionists instead of humans, creating both a novelty experience and keeping room rates affordable at under $100 per night. While initially scaling back robots after technical issues, the pandemic renewed interest in touchless technology, leading the chain to adopt a hybrid staffing model with 150 robots across 14 locations, reducing human staff at some hotels from 40 to just eight while maintaining 24/7 service.