Need an extra towel or a bottle of water during your next hotel visit? Or getting midnight cravings? Meet Jeno and Jena. They will make sure that all your needs are taken care of in no time. These relay robots will deliver amenities and local favourites from the in-room dining menu to guests, when an order is placed.
Teams at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway and Tanglin Singapore—part of Shangri-La Group—recently welcomed these two colleagues—Jeno and Jena—onboard. This is the first international hotel brand to use autonomous relay robots in Asia. “The new ‘colleagues’ will be great team players in getting important things done well and delivered in Jen’s distinctive style,” says Cetin Sekercioglu, executive vice-president of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
Stationed at the hotel lobby 24x7, both Jeno and Jena are unmistakable in their bright turquoise and pink ‘uniforms’ affixed with the signature bicycle image that evokes a sense of travel. Toby Tan from Band of Doodlers designed a jacket and tie for Jeno, and a scarf for Jena.
The pair has the ability to move unmanned around the hotel at a safe speed of 2.5 km/h—half that of the average human walking speed. They can ride the elevators, make phone calls to rooms on arrival, and are equipped with sensitive sensors that know how to avoid obstacles in their path.
Jeno and Jena are both integrated with a software system that can easily track their to-do list. Designed and built by Savioke, relay is the first delivery robot. Using advanced technology to navigate around people and objects, relay delivers items quickly, safely, and reliably.
“This new technology will help us re-visit and realign our job scopes. The ordinary tasks can be assigned to autonomous robots, automated machines and artificial intelligence, which will allow human colleagues to work on more complex and face-to-face interactions with guests. We also hope the technology provides a new experience and satisfaction to our guests,” says Sekercioglu.
Needless to add, guests are thrilled at this new addition. The Trip Adviser page of the hotel is flooded with appreciative messages regarding the initiation of Jeno and Jena. So, next time you travel, be ready for a revolutionary experience.