One fifth of Britons would prefer to stay at a hotel run entirely by robots

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A fifth of British adults believe robots are more trustworthy than humans
One in seven believe robots could wipe out poor customer service
A poll also found that Britons expect robots to make hotels cheaper

By Ted Thornhill for MailOnline

Published: 07:55 EST, 20 November 2015 | Updated: 08:04 EST, 20 November 2015

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Most people like a warm reception at a hotel – but not everyone.

In fact, many Britons would actually prefer to stay at a hotel where the staff have no emotions at all.

One fifth of those surveyed in a recent poll said they would prefer to stay at a hotel run by robots, with this proportion rising to 26 per cent going by answers from men only.

One fifth of those surveyed in a recent poll said they would prefer to stay at a hotel run by robots, with this proportion rising to 26 per cent going by answers from men only

Whilst the novelty factor undoubtedly plays a part in Brits' desire to stay in a robot-run hotel, a fifth of British adults (19 per cent) believe robots are more trustworthy than humans, saying they'd prefer to leave their luggage with them as a result.

The research – conducted by travel search engine Kayak.co.uk to mark the launch of a Vice documentary on the robot-run Henn-na Hotel in Japan – found that one in seven (14 per cent) believe robots could wipe out poor customer service while 18 per cent highlighted the fact that they would expect robot staff to reduce hotel rates.

Loella Pehrsson, Regional Director UK, Ireland & the Nordics at Kayak, said: 'Kayak is a technology-led travel company and as such, we're fascinated with the role which robots and robotics could play in the travel industry in the future.

'While the majority of British adults prefer the human touch when it comes to travel, there is clearly a significant proportion who are open-minded to the benefits robotics could offer.'

The Henn-na isn't the only hotel that has robot staff.

The Crowne Plaza San Jose-Silicon Valley hotel and the Aloft Hotels brand of Starwood Hotels are both utilising androids.

A fifth of British adults (19 per cent) believe robots are more trustworthy than humans

'Dash' is the latest addition to the Crowne Plaza brand, which is owned by Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG). It stands 3ft-tall and weighs less than 100lbs.

The robot can navigate between floors travelling at the same speed as a human, and can even call the lift using a special Wi-Fi sensor.

Gina LaBarre, vice president, Americas Brand Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, IHG, said: 'We are delighted to introduce Dash to our guests at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Milpitas.

'Given the hotel's location in the heart of Silicon Valley, I expect our guests to be impressed by the technological sophistication of the robot.'

Dash is the latest addition to the Crowne Plaza workforce as it tends to customers' needs

When Dash arrives at the guest room, it phones the guest to announce its arrival, delivers the requested items, and makes its way back to the front desk where it can dock itself into its own charging station.

Based on testing at the Milpitas hotel, the Crowne Plaza brand will determine whether or not to roll out the robot at other properties.

And Aloft Hotels have their very own robotic staff member too, A.L.O, the hotel brand's first Botlr (robotic butler).

In this role, A.L.O. the Botlr is on call as a robotic operative where it assists the Aloft staff in delivering amenities to guest rooms.

Professionally 'dressed' in a custom shrink-wrapped, vinyl collared uniform and nametag, A.L.O. accepts tweets as tips as its wheels whizz it from task to task.

The charismatic cyber associate made its debut at Aloft Cupertino in California, U.S, last August.

Botlr is also in operation at Aloft Silicon Valley (introduced in early 2015) and will soon be making an appearance at the Aloft South Beach hotel.

Speaking when the robot was first introduced, Mr Cousins said: 'We are thrilled to introduce our robot to the world today through our relationship with Aloft Hotels.

'In our early testing, all of us at Savioke have seen the look of delight on those guests who receive a room delivery from a robot.

CHECKED IN BY A DINOSAUR ANDROID IN JAPAN

A menacing-looking dinosaur, a lifelike female humanoid with blinking lashes, and a small android greet guests at this Japanese hotel where almost all employees are robots.

The Weird Hotel, as it is aptly called in English, is set to open to the public tomorrow, becoming the latest oddity in a country known for its quirky guest accommodation.

But the £45-a-night ($80) hotel goes beyond using robots as a gimmick, as it is among the first to use facial recognition technology instead of swipe cards as room keys.

Hideo Sawada, who runs the hotel as part of the Huis Ten Bosch amusement park in Sasebo, Nagasaki, told the Associated Press the use of robots is not a gimmick, but a serious effort to utilise technology and improve efficiency while saving on labour costs.

He hopes the robots will carry out 90 per cent of tasks normally completed by humans.

At the Henn na Hotel, as it is called in Japanese, the dinosaur wears a hat and bowtie, telling visitors: 'If you want to check in, push one.'

The guest then punches a button and enters his or her personal information on a touch panel screen.

Before heading up to their room guests can store items in a 'robot cloak room'.

After guests drop items into a box, a giant robotic arm snatches it and then puts it into an open space in a wall where the boxes are stacked.

A guest can do this while an automated trolley delivers luggage to their room, which has a small robot with a Siri-like ability to answer questions about the current time or weather.

While the concierge – a doll-like hairless robot with voice recognition – can provide details on breakfast, it cannot call a cab or match the capabilities of its human counterparts.

The temperature of the rooms is monitored with technology that detects body heat and guests can call for robotic room service using a tablet instead of a phone.