HOTEL ROBOT BELL HOPPS & BUTLERS

I found the Aloft Brussels Schuman Hotel, similar to Aloft hotels in the USA apart from being much more expensive and less helpful staff.—I know that all hotels in Europe are more expensive than most US cities, so I thought I would try the funky Brand, though I don’t like that they have showers and no bath tubs. It is conveniently located in the center of Brussels, adjacent to the European Parliament and Schumann Palace. The bustling traffic was exhausting in this area and it took another half an hour to drive to the very city center, Square Grand Place (Grote Markt) surrounded by opulent guildhalls and Gabled edifices.

The hotel is about 6 years old and full of twenty somethings staff in blue jeans. That's not a bad thing, but we are a little older and could not help smiling at their young arrogance. Most of them had never worked in the hospitality industry, or any industry at all. It was difficult to get in to the hotel parking, where they charge about $35 overnight, so it is not a good idea to rent a car. The Aloft is easy to reach near the Metro station Schuman (EU quarter). If you fly in to BRU, the Airport is 40 minutes from the hotel, by train, then it is a two minute walk from Schuman Station.

In the news, today in Belgium is the much touted RoboHotelier! The Marriott Hotel Ghent, has employed a new “employee”. His name is Mario, a “human” robot. Mario will assist at the front desk.

Robot Mario can hand you your room key when you check-in. During a conference, he can even assist with your PowerPoint presentations, or he can baby sit in the play area. Don’t know if I believe that this is possible? Some mini-humans can be tricky.

According to Roger Langhout, the Marriott hotel manager, Mario will be very useful at meetings and conferences and this will be good for a business hotel. Mario will not replace a “human” employee and guests can choose if they would like to use Mario’s services, or not.

Mario even held his own press conference and performed a dance. He is not the first Robot to be utilized in hotels. The Aloft and the healthcare service have been using them for some time. California's Silicon Valley was the pilot Robot, as may be expected from the tech-savvy area. They have 2 to deliver towels and other necessities to guests. This Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, has 2 robotic "Botlrs," named ALO, made by Savioke. Inspired by Star Wars' R2D2.They have been working there, as butlers since last year. When a guest calls the front, desk asking for something, -- say a bottle of water or a toothbrush, employees load up the basket and send the Robo butler to the room. Mario was manufactured by the Flemish company QBMT in Oostende. They produce more than 100 robots called “Zora”, used in the healthcare sector in Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Switzerland

You don’t have to put up with rude service from a Robot, but I wonder if you have to tip the Robot bellboy porter, assisting patrons with their luggage?