Relay Robotics has introduced its latest hotel robot, Relay2, which delivers double the capacity of earlier models at 10 gallons or 41 litres, while maintaining the sleek design that enables guest engagement. The announcement comes at a time when 87% of hotels are short-staffed, As stated by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Relay2 uses Relay’s proprietary elevator technology to navigate hotels, delivering items from the front desk or kitchen to guest rooms in around four minutes. Relay robots are used around the world in hotels including Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott, and are sold on a monthly subscription basis or as Robots as a Service.
Relay Robotics, Inc. has recently unveiled its latest hotel delivery robot, Relay2, at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. The new robot boasts twice the capacity of its predecessors, with the ability to carry up to 10 gallons or 41 liters of items. Despite its larger capacity, Relay2 maintains the sleek design that has made Relay robots popular with hotel guests.
The introduction of Relay2 is particularly timely, given the current staffing shortages in the hospitality industry. As stated by the AHLA Survey on hotel staff shortages, over 402,000 jobs in leisure and hospitality remain unfilled, leaving 87% of hotels understaffed. By providing a reliable and efficient delivery solution, Relay2 can help alleviate some of the strain on hotel staff.
One of the key features of Relay2 is its proprietary elevator technology, which enables the robot to navigate throughout a hotel and make deliveries within an average time of just four minutes. Relay2 can support all elevators from major elevator companies such as OTIS, Schindler, TK, Mitsubishi, KONE, and others, ensuring that it can be used in a wide range of hotels.
Michael O’Donnell, Chairman and CEO of Relay Robotics, expressed his excitement about the new robot, saying, “We’re excited to introduce Relay2 and bring more value to hotel owners and staff with a larger, more versatile robot and accessories to deliver better guest experiences. Our hotel customers love Relay1, but asked us to make it larger to handle the newer realities of takeout deliveries from companies like UberEats, GrubHub, and DoorDash, and more fully integrate into their hotel operations.”
Relay robots are already in use at top hotels and resorts around the world, including Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, LUMA, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott, Radisson, Sonesta, and Wyndham. The robots are available for purchase on a monthly subscription basis or through Robots as a Service (RaaS).
Jean-Cédric Callies, Director of Sales & Marketing at Hôtel Monville in Montreal, Canada, praised the new features of Relay2, saying, “Hôtel Monville has had our Relay robot for several years and we are excited about the newly designed and enhanced Relay2. The multifunctional accessories allow delivery of wine bottles and new items that provide us with a valuable opportunity to integrate additional hotel services, which will delight our guests and create a more memorable experience.”
Relay Robotics has been designing and building robots for over a decade, and has been a pioneer in robot design and software functionality, including elevator integration. With the introduction of Relay2, the company is set to continue its tradition of innovation in the hospitality industry.
