It鈥檚 not like robots are going to completely replace humans鈥攚e still need people to offer face-to-face customer service. But at select hotels, airports, and gear shops around the world, machines of various types are being put to use. Here are a few handy things they鈥檙e doing to make your next vacation easier.
Distribute Weather Forecasts and Trail Beta
In the lobby of the , at the base of Austria鈥檚 Mount Hochk枚nig (from $169), you鈥檒l find a dirndl-wearing robot named Pepper. Introduced earlier this year, Pepper will recommend family-friendly events, let you know what you can expect from Mother Nature, and suggest day outings such as lift-accessed mountain biking or guided hikes on the 200 miles of nearby trails. The hotel offers shuttle services and will even rent you a daypack and hiking boots. Elsewhere in Germany, a lederhosen-wearing robotic concierge named Sepp at Munich鈥檚 greets guests and answers basic questions in German and English (from $92).
Deliver Running Shoes to Your Door
, which opened in Buffalo, New York, in 2017, has a robot that鈥檒l show up at your door toting superfood smoothies from the hotel鈥檚 caf茅 or loaner New Balance running shoes paired with beta on the best local routes (from $237). At , in the heart of California鈥檚 Silicon Valley, you can send a request via your phone and a robot butler called Botlr will bring you towels and snacks poolside after your mountain bike ride in nearby Stevens Creek County Park (from $339). At Chicago鈥檚 , two robots named Cleo and Leo will fetch you a toothbrush and toothpaste if you forgot yours at home (from $312).
Check You into Your Room
There鈥檚 not actually a robot at Ludlow, Vermont鈥檚 , a renovated boutique motel that opened in January 2018 (from $119), but its 鈥渋nvisible service鈥 feels futuristic. Instead of speaking with a front desk staff, you鈥檒l be emailed a personalized access code and room number, so all you have to do is walk right in. You can even make specific requests like having Vermont craft beer waiting for you, which a human will deliver. Want a real robot? At Sasebo, Japan鈥檚 robot-run , located inside the Huis Ten Bosch theme park, multilingual machines check you in at the front desk (from $136).
Carry Your Surfboard
This year, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines debuted a test robot called that escorts passengers to their gate while transporting up to 85 pounds of luggage. The robot also has access to flight information, meaning it will update you on delays, fight status, and gate changes. Care-E isn鈥檛 ready yet for a grand rollout, but it is being tested this summer at New York鈥檚 JFK and San Francisco鈥檚 International Airport. In New York, the has self-service check-in stations and a robot called Yobot that鈥檒l store your luggage while you run through Central Park (from $206). In Los Angeles, a robot at the new will carry your surfboard to your room (from $151).
Tune Your Skis
Robotic ski-tuning machines have been used in major ski shops for decades, but the technology continues to improve. Today, automated ski-service machines from brands like Montana and Wintersteiger can repair damaged bases, grind edges, and wax and polish your sticks just as well, if not better, than that twentysomething ski tech who鈥檚 daydreaming of his next powder day.