World's first hotel entirely staffed by robots to open in 2027

Would you be willing to stay in a hotel that was 100% staffed by robots? If the answer is “yes,” you'll get your chance later this year!

The world's first hotel to be completely run by robots will soon open its doors to the public. It comes as no surprise that it's happening in China – on the artificial island built for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, the cross-sea megaproject in the Pearl River Delta.

The hotel will see robots occupy every hospitality role, including reception, room service, cleaning, food preparation and guest support. Shenzhen's Pudu Robotics has already deployed its machines to work in various retail, food-and-beverage and cleaning positions, but this new project will have them running the entire operation.

The hotel will be rolled out in stages, with the first trial scheduled to begin in late 2026, where a handful of guest rooms and robot-powered services will be in operation for the general public. These early visitors will get to experience robot-run welcoming and check-in services, plus autonomous in-room delivery.

The hotel is planned to include 44 high-end rooms, a restaurant, gym and other spaces for guest use. They'll be connected through a closed-loop smart service system ensuring that all aspects of service – from check-in to cleaning – will work together. Looking further ahead, plans are for the project to expand beyond the hotel to the island's broader tourism and hospitality sector.

Fortunately, there are several evaluations that robots must pass in order to be deployed at such a scale, and Intertek is one of the leaders in robots and robotics testing. Evaluation of robotic products consider multiple aspects and features such as electrical and mechanical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), electromagnetic interference (EMI), battery testing, functional safety, cybersecurity, field evaluation and inspection, and the broad range of regional and country-specific directives and requirements. 

So, even if the bed isn't made perfectly, at least you can rest assured that the robots working in this hotel have passed all the necessary inspections!