EMC2 Hotel Chicago welcomes Relay Hotel Delivery Robots for seamless delivery services. Developed by SMASHotels, Marriott’s Autograph EMC2 Hotel is a unique, 195-room, 21-floor boutique venue located in the upscale Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago.
Celebrating the intersection of art and science through its design, cuisine, and guest experience, the hotel invokes curiosity at every turn.
Thoughtful amenities include Amazon Alexa in rooms, a library of 12,000 science novels, The Albert restaurant as “a feast for the mind, body and soul”, and two event spaces.
Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection, Chicago
Challenge
Relay delivery robot technology transforms Chicago hotel services.
Built in 2017, EMC2 is not your typical hotel. It was designed with amenities that go beyond the conventional to appeal to science and technology aficionados. Located in central Chicago, its rooms feature Smart TVs, Tempur-Pedic beds, wireless internet, movable workstations, and open-glass WetLab bars.
“Furthermore, Hotel EMC2 is even making a long-term commitment to support youth STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs within underserved Chicago communities,” says Mr. Kevin Jagow, Director of Sales and Marketing for the hotel. “We discussed adding something else to appeal to our educated, upscale audiences. Service robots seemed like exactly what we needed to surprise and delight our guests.”
Relay Delivers Measurable Results
“Leo and Cleo service robots were an immediate hit and perfect for our futuristic hotel.”
Solution
“The décor is serious. The food is serious. There’s some serious science and décor on the wall. But it’s done with some playfulness,” says Scott Greenberg, President of SMASHotels and EMC2 designer.
Because of this convergence of science and fun, Leo and Cleo were deployed as service robots when the hotel opened in May 2017. Today, these tireless Delivery Robots still complete approximately 400 deliveries per week to 195 guest rooms.
“Our Relay Hotel Delivery Robots average two round trips per room per week from our kitchen, bringing food and #BOTShots (alcohol in a covered shot glass) from our BOT 24.7 menu that helps increase revenue. They also deliver towels, linens, and sundries.”
Leo & Cleo at the EMC2 Hotel
“In-room dining sales increased almost two-fold. The results have been amazing.”
Popular With Guest
At a height of three feet and only weighing 90 pounds, Leo and Cleo, part of the Relay Hotel Delivery Robots deployed in Chicago, have been readily accepted by both guests and the EMC2 staff. “They’ve been really eye opening. I enjoy sending them to a guest room with cookies and milk––especially during the holidays—as well as other foods,” adds Jagow. “Guests love to come back for our robots because they have such cute personalities.”
These Room Service Robots even have a touch-screen that allows guests to interact with them. When they get a five-star rating, they do a little dance.
A Social Media Sensation
We started promoting them heavily through our Public Relations department and on social media,” continues Jagow. “They’ve drawn a lot of guests. People will even call and ask, ‘Is this the hotel with Leo and Cleo?’ In fact, if you Google ‘Robot Hotel Chicago’, we come up first in the search results.”
EMC2 has nearly 12,000 Facebook followers, dozens of YouTube videos, and over 2,000 positive reviews such as, “Unique room service delivery by the hotel robots Leo❤️ and Cleo❤️,” proving that they’re popular drawing cards.
Safe, Fast, Reliable
Leo and Cleo are smart, savvy, stylish and dependable service robots to continually elevate the great guest experience within this tech and science hotel. They have been expressly programmed to
Results
In 5½ years since, Hotel EMC2 has accomplished:
“Aesthetically pleasing hotel. Staff members are all very attentive. Leo and Cleo, the room service robots, were awesome!”
About Relay Robotics
Relay Robotics is a leading supplier of simple, sophisticated, autonomous service robots that work with humans safely, securely, reliably, and contactless. As a technology leader in robotics since 2013 and holder of 10 U.S. patents, Relay’s robots complement staff across healthcare, hospitality, and commercial real estate settings.
They have completed more than 1,000,000 deliveries worldwide.Relay delivery robots are currently deployed at major hotels in the United States such as Marriott, Hilton, Westin, Mandarin Oriental, Holiday Inn, and Radisson, nationally recognized hospitals such as Georgetown and Dartmouth, and commercial real estate properties.
Relay robots are available via a monthly subscription or RaaS (Robots as a Service). Relay’s Rapid-Install™ trains and activates a robot within hours of arrival at a location so they can seamlessly ride elevators and navigate the entire property.
Customers can name their robot and create a customized “wrap” to give it a unique character and harmonize it with their brand.