Henna Hotel, Nagasaki

Added in 2019
This is a hotel with a unique name, but it is H.I.S., the major travel industry. In March 2015, “Henn na Hotel Huis Ten Bosch” opened as the first “Henn na Hotel” brand in Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki, which the company handles.
At the time of opening, it was certified by Guinness Records as “the world’s first hotel where robots work”, and for the first time in East Japan, “humanoid robots” were introduced as staff. It is recognized around the world as a state-of-the-art hotel.
Since then, with the aim of 100 hotels of the same brand, there are currently nine “Henn na Hotels” in Japan such as Akasaka and Haneda. There are plans to open five more next year.
“Hen” (it means changes) of “Hen na Hotel” seems to contain the feeling that “I want to be a hotel that keeps changing”.
The concept is “fusion of people and robots”.
With the rapid technological evolution in recent years, it has become possible for robots to handle some of the tasks that people have been doing so far.
One hotel staff is always stationed at the front desk, and it seems to be able to handle the detailed services of customers who cannot be handled by robots.
When you stand in front of a humanoid robot, the robot greets you with a polite bow (in English and other languages following Japanese). Checkout and check-in is done with the machine in front of the humanoid robot. While operating, you may be a little nervous as you stare at the robot.
Although humanoid robots do not treat customers specially, it is surprising that a real human-like robot is in the hotel and talks to you.
Rather than just facing the machine at the unattended front at check-in and check-out, it is better for the humanoid robot to say “ May I help you, sir? ” Or “ Take care. ”
Some people may be worried that “there is only a robot at the front, is security safe?”, But the elevator that goes up to the cabin is equipped with a system that does not move unless the room key is read.

Aiming ultimate productivity

There is a hotel with an unusual name called “Henna Hotel” (Odd Hotel). As a official hotel of the huge theme park in Nagasaki “Huis Ten Bosch”, it is a slightly odd hotel which started business in the spring of 2016. In this hotel that aims to be “the world’s most productive hotel”, and in consideration of the environment, robots are working, not humans. How, the front clerk and the hatcheck clerk are both robots! It is popular as the world’s first hotel where robots play an active part with almost no human staff in the hall. Front, cloak, porter etc. the main staffs of “Henna Hotel” are robot. It is quite fresh sight. (In case of emergency, resident hotel staff may respond)

Two dinosaur robot “Mirai-kun”

Three robots meet hotel guests there. There are two dinosaur robot “Mirai-kun (futures)” next to the robot of the woman. This robot talks in the voice of the man. English seems to support, too.
Basically there are no human staff here. When checking in or checking out, follow the instructions of the robot and press the touch panel and the button to complete the procedure.

The robot into the duties

It is said that as a means of reducing personnel costs to normal a quarter, the robot into the duties such as the front desk or the porter are introduced.
The robots work well even for a fee-based locker dedicated to guests. However, since the size of the locker is only 72 cm in width, 50 cm in depth, 38.5 cm in height (equivalent to the size of baggage that can be carried in the flight), caution is required for the size of the baggage. There are also Porter robots that carry baggage to the room. However, it seems that there are limited buildings available so far.

The concept of this hotel

The following is the extract of the concept from the official site.

Excitement meets comfort. Introducing state-of-the-art technologies, Henn na Hotel is the world-first hotel staffed by robots.

At the front desk, you will be greeted by multi-lingual robots that will help you check in or check out. At the cloakroom, the robotic arm will store your luggage for you, and the porter robots will carry them to your room (only available in A Wing). Mechanic yet somehow human, those fun moments with the robots will warm your heart. Furthermore, once you register your face with our face recognition system, you will be free from the hassle of carrying the room key around or worrying about losing it.

One of the definitions of the Japanese word “Henn” is “to change,” which represents our commitment for evolution in striving for the extraordinary sensation and comfort that lies beyond the ordinary.

Staying at Henn na Hotel is filled with unexpected and delightful surprises. The unique experience will take our guests one step into the future.

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