Astral Hotels Bets on a Life-Sized AI Hologram to Rethink Hotel Check-In
Astral Hotels is betting that guests may be more willing to use hotel self-service technology if it looks and behaves less like a machine.
The Israeli hotel group is introducing an artificial intelligence-powered check-in kiosk featuring a life-sized holographic avatar at its Queen of Sheba Hotel in Eilat. The avatar will guide guests through check-in, provide hotel and destination information and dispense physical room key cards without requiring assistance from a front desk employee, according to a Jerusalem Post report.
Developed by Israeli technology company EyeFeelIt, the system combines an interactive holographic figure with an AI-powered digital concierge. Guests begin the arrival process by scanning a QR code displayed by the avatar, complete the required steps on their smartphones and collect a key card from the kiosk when the transaction is finished.
Beyond check-in, the avatar can answer questions about hotel amenities, recommend restaurants and suggest nearby attractions. That could make it useful after the initial arrival rush, when conventional check-in kiosks often sit idle.
Lior Berneman-Zvulun, vice president of marketing and digital at Astral Hotels, described the installation as a first step in the group’s broader effort to incorporate new technology into the guest experience. Astral plans to evaluate the Queen of Sheba deployment before deciding whether to expand the system to other properties.
By Dustin Stone, HTN staff write