A Botlr replaces the Butler at Aloft Hotels!

Meet ALO: The Botlr who’s replaced the butler at Aloft Cupertino in Silicon Valley and accepts Tweets for tips!

ALO, the Botlr

Luxury hotels around the world offer incredible amenities and services, but at Aloft Cupertino in Silicon Valley you get the rare chance to be serviced by a butler that’s not a gentleman but a robot. Named ALO, the Botler (robotic butler) has been hired for both front and back house duties in the hotel. Professionally “dressed” in a custom shrink-wrapped, vinyl collared uniform and nametag, ALO assists the Aloft staff in delivering amenities to the rooms. As it whizzes by from task to task, ALO is happy to receive Tweets for tips!

ALO has come well-trained for the job at Aloft Hotels. It has studied at Savioke—a new company which the robotics community has been eagerly looking to for this first class of robots— where it double majored in rudimentary tasks and hospitality. In his role as Botlr, ALO facilitates and prioritises multiple deliveries to guests. It communicates with people as well as various hotel platforms. ALO is easily able to navigate across the entire hotel, which includes use of the elevator.

A Tweet, anyone?

“As you can imagine, hiring for this particular position was a challenge as we were seeking a very specific set of automated skills, and one that could work – literally – around the clock,” said Brian McGuinness, Global Brand Leader, Starwood’s Specialty Select Brands. “As soon as ALO entered the room, we knew it was what we were looking for. ALO has the work ethic of Wall-E, the humour of Rosie from The Jetsons and reminds me of my favourite childhood robot, R2-D2. We are excited to have it join our team.”

While ALO has already joined the team at Aloft Cupertino, several more Botlrs are expected to join the staff. If you would like to meet ALO, book your stay at Aloft Cupertino from here.