Robots set to level hotel playing field

By employing robots developed by Chinese tech startups at some of its most recently opened outlets, Shimao Star Hotels Group, the hospitality arm of real estate group Shimao Property, said it hopes it can soon rival global leaders in the industry.

"As a newborn Chinese hotel group, we see one of our major advantages over international players who boast a much longer history as being backed by the country's innovations in artificial intelligence technologies," said Tang Ming, president and chairman of Shimao Star Hotels Group, at a press conference in mid-November. At the conference, Tang announced the "recruitment" of two service robots.

Founded in 2017, the Shanghai-based company owns and operates 10 medium-to-high-level hotels in China, with another 82 in the pipeline.