The A-Stay hotel in Antwerp, Belgium, allows guests to do everything by themselves.
Founded by Antwerp businessman Ben Van Loo, the high-tech hotel has just a few employees working on site. If the guests want, there is no need to talk to any staff member.
Guests can check-in by scanning their IDs and then check out independently at the end of their stay. They can decide to screen the palm of their hand to open the doors. They can control the lights and temperature electronically, order coffee through a tablet, and get snacks at the “grab and go” bar. They can even do their own laundry machine. If the guests need any help with the technology, there is always an employee ready to help.
Speaking with Belga News, Dijana Sitte Buneta, A-Stay hotel manager, highlighted that her hotel is the only one in the world that allows guests to do a hand scan at check in.
To our knowledge, we are the only hotel in the world that has decided to do a hand scan for the check-in.
Dijana Sitte Buneta, A-Stay hotel manager
She added that the hotel aims to be a “playground for innovators,” which provides high-tech services and a new, atypical guest experience.
We are pushing the boundaries, giving solutions that are not so typical; our lobby area is called the ‘playground’ and we want to be a playground for all the innovators, whether it’s in the sense of technology or any other guest experience.
Dijana Sitte Buneta, A-Stay hotel manager
While some guests seem to love the automation, others highlight the troubles of an unstaffed hotel. A tourist from Switzerland pointed out that the check-in takes twice as long because the personnel need to help during the automated process, as many people are still unfamiliar with the technology. However, other guests seem to love the automation.
It is a really new-tech hotel. Check-in was very easy. Room control was magnificent: so many variations of light control were stunning.
Agatha, guest from Poland
The A-Stay hotel is only based in Antwerp. Before the outbreak of Covid-19, the hotel was supposed to open in several world capitals. But for now, that plan is “on hold.”
