Described as a "charismatic cyber associate," the tech-savvy Aloft Hotels chain introduced its first A.L.O.—the company's first robotic butler, or Botlr.





Standing at 3 feet tall and weighing in below 100 pounds, the Botlr has a carrying capacity of 2 cubic feet, and is designed to travel at human walking pace.

Brian McGuinness said in a statement: "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. As soon as A.L.O. entered the room, we knew it was what we were looking for."

CEO Steve Cousins also boasted about "the look of delight" on guests face when they interacted with the robot during early testing.