The International Federation for Information Technology and Travel & Tourism (IFITT) presents the next IFITT Webinar. These webinars aim to bring together global experts to share knowledge, inspire innovation, and explore the evolving landscape of technology and tourism. The next webinar is titled “The Economics of Service Robots in Hospitality”.
This session will feature both academic and industry perspectives on the growing use of service robots in hospitality. The academic part will present a conceptual framework exploring how robots affect tasks, processes, jobs, and performance metrics. Hospitality operations are seen as front-of-house (e.g. check-in, dining) and back-of-house (e.g. housekeeping, maintenance) processes composed of various tasks. Robots operate at the task level, and by automating tasks, they can transform entire processes. The likelihood of automation depends on task nature, frequency, standardisation, and complexity. Robots may substitute, augment, or reshape human roles, while also eliminating or creating new tasks.
Robot implementation requires alignment with employee skills and attitudes, as well as integration with legacy technologies. Robots may depend on, compete with, or operate independently from these systems, often requiring upgrades or replacements with cost implications. The presentation will also explore how companies pursue cost-saving, revenue-generation, or mixed strategies, shaped by factors such as robot costs, customer willingness to pay, competitor actions, and regulation.
The industry segment will address the financial and operational impact of integrating service robots into hotels, restaurants, and similar environments. Drawing on international case studies, it will highlight business drivers, investment decisions, and returns on automation. Participants will gain practical insights into how robotics is transforming service delivery, improving efficiency, and creating new value for operators. This session bridges theory and practice, offering strategic guidance for evaluating and scaling robotics adoption in hospitality.
Gain a deeper understanding of how robotics is reshaping hospitality—from theoretical frameworks to real-world applications. Whether you are a scholar, professional, or simply curious about the future of service, this IFITT Webinar will offer perspectives that challenge assumptions and inspire innovation.
(More information about the speakers at the end of the page.)
Registration closes at 11:59 AM CEST on Monday, September 8th.
Dr. Stanislav Ivanov is a Professor at Varna University of Management, Bulgaria (http://www.vum.bg), and Director of Zangador Research Institute, Bulgaria (https://www.zangador.institute/en/). He is the Founder and (Co-)Editor-in-chief of two academic journals: European Journal of Tourism Research (http://ejtr.vumk.eu), indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, and ROBONOMICS: The Journal of the Automated Economy (https://journal.robonomics.science). He has (co-)authored over 250 publications. His current research interest includes robonomics, robots/artificial intelligence/automation in tourism/hospitality, the economics of technology, tourism economics, etc. For more information about Prof. Ivanov please visit his personal website: http://www.stanislavivanov.com
Francisco Javier Martín Romo, born in Salamanca, Spain, is a technology enthusiast with a strong passion for robotics and its real-world applications. He firmly believes in the positive impact automation can have on both business operations and people’s lives. Francisco holds a Law degree from the University of Salamanca, an MBA in Business Administration, and has completed additional training in robotics and artificial intelligence. His professional journey began in the hospitality sector, where he gained international experience in cities such as London, Dubai, and Oman. In 2015, a pivotal encounter with the Moley Robotics project in London sparked his interest in the role of robotics in service industries. This led him to found the Hospitality Robotics Group in 2019, one of the first digital communities focused on service automation. Francisco currently serves as Country Manager at KEENON Robotics EMEA and leads the organization of the annual Foodservice Robotics Pioneers summit, held at the HIP Expo in Madrid since 2020.
