Once upon a time, we were amazed by the concept of hotel keycards. It was a sign of a hotel with an eye on the future. It didn’t matter how glitchy it was or that you couldn’t keep the card in the same pocket as your phone; we were living in a sci-fi wonderland.
Thankfully, we’ve moved on to a brighter future, and a new wave of properties is transforming how we experience hotels. From robot-powered automation to AI-fused adaptability, the best high-tech hotels drive the industry forward.
If you’re searching for a taste of the future, look no further. These are some of the best high-tech hotels in the world.
Henn Na Hotel
Location: Multiple locations, Japan
Price: $150+
Vibe: Robot-run retreat
The Rundown: Firmly at the top of our list is Henn Na Hotel. Known around the world as “the robot hotel,” there’s no other property offering this level of tech-forward quirkiness. Guests are greeted and checked in as normal…only there’s something different. The receptionists are robot dinosaurs.
Seriously.
The robots, sometimes humanlike ones, are multilingual and do the job just as efficiently as their real-life counterparts in other hotels. The sci-fi doesn’t stop there, though. Facial recognition throughout the hotel removes the need for keycards, while luggage robots will move and store your bags for you on arrival. It’s all a bit Black Mirror.
Yotel New York
Location: New York City
Price: $168+
Vibe: Tech-forward minimalism (with a giant claw)
The Rundown: Yotel’s MO is building simple high-tech stays in convenient locations worldwide—and it nails it. Futuristic minimalist rooms are complemented by well-stocked gyms, excellent service, and some neat touches to keep life flowing smoothly.
The Times Square location is renowned for its epic luggage robot. Found in the lobby, the giant mechanical arm lifts and stores luggage inside its safe room. And before you ask, no, you don’t need to tip it. There are also self-service check-in kiosks that 95% of customers prefer to use.
CityHub
Location: Multiple locations
Price: $100+
Vibe: Pod living, self-service saver option
The Rundown: Sitting at just about traditional hostels on the accommodation scale, CityHub provides an interesting (and affordable) option for a short city break. Guests are based in pods, giving them more privacy than in a hostel, but they have to deal with shared bathrooms. The pods are small but expertly built to allow for the necessities and to squeeze as many people as possible without losing privacy.
The highlight, however, is the brand’s cool wristbands. Much like Disney’s magic bands, guests can use them to pay for snacks or meals in the restaurant or even to pull a pint of beer. Talk about self-service!
Peng Heng Space Capsules
Location: Shenzhen, China
Price: $100+
Vibe: Robot room service
The Rundown: Another hotel where the robots have taken over, Peng Heng’s is more hands-on than its Japanese competitor. They check you in but also deliver room service, take orders at the cafe, and bring other items to your room. Thankfully, they’re pretty cute.
Inside the hotel itself, guests are transported to a space-age accommodation. Neon lights glow around each sci-fi-looking capsule, equipped with TVs, workstations, electric outlets, and other tidbits.
Eccleston Square Hotel
Location: London, UK
Price: $186+
Vibe: Traditional for the information age
The Rundown: Eccleston is the perfect example of a traditional hotel being updated to match the needs of the modern traveler. From the outside, and even inside, the boutique property is stunning. The rooms are stylish but understated, and the exterior is a traditionally English townhouse.
High-tech details include in-room iPads where room service can be ordered, movies picked, and climate controlled. The bed has a built-in massager and is worth $12,000, touch pads control lighting and curtains, and the shower even has the ability to turn from see-through to frosted glass.
Blow Up Hall 5050
Location:Poznan, Poland
Price: $130
Vibe: Smartphones
The Rundown: Blow Up Hall 5050 is an exciting hotel, even without its tech nuances. The full complex includes a restaurant and an art gallery on top of the accommodation, plus a few boutique shopping experiences in the adjoining building.
There’s no reception here. Instead, guests pick up smartphones upon arrival, which they will use to check in, locate their room, and unlock their doors. The doors themselves don’t have numbers, as the phone directs you straight there.
by travelers, for travelers.
