First robot butler in a New York state hotel has unique focus on bringing wellness amenities to guests of The Westin Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Delaware North today formally introduced the Relay robot butler that is serving guests at The Westin Buffalo, the global hospitality and food service provider's new 116-room luxury lifestyle hotel at its headquarters building in downtown Buffalo, N.Y.

Designed and built by Savioke, the Relay robot, which became operational at The Westin Buffalo in December, a few months after it opened, is the first to serve as a butler in a hotel in New York state, including New York City.

It's also the first robot butler with a unique focus on bringing guests various wellness items to their rooms – amenities offered through the distinctive wellness programs for which the Westin brand is known.

The robot delivers everything from delicious and nutritious SuperFoodsRx™ juices and other menu items from the hotel's Jake's Café, to running shoes as part of Westin's Gear Lending with New Balance® program. With the running shoes and other items, even guests who arrive without their own gear can take advantage of the state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT® fitness studio at The Westin Buffalo or the RunWESTIN™ program featuring jogging routes through Buffalo's distinctive neighborhoods, new waterfront and architectural treasures.

"Our guests have really gotten a kick out of the Relay robot and how it's programmed to ride the elevator to their room and call them to receive the items from its storage compartment," said Tom Long, general manager of The Westin Buffalo for Delaware North. "It's been successful thanks to Savioke working with Delaware North's information technology department and our front desk staff."

"Delaware North places a high priority on innovation and technology, so we're proud to be on the forefront of this cutting-edge service model," said Bernard Gay, Delaware North's chief information officer. "We've integrated the robot technology to work hand-in-hand with the associates at the hotel to create a seamless experience for our guests."

Relay is the first fully-autonomous delivery robot that works alongside people in busy environments such as logistics, hotels, office buildings, and high-rise apartments. Able to operate elevators, Relay is already deployed in dozens of properties where people live, work, and play. Using advanced technology to navigate in dynamic environments, around people and objects, Relay delivers items quickly, safely, and reliably - even in the most crowded locations. Since initial commercial deployment in 2014, Relay robots have made over 100,000 autonomous deliveries.

"We're thrilled to work with The Westin Buffalo to deploy a Relay robot at this new upscale hotel," said Savioke CEO Steve Cousins. "We're especially pleased Relay will play an important role in The Westin Buffalo's unique focus on delivering wellness items to guests."

To coincide with its introduction, The Westin Buffalo has launched a social media campaign to "name" its Relay robot. The public is invited to vote via the hotel's Facebook or Twitter pages for one of four locally-inspired name finalists. As part of its new name, the robot will be described as a "Wellbot," reinforcing its commitment to serving guests of The Westin Buffalo with the wellness amenities and programs for which the Westin brand is known.

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