Reception and Greeter Robots: Are They Worth It?

A reception or greeter robot is a mobile screen with sensors, microphones and speakers. The better ones notice when someone approaches, greet them, answer simple questions by voice or touch screen and lead them to a room, a stand or a table. Between visitors they show adverts or information.

This is a real and growing category. The IFR ranked hospitality as the second largest application for professional service robots in 2025, and said most of those robots are mobile guidance machines, information points in public spaces and telepresence robots.

What they do not do is replace a receptionist. They cannot handle a complaint, deal with a delivery that needs signing for, make judgement calls about who gets in or look after someone who is unwell.

Figures come from the manufacturers' published specifications. Prices are purchase guide prices (USD, excluding tax and shipping, from Robots International). Temi is covered on our site for information only.

The GreetingBots, Cruzr and Temi can return to their charging docks on their own. Temi's figures are from robotemi.com.

Trade stands and exhibitions. A robot that approaches people and starts the conversation pulls visitors in, and it can show product content all day. The GreetingBot Nova uses large language models, including ChatGPT, Google and OrionStar's own, for freer question and answer sessions.

Hotel lobbies and busy receptions. Answering the same five questions (Wi-Fi, breakfast times, toilets, lifts, check-out) and walking guests to a meeting room takes pressure off front desk staff at peak times.

Showrooms, shops and visitor centres. A robot can run a set tour route and play announcements. The Cruzr 1S uses UBTECH's U-SLAM navigation for guided tours and can link to smart devices such as lights and screens.

Restaurants that want one robot for two jobs. The LuckiBot greets guests at the door, leads them to a table and also carries food on its trays. The PUDU KettyBot Pro does similar work; see our delivery robots comparison.

Telepresence. Temi supports video calls, so a remote colleague can greet a visitor or join a tour. For dedicated telepresence robots, see the telepresence category.

Be realistic about these:

• Noisy, crowded halls. Voice recognition gets harder as noise rises. OrionStar says the Mini's six-microphone array stays accurate in noisy rooms, but test it in your own space.
• Complex or sensitive questions. Robots handle the common questions well. Anything unusual needs a person nearby.
• Accessibility. Screens at a fixed height and voice-only interaction do not suit everyone. Keep a human route for visitors who need it.
• Security and visitor management. A robot can greet and direct, but it should not be the only check on who enters a building.
• Poor Wi-Fi. Large language model chat and content updates depend on a solid connection.
• Novelty fades. In a space with the same visitors every day, the "wow" lasts weeks, not years. The robot has to be useful once the novelty wears off.

Content takes work. A greeter robot is only as good as its answers, maps and screen content. Someone needs to set it up and keep it current. OrionStar offers an open development platform and PUDU an open platform on the KettyBot Pro for custom content.

Languages. OrionStar lists support for more than 30 languages on the GreetingBot range. Check the current list for the languages your visitors use. Do not assume Irish is included.

Privacy. These robots carry cameras and microphones, and some recognise returning visitors. The Data Protection Commission's CCTV guidance treats images of identifiable people as personal data. Before switching on recording, face recognition or video calls, settle the purpose, tell visitors with clear signage, limit retention and check whether a data protection impact assessment is needed.

Insurance and safety. A robot moving through a public area should be in your risk assessment. Our insurance and liability guide covers the questions to ask.

A reception robot is worth it when:

• You get steady visitor traffic with the same common questions.
• Your front-of-house team is stretched at predictable peaks.
• You want to show content or promotions to people as they arrive.
• The robot can do a second job, such as guiding, delivering or telepresence.
• You have someone to own the content and keep it fresh.

It is probably not worth it when visitor numbers are low, most enquiries are complex, or the main goal is a one-day "wow". For a single event, renting is usually smarter than buying, and a robot dog like our in-fleet Unitree Go2 Pro may draw a bigger crowd. See our event robots guide.

The GreetingBot, LuckiBot and Cruzr can be bought outright through Robots International, which Rentabot is an affiliate of. Each robot page links to the current listing.

To try one first, send us a rental request with your venue, dates and what you want the robot to do. We source rental units through reseller partners case by case, so availability varies and pricing is on quote. Temi is listed on our site for information; you can still enquire.

Browse the events robots category or take our robot quiz. We will get back to you promptly.