Concierge robots set to become reality in the hospitality sector 

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Updated 30 April 2024
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Concierge robots set to become reality in the hospitality sector 

RIYADH: A personal robot concierge is set to become a reality as a new wave of technological innovation takes the spotlight during the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh. 

In an interview with Arab News during the event, Janet Adams, chief operating officer of global artificial intelligence company SingularityNET, shared details about a new humanoid robot expected to revolutionize the hospitality sector. 

“One of our projects which we are pioneering right now is the development of a new class of humanoid robots specifically designed for the service industries,” Adam told Arab News. 

“Imagine going to stay in a hotel where you’ve connected with your robot before you go there. They know everything you want. They can greet you at the door because you’ve been chatting as an avatar,” she said. 

“And then after you leave, they can stay in touch with you and they can be like a loyalty ambassador, robotic avatar, friend for life who understands your needs, who understands what you enjoy, who makes everything perfect for you in your stay in the hospitality industry,” Adams added. 

She further explained that the development, known as the Mind Children project, will roll out its pilot in early 2025. 

Furthermore, Adams shared that the company is working on a new breed of technological advancement for AI in language models in the Middle East. 

The company is working with Zarqa, a Middle Eastern AI firm part of SingularityNET’s ecosystem, to significantly improve AI language models.

 “What we’re doing is we’re taking the best of today’s large language model technology, and we’re infusing it with the best of tomorrow’s artificial general intelligence technology, because we’re leaders in the field of artificial general intelligence,” Adams explained. 

“And sometime within the next 12 to 24 months, we expect to see enormous breakthroughs where the limitations of today’s language models are overcome, where we can bring human level reasoning or human style reasoning into our robots and therefore give them the capability to be creative, to understand their environment, to really, truly contribute as a, for example, to hospitality services,” she added. 

During the event, SingularityNET also showcased Desdemona, a humanoid robot and the lead vocalist of Desdemona’s Dream. 

“She runs up a huge array of advanced artificial intelligence models. She’s working with vision, with speech processing. We work with toxicity filters. We work with emotion recognition, facial recognition. We have a variety of AI models, including Markov decision-making and generative adversarial networks,” she explained.  

“And a bunch of the most advanced AI that’s available on the planet. Together. All work together in this, in what looks like a seamless operation of multiple modules working together. She’s truly a highly advanced miracle of modern AI,” Adams added. 


Cruise Saudi strengthens global ties as Celestyal makes maiden calls to Jeddah

Updated 52 min 19 sec ago
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Cruise Saudi strengthens global ties as Celestyal makes maiden calls to Jeddah

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is accelerating its push to become a global cruise hub, with Cruise Saudi — a wholly owned Public Investment Fund subsidiary — expanding international partnerships to draw more travelers to the Kingdom’s Red Sea and Arabian Gulf ports.

The latest milestone came as award-winning Greek cruise line Celestyal completed its first-ever calls to Jeddah, signaling rising global interest in Saudi Arabia’s cultural and natural attractions.

The visits form part of Cruise Saudi’s strategy to build a year-round cruise ecosystem that supports tourism growth, boosts local supply chains, and contributes to the Kingdom’s broader economic diversification.

Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites — AlUla, Jeddah Historic District, and Al-Ahsa Oasis — are now accessible by sea, with curated shore excursions designed to deepen visitor engagement.

Cruise Saudi aims to welcome 1.3 million cruise passengers annually by 2035, creating 50,000 direct and indirect jobs and positioning the Kingdom as a premier international cruise destination.

The 1,360-passenger Celestyal Discovery arrived in Jeddah on Dec. 5, following the 1,260-passenger Celestyal Journey, which made its maiden call on Nov. 29. The Journey concluded a seven-night Athens–Jeddah itinerary with stops in Turkiye and Egypt, marked by a traditional plaque exchange ceremony attended by Cruise Saudi executives, port officials and Celestyal representatives.

Passengers were welcomed with traditional Saudi hospitality and toured Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district, bustling souks, and cultural sites. Some Muslim travelers also visited Makkah to perform Umrah.

“We are honored to celebrate our maiden call in Jeddah alongside our partners at Cruise Saudi, marking the beginning of a long and effective relationship,” said Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal.

He added that Jeddah’s role as “the cultural heart of Saudi Arabia” presents strong potential for cruise tourism.

Barbara Buczek, chief destination experiences officer at Cruise Saudi, told Arab News: “This maiden Red Sea sailing highlights the strong appeal of the region and aligns with Cruise Saudi's commitment to developing seamless, high-quality cruise experiences in Saudi Arabia.”

She noted that Celestyal’s expanded itineraries reflect rising demand for distinctive Red Sea and Arabian Gulf voyages.

Since its launch in 2021, Cruise Saudi has activated five cruise ports, introduced Aroya Cruises, the Kingdom’s first homegrown cruise line, and established Aman at Sea, an ultra-luxury JV with Aman Group set to launch in 2027. The company manages the full value chain — from terminals and berths to curated excursions — and has already welcomed more than 600,000 passengers of over 120 nationalities.

Celestyal, which carries more than 140,000 passengers annually across two refurbished vessels, is aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambition to transform coastal tourism. After departing Jeddah, both Celestyal ships continued to Abu Dhabi to begin the company’s second Arabian Gulf season.

Aroya Cruises has also launched a new seasonal program featuring stops in Mykonos, Athens, Crete, and coastal cities in Turkiye, expanding on a successful inaugural season that attracted over 95,000 guests.

The growing activity underscores Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a world-class cruise destination, supported by modern infrastructure, expanding routes, and experiences that highlight the Kingdom’s culture, heritage and hospitality.