Telepresence Robots

Buying advice

Price the remote operator's side too

The robot is only half of a telepresence set-up; the other half is the person driving it from elsewhere. List who will log in, from which devices and networks, and how many robots each person must cover in a shift. Then ask each maker about user accounts, single sign-on, session settings and any recurring software fees. Looking at the listings in October 2026, anything priced on this page cost between roughly $3,000 and $12,000, the OhmniLabs Robot and the Ava Telepresence marking the two ends, and no listing was quote-only. Ask Ava Robotics to itemise what its package includes, and ask the other two makers which of those items you would have to add separately.

Treat the camera as video surveillance

A telepresence robot carries a live camera and microphone through spaces where guests expect some privacy, so data protection rules for video apply. The European Data Protection Board's Guidelines 3/2019 and the ICO's video surveillance guidance in the UK both expect a clear purpose, visible notices and limits on what is stored. Keep recording off unless you have a defined reason, mark rooms the robot must never enter, and restrict remote access to named staff. Ask the maker where video streams are relayed, whether they pass through its own servers and how session logs are protected.

Set house rules for remote drivers

Remote drivers see less than someone standing in the lobby, and a robot steered from another city can startle a guest or clip a luggage trolley. ANSI/CAN/UL 3300:2025 sets safety requirements for service and communication robots used near consumers, covering hazards from movement and manipulation, so ask each maker whether its robot has been evaluated against it. Agree rules with the remote team: slow speed in busy areas, no driving through queues, and a local member of staff who can stop or park the robot. Test the docking routine at the end of a late shift, when lighting and network load change.

What to look for

• Screen height and camera quality for natural face-to-face conversation
• Wi-Fi coverage across your venue, and how the robot handles doors and lifts
• Remote driving, self-docking and how guest privacy is protected

Common questions

Who drives a telepresence robot?

A remote colleague, through a browser or app. Many models add assisted driving and self-docking, so the operator can focus on the conversation.

Where do telepresence robots fit in hospitality?

They suit remote concierge desks, guided tours and specialist advice, letting one person support several locations without travelling between them.

Sources and further reading

• Guidelines 3/2019 on processing of personal data through video devices — European Data Protection Board.
  EU guidance on purpose, signage, storage limits and people's rights when a device films them.
• Guidance on video surveillance (including CCTV) — Information Commissioner's Office.
  UK data protection guidance for cameras in workplaces and commercial premises, relevant to robots that capture video.
• ANSI/CAN/UL 3300:2025 Service, Communication, Information, Education and Entertainment Robots (SCIEE Robots) — UL Standards & Engagement, listed by the Standards Council of Canada.
  Safety requirements for robots used around consumers, covering hazards from movement and manipulation indoors and out.