The sky is no longer the limit

From igloos in the Arctic Circle to transparent bubble-like domes opening around the world, travellers seeking something a little different now have a huge set of choices. Where next? Guest room capsules on a cliff face in Peru which can only be reached by climbing, or a glass-walled villa in the Maldives which is 16 feet beneath the ocean?

It all makes hotels based in jungle treetops, or the South Korean replica of a cruise ship perched on top of a cliff (so no chance of sea sickness there) sound a little mundane. Of course, our thoughts always turn to how housekeeping is done in such properties. And while we might prefer the luxury offerings of our best UK hotels, some well-heeled investors seeking the ultimate escape are already paying deposits of between $250,000 to $1 million for guest rooms at a hotel on the Moon.

Yes, we know that it doesn’t even exist – yet – but GRI Space, a Silicon Valley start-up is taking reservations for a hotel they hope to open there around 2032 and says potential guests are lining up. The plan is to install inflatable lunar ‘lodges’ suitable for up to four guests, who’ll also get to go on Moon walks and tours, perhaps even a round of golf. The eventual aim is to replace the inflatables with a more permanent building built from the Moon’s own rocky surface.

Those hefty deposits are just the start, as the cost of a stay will run into millions once transport is included. We might offer chauffeured drives to the airport, but this one will need a rocket. A lunar mission is planned for 2029 to begin construction experiments.

It’s not that long ago that we were entertained by NASA scientists working on solutions to deal with all the dust that clogs equipment on the Moon – Housekeeping Today recommended (tongue in cheek) that they recruit some of our expert readers. However, news has reached us of a far more likely set of lunar super cleaners.

At Hilton’s Homewood Suites in Del Mar, California, ‘Timmy’, (full name Things in Motion – Everywhere (TIM-E)) is now supporting back-of-house operations, including automated transport and linen movement. The AI-enhanced model produced by Techforce Robotics is helping to reduce manual labour demands, improve operational consistency, and housekeeping teams to operate more efficiently.

“Our robotics solutions are developed to seamlessly integrate into the daily operations of hospitality venues like the Homewood Suites Hotel, augmenting staff rather than replacing them,” says Ried Floco, TechForce Robotics president. “With TIM-E operating 24 hours per day and seven days per week, hospitality staff can focus more time on guest service and experience.”

The robot can get on with its work across numerous floor as it has lift and door integration alongside the ability to avoid obstacles. None of us is likely to ever work on the Moon, but it seems certain that more ‘colleagues’ like Timmy will be joining our housekeeping teams.