Japanese travel agency sells hotel chat system to reduce coronavirus exposure

Travel agency JTB Corp. has started selling its communication system, dubbed Kotozna In-room, that allows guests to chat with the staff of lodging facilities using their smartphones to reduce coronavirus exposure.

The system, which was jointly developed with Tokyo-based multilingual chat service provider Kotozna Inc., can translate 109 languages, allowing communication with foreign guests in their mother tongues.

Most lodging facilities provide tablets at guest rooms for communication, but the new system can alleviate the fear of infections by allowing guests to use their smartphones.

Once guests scan a QR code via their smartphones, they can chat with lodging staff from anywhere in the facilities without downloading an application.

The system can also help streamline operations at lodging facilities with standard questions being answered by chatbots, enabling staff to do other work.

JTB charges a minimum of $2,400 per lodging facility, with an additional monthly fee per room.