“At FITUR, we are showcasing how we are applying robotisation and automation to tourism”
TECNALIA provides technology for more efficient tourism
Álvaro Carrillo de Albornoz, Director General of the Hotel Technology Institute (ITH by its Spanish acronym) and the Tourism Technology Platform, THINKTUR, presented an eBook on Robotics and Automation in Tourism at FITURTECHY 2026 a publication that brings together insights from the technology centres that are leading the digital transformation of the tourism sector.
- The aim of this new eBook is to provide a complete overview of the real impact that robotisation and automation are having on key areas such as internal logistics, operational management, hyper-automation, advanced data use, artificial intelligence and the digitalisation of the traveller experience.
- It includes the perspective of centres such as Eurecat, ITH, Vicomtech, Turistec and TECNALIA, and provides an overview of the technologies that are defining the future of tourism.
Automation in response to 24/7 demand
In a sector that is subject to seasonality, staff turnover, peaks of activity and cost pressures, automation is becoming a key tool to ensure availability, efficiency and quality of service.
Our contribution to the eBook focuses on Elika, a robotic solution for preparing ready-to-eat dishes designed in collaboration with Exkal and Gurpea.
- This technology has a built-in a handling robot, advanced automation systems and a mobile application capable of managing orders, prioritising tasks and customising menus.
- Elika can prepare up to 50 dishes per hour and works under an on-demand production model, which reduces waste, standardises quality and ensures continuous service 24 hours a day.
- This solution is designed for high traffic environments such as airports, stations and urban areas, where speed, hygiene and availability are critical factors for traveller satisfaction.
User experience as a differentiating factor
As well as developing robotised systems, TECNALIA has adopted an approach centred on human-machine interaction. We analyse physical, cognitive and emotional parameters such as posture, gaze, mental workload and stress levels in our Human Factors Lab to understand how people interact with automated systems.
This approach allows us to adapt the behaviour of technology to the user's actual situation and design more inclusive, safer environments. When applied to tourism, it helps to create more fluid, reliable and natural experiences, where robotic solutions support staff and improve the quality of service without losing the human dimension.
A publication that looks ahead to the future of the sector
The eBook produced by Thinktur brings together analyses on how robotisation is transforming critical tourism processes: from operational management and internal logistics to hyper-automation, the use of advanced data, artificial intelligence and the digitalisation of the traveller experience.
As well as TECNALIA's contribution, the publication also includes perspectives from centres such as Eurecat, ITH, Vicomtech and Turistec, providing an overview of the real impact of robotics and the role of emerging technologies in terms of building more competitive, sustainable tourism that can be adapted to new expectations.
Adoption of service robotics in hospitality
The Spanish Association of Robotics and Automation (AER) is also involved in the document, after analysing the adoption of service robotics in hospitality (guidance, information and assistance robots), pointing out that the main challenges are not technological, but rather cultural, training and organisational.
This eBook offers a rigorous, practical overview that demonstrates how robotics and automation have gone from being a promise to becoming an operational reality in tourism. This transformation will only be sustainable if it combines technology, people and strategy in a balanced way.