| Project/Area Number |
21K17984
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 80020:Tourism studies-related
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| Research Institution | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University |
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Principal Investigator |
SUN YIYANG 立命館アジア太平洋大学, サステイナビリティ観光学部, 准教授 (00869191)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Project Status |
Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥2,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥630,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000)
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| Keywords | Hotel robot application / Robotic technology / Hotels / Japan / Artificial Intelligence / COVID-19 / Robotics technology |
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| Outline of Research at the Start |
Affected by COVID-19, the introduction and adoption of AI-related robotics technology to hotels in Japan becomes necessary to meet the hygiene needs of consumers in the post COVID-19 age. Thus, this research project intends to examine the extent to which AI-related robotics technology should be applied to ryokans, resort hotels, budget hotels, and city hotels in Japan so as to mitigate the hygiene concerns of consumers while maintaining “Omotenashi”. Through matching the needs of consumers and hotel managers, upgrading hotels in Japan to JP hotel+ in the post-COVID-19 age can be achieved.
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FY 2023, I continued retrieving hotel robot-related literature from different databases such as Scientist Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, conducted a comprehensive review of hotel robot-related studies, and have already received the 2nd round revision from the SSCI-listed hospitality and tourism journal. In addition, an empirical study relating to the preference of hotel robot was submitted to the SSCI-listed hospitality and tourism journal; and the 1st round revision was submitted.
In October & November, 2023, January & February, 2024, I conducted in-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys with Henn na Hotel staff from Henn na Hotel in Kansai area (i.e., the newly opened Henna Hotel branch [Henn na Hotel Express Nagoya]) and Tokyo. Compared with hotel operations of Henn na hotels in previous years, Henn na hotels have been updated to Henn na hotel Express for fast check-in and enhanced customer experience since the recovery from COVID-19. In addition, I have started to analyze interview transcripts and prepare manuscript for SSCI-listed hospitality and tourism journals. Furthermore, from May to July, 2023, questionnaire surveys relating to hotel robot use from the perspective of consumers were conducted.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Overall, the research was carried out smoothly as planned. In AY 2023, as planned, questionnaire survey and interviews were conducted with Henna na hotel staff and consumers. However, affected by the pandemic in previous three years, the research process was a bit postponed.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
My research plan for AY 2024 is to prepare hotel-robot related manuscripts from the perspective of both suppliers and consumers to be published in SSCI-listed journals. Specifically, based on the theory of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), I will continue to extend and propose a Robot Service Acceptance Model (RSAM) model within hospitality context through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).
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