China's Premier Robotics Festival Puts AI Coffee and Bartender Robots on Stage - What Hospitality Teams Can Use Now
The tourism and hospitality sectors are moving fast on automation for one reason: it solves real problems. Staffing gaps, rising costs, and higher guest expectations are pushing operators to rethink service models. AI and robotics are now practical tools for speed, consistency, and new revenue in high-traffic venues.
That momentum was on full display at the First National Cultural Tourism Industry Robot Tech Fun Festival in Shenzhen. Co-organized by OCT Cultural Tourism Technology, Shenzhen Window of the World, and Beijing Meimeng Xiaozhen Technology Co., Ltd., the event brought 30+ brands and 100+ robots into one place to demo what's deployable now for cultural attractions, resorts, events, and theme parks.
Why this matters for Hospitality and Events
Robots aren't a novelty anymore. They're becoming front-of-house fixtures wherever throughput, hygiene, and uptime dictate the guest experience. Think coffee, cocktails, ice cream, and bubble tea-high-margin categories that thrive on consistency and presentation.
Anno AI Robotics: Smart retail built for footfall and uptime
Anno AI Robotics (RobotAnno), founded in 2017 in Shenzhen, focuses on desktop robotic arms and AI retail applications. With 70+ patents and deployments across 100+ cities in China and 70+ countries and regions, the company has put serious scale behind unmanned F&B kiosks that run 24/7 with minimal intervention.
At Shenzhen Window of the World's Roman Holiday Plaza, Anno AI showed how automated kiosks can slot into cultural tourism sites and keep guests engaged without adding headcount.
AI Coffee Machine: Latte art in 90 seconds, consistent every time
The Anno AI Robot Latte Art Printing Coffee Kiosk claims to be the first enclosed single-arm robot latte art printing kiosk. It recreates barista techniques using a precision robotic arm, visual recognition, and a learning system that builds 3D models of patterns-so the art looks great and the taste stays steady.
The menu covers classic hot and cold coffees, flavored lattes, specialty drinks, fruit juices, light milk teas, and chocolate options. Ordering, payment, and pickup happen through a mini-program, and the kiosk comes in sleek black or white with ample storage. Think of it as "one machine = one premium coffee shop" that also draws social traffic.
Bartender Robot: 45-second cocktails with zero downtime
The Anno AI Robot Bartending Kiosk uses a robotic arm, lighting, and a compact 3 m² footprint. It supports up to 12 base spirits and produces 50+ cocktail profiles with customization on demand. Guests order and pay themselves.
It runs automatic cleaning, preservation, and sterilization around the clock. A drink lands in 45 seconds, so queues move and bars avoid bottlenecks during peak flows or late-night service.
Ice Cream and Bubble Tea Robots: Small footprint, big throughput
Robot Sundae Ice Cream Kiosk: a sub-2 m² unit that prepares sundaes on demand with 6 sauces, 2 toppings, and 20+ presets-plus customization. The process is visible and fast: 30 seconds per order, with 24/7 cleaning and preservation features.
Robot Bubble Tea Kiosk: a 3 m² mobile unit with a robotic arm, vibrant lighting, and self-service ordering. It offers multiple tea bases, 20+ preset recipes, and flexible customization. Drinks are ready in about 90 seconds and the system manages cleaning and sterilization automatically.
What operators can expect from these kiosks
- Higher guest satisfaction: Speed, personalization, and a "watch-the-robot-work" moment guests love to share.
- Lean operations: Automate repetitive prep and service while your team handles premium touchpoints.
- More revenue per square meter: Compact footprints, 24/7 sales windows, and steady throughput.
- Consistency and hygiene: Programmed recipes and automated cleaning reduce risk and rework.
- Appeal to younger visitors: Tech-first formats that fit social content and on-the-go habits.
Fast rollout checklist for venues and events
- Location: Place near natural queues-entrances, exits, show breaks, or event intermissions.
- Menu logic: Start with top sellers; add upsells (toppings, flavors, sizes) after week one.
- Payments: Enable mobile wallets and contactless by default; keep receipts digital.
- Branding: Wrap the kiosk with venue branding; add clear LED pricing and pickup instructions.
- Hygiene SOP: Set daily visual checks and weekly audits to complement automated cleaning.
- Staff workflow: Assign one attendant to oversee multiple kiosks during peak hours.
- Data: Track dwell time, conversion, and repeat orders; adjust recipes and pricing monthly.
- Promotion: Use on-screen QR offers and geofenced ads; encourage user-generated content with a simple hashtag.
Event applications
- Temporary installs: Deploy for festivals, exhibitions, and conferences where staffing is tight.
- VIP and sponsor zones: Serve signature drinks with branded recipes and on-screen sponsor placements.
- Late-night service: Keep beverage sales open after traditional concessions close.
Who should look at this now
- Theme parks, cultural attractions, and museums with heavy peak-time demand.
- Resorts and hotels adding unmanned F&B points to reduce queue pressure.
- Event organizers seeking consistent service across large crowds and short windows.
Explore Anno AI's solutions
See product details, specs, and deployment options here: annorobots.com
Upskill your team on AI for hospitality
If you're building an automation roadmap or training staff to run AI-enabled guest services, browse practical learning paths here: Complete AI Training - Courses by Job
Your membership also unlocks:
