First self check-in only hotel launched by Premier Inn

We witnessed the arrival of waiter-less restaurants in the UK last summer when the German restaurant chain Vapiano opened a branch in London.

Now hotels are following suit with the news that Premier Inn is launching its first fully self check-in hotel.

At the new St Mary`s Gate branch in Sheffield guests will check themselves in at automated pods which the chain, owned by Whitbread, says will cut their check-in time from up to 10 minutes to just one.

Although the reception area will remain manned by staff, they will not deal with check-ins leaving them `free to focus on the needs of their guests`.

Premier Inn product and service manager, Sarah Simpson, said: "Premier Inn checks in over 23,000 guests every day across the UK. Feedback has shown that business travellers like the time saving benefits that the kiosks provide, whilst leisure guests benefit not only from this but also from the increased accessibility, interaction and level of good service they have with team members at the guest workstation."

Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association said the new system would `undoubtedly increase the level of service` given by the budget chain.

The automated check-in pods were installed at the hotel in Sheffield following a trial at the company`s Kings Cross hotel.

Whitbread builds flagship green hotel