Ascott Limited, a mid-market serviced apartments provider with 40,000 residences across the US, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, is in discussions with two Dubai-based robotics firms as it looks to use robots to conduct basic services at its properties, such as bringing clean towels to its guests. "Ascott is exploring new technologies across the serviced residence sector as automation becomes an integral part of business," said Vincent Miccolis, Ascott's regional general manager for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey. If a deal is reached with one of the firms – unlikely to happen until next year, Mr Miccolis told The National – Ascott would start commissioning the production of small-scale robots to deploy across its portfolio. "The idea is not to replace our staff," he added, during the ATM travel conference in Dubai, "but to complement their work and make operations even more efficient." Ascott has been orchestrating tests in China in conjunction with a Chinese robotics firm, which have shown that the proposed type of robots it would use can move around independently within the properties, including in elevators.