Planned rollout across the 772-room precinct combines service robotics with research into future humanoid housekeeping and banquet applications
SINGAPORE, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- YYForce Inc. (NASDAQ: YFOR), Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens today announced a partnership to introduce service robots across the hotels' 772-room precinct and advance AI and humanoid robotics development. The collaboration will combine a confirmed operational rollout with research informed by hotel workflows, aiming to improve guest service and develop future hospitality capabilities.
The collaboration creates a real-world operating environment spanning 772 guestrooms, restaurants and event spaces. The hotels will contribute hospitality operating expertise and an environment in which the technology can be evaluated, while YYForce will provide robotics capabilities and technical support as it develops an integrated human, AI and robotics workforce model. The operating objective is to improve service consistency while reducing repetitive delivery, transport and cleaning work so hotel Heartists can devote more time to guest-facing service.
An initial pre-deployment comparison projects approximately 10% lower monthly operating costs across selected housekeeping, concierge and food and beverage operations, including the robot costs reflected in the model. Actual costs, productivity and guest-service outcomes will be evaluated after rollout.
"In a hotel, every journey to deliver an item and every repetitive task takes time. We want to use robotics thoughtfully, so our teams can focus their attention where it matters most to the guest," said Piotr Kupiec, General Manager of Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens.
"Across two hotels, the opportunity is to rethink how work moves through the operation. Our measure of success will be whether we deliver more consistent service and make everyday work more manageable for our Heartists."
The confirmed first phase will introduce specialized service robots for guest deliveries, food and beverage logistics, scheduled cleaning and concierge support. Deployment preparations include lift integration, route mapping, network requirements and guest arrival notifications. The rollout is intended to establish an operating environment in which YYForce can evaluate robotics across hotel logistics, facilities and guest-facing services.
A separate second phase is intended to focus on YYForce's humanoid system and future iterations. Selected housekeeping and banquet workflows will inform development of robotic hardware, software and AI systems through permitted observations and agreed operational data-use arrangements.
"Working in an operating hotel environment gives us the opportunity to move robotics development from controlled demonstrations toward real-world workflows," said Mike Fu, Chief Executive Officer of YYForce. "This collaboration connects technologies that can be deployed today with the operational learning required to develop the next generation of workforce solutions."
"Our objective is to build the technology, operational knowledge and permitted training data needed for a future in which people, AI, specialized service robots and humanoid robots work together across hospitality, facility management and other service-intensive industries. This is a practical step toward YYForce's 2030 Vision and our commitment to Forging Forward Together."
Together, the partners aim to build practical knowledge of how people, AI and robotics can improve hospitality operations. The collaboration connects the hotels' focus on guest service and more manageable work for Heartists with YYForce's 2030 Vision for an integrated workforce ecosystem. The accompanying factsheets set out the deployment scope, AI research programme and longer-term strategy.
About YYForce Inc
YYForce Inc. (NASDAQ: YFOR) is a technology-enabled provider of workforce solutions and integrated facility management services. The Company is developing a workforce ecosystem combining human talent, on-demand staffing, artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics, humanoid robotics and smart facility management technologies. Through its operating businesses and technology platforms, YYForce seeks to improve workforce productivity, operational efficiency and service delivery across hospitality, commercial facilities and other service-intensive industries.
Visit www.yyforce.ai
About Novotel
Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offers destination hotels designed as comforting and energizing places where guests can 'press pause' and take time to enjoy the moments that really matter. The brand's wide array of hotels, suites and resorts offer a multitude of services for business and leisure guests alike, including spacious, modular rooms with natural and intuitive design; 24/7 catering with nutritious choices; dedicated meeting spaces; attentive and proactive staff; family zones for the youngest guests; multi- purpose lobbies; and accessible fitness centers. Novotel, which has over 540 locations in more than 65 countries is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,500 properties throughout more than 110 countries. Novotel is also a participating brand in ALL - Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.
novotel.com | all.com | group.accor.com
About Mercure
Inspired by Mercury, the Roman god of travelers, Mercure hotels offer so much more than a place to find comfort and sleep – they are a portal to discovery, a springboard to exploration. Since its founding in 1973, Mercure prides itself on offering high-quality standards with a true take on locality. Through its "Discover Local" program, Mercure welcomes guests – be it in Rio, Paris, Bangkok or any other destination globally – and instantly immerses them in a locally inspired atmosphere. Everything from the decorative design to our passion for local food and beverage discoveries is rooted in the unique features of each destination. Mercure hotels are conveniently located in city centers, by the sea or in the mountains, with more than 960 hotels in 65+ countries. Mercure is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,500 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL - Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.
Mercure Singapore on Stevens offers 518 locally inspired guestrooms near Orchard Road and the Singapore Botanic Gardens, providing a base to "Discover Local" through Singapore's neighbourhoods, food and culture. www.mercure-singapore-stevens.com.
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Annex A Deployment and operating context
The service robotics rollout is confirmed for Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens. Deployment has not yet begun. The applications below describe the planned scope; individual robot assignments and operating arrangements will be finalised before launch.
Deployment preparation
Preparations will address robot route mapping, lift configuration, network requirements and guest notifications. Tasks and operating areas will be matched to the robots' capabilities and the hotels' service requirements. Technical readiness will determine the implementation sequence.
Technology and support
YYForce will provide hardware, software updates, maintenance and technical personnel under the MOU. The scope of support and commercial arrangements will follow the parties' final agreements.
Why operational capacity matters
Singapore's hotel sector recorded average occupancy of 81.9% in 2025, up from 81.4% in 2024, while international visitor arrivals reached 16.9 million, according to the Singapore Tourism Board. These sector-wide figures provide context for the partnership's focus on service capacity and productivity.
Source: Singapore Tourism Board, 3 February 2026, "Record Singapore tourism receipts from January to September 2025".
Operating objectives
The initial comparison projects approximately 10% lower monthly costs for selected operations with robotics support, including the robot costs listed in the model. This estimate applies to the operations covered by the comparison. A separate planning assumption estimates a potential 5% reduction in rooms-department overtime costs. The estimates use different bases and do not represent a combined saving. Both are subject to the model's cost scope, operating coverage and service assumptions; actual results will be assessed after deployment. Proposed performance measures include delivery turnaround, tasks completed per labour hour, reliability, colleague workload and guest feedback.
Annex B AI and humanoid robotics development
Research into future hotel applications
The collaboration envisages a second phase focused on training and developing YYForce's humanoid robotic system and future iterations. The intended research uses hospitality workflows to help the company understand the physical tasks and service requirements that future humanoid systems would need to handle.
How hospitality workflows inform AI development
The programme is intended to connect observation of selected hospitality tasks with the development of robotic hardware, software and AI systems. YYForce's humanoid units are expected to train alongside hotel personnel in agreed settings, helping researchers understand how people move, handle tasks and adapt to different service environments.
Housekeeping research.