Of all the jobs that AI might replace (mine included), I hadn’t thought massage therapist was high on the list until recently.
In January, I tried my first robot massage at the W Scottsdale, and I was hooked.
With this service, operated by an Aescape robot, the machine’s arms massage the entire back body, lengthening scapular muscles and gently working out knots. All the while, you get to follow along with what’s coming next on a tablet below the face cradle, much like a playlist.
Here's how it works, and why it's well worth a try, especially if you find yourself at any of these hotels that offer the novel service.
In this article
What is a Robot Massage?
Robot massages are operated by an Aescape robot. They're solely performed while face down, so you'll only be able to work out kinks in the upper back, lower back, hips, glutes, hamstrings, and calves.
Unlike a traditional massage that's often done while nude or near nude, Aescape massage recipients don a skintight polyester spandex top and leggings, which are provided for the duration of the treatment.
These spa services typically cost $120-$180 for a full hour, with shorter and cheaper massages available, too. That's also the full cost; you're not expected to tip like you would with a human-led massage.
They also solve a few other problems that are unique to a spa. There's no longer any concern over hurting anyone's feelings when asking for adjustments (like tweaking the pressure) or dealing with unwanted chit chat from talkative therapists. You won't experience cold or calloused hands, either. The robot has smooth curved nubs for arms that are lightly heated and glide easily along the body. It was better than most human-performed massages I’ve received.
W Scottsdale
Located in Scottsdale’s Entertainment District, the 242-room W Scottsdale is known for its lively atmosphere (the hotel’s restaurant Sexy Roman is great people watching and the signature tableside tiramisú is divine). Though, it’s worth bypassing it at any point in favor of the Away Spa for nail, hair and makeup services in addition to massages and facials.
Since introducing Aescape last summer, Away Spa has booked more than 1,000 robot massages, with most guests choosing the full body 60-minute massage for $120.
When I tried it, I was immediately impressed with the precisely targeted muscle work, especially when stretching out my tight traps from too much computer time. I loved how consistent the pressure felt, and how I could instantly adjust the pressure with a slider bar on the tablet screen.
Conrad Washington, DC
All 360 guest rooms and suites at this sleek glass hotel have floor-to-ceiling window views, and Conrad Washington, DC also has the best club lounge in the city for eligible Hilton Honors loyalists with a pantry and industrial size refrigerator full of snacks and refreshments.
The only thing missing is a full spa, and while that would normally be a disappointment, it doesn’t feel like a huge loss since they do have an Aescape massage room near the fitness center.
I booked a 30-minute massage for $70 with the concierge team. My elastic top and shorts, the required Aescape uniform, were perfectly folded waiting for me in the room. I appreciated that I was able to customize my massage by opting for extra work on my glutes following a long cross-country flight.
The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa, Oceanside, CA
This breezy beachfront resort has 226 rooms and suites, along with a spacious pool deck and the cheerfully decorated Sunny's Spa and Beauty Lounge that offers several different high tech “bio-hacking” treatments. Choose from a Shiftwave full-body vibration chair to reset your nervous system and improve sleep, Therabody compression boots, and Aescape robot massages.
Aescape massages at The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa are much less expensive than human massages, $145 for 60 minutes compared to $295 for a 50-minute custom massage with a human therapist. When Aescape debuted in summer 2025, it was only supposed to be a limited-time offering, but it was so popular with hotel guests and locals that they extended the service as a permanent spa offering.
Waldorf Astoria Park City
Waldorf Astoria Park City is a ski-in, ski-out mountain resort with 60 guestrooms and suites. All rooms have gas fireplaces, while junior suites have kitchenettes, and the outdoor pool is heated year-round. That’s luxe enough, though the hotel’s spa is also a draw, offering IV therapy infusions to help with altitude adjustment, immunity, and recovery, and Aescape robotic massages, which have been a big hit with skiers and athletes for targeted relief post-workout.
Pricing ranges from $45 for a 15-minute session to $180 for a full hour, and the flexibility of shorter sessions allows more guests to squeeze one in between ski runs.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
A massage is definitely in order after a long day traipsing through Disney theme parks and wellness is a priority at this family-friendly 443-room resort.
The spacious spa facilities at Four Seasons Resort Orlando include 18 treatment rooms with the Aescape machine located in a retrofitted couples’ spa treatment room with its own dressing room where patrons can easily slip into the proprietary Aescape wardrobe. And at $160 for a 60-minute session, they’re significantly less expensive than a traditional human-touch massage, which starts at $215 for 60 minutes.
Included with your treatment is access to the spa facilities; relax in zero-gravity wave loungers in the solarium and indulge in a restorative thermal hydrotherapy circuit to cement the effects of your massage.
The Shortcut
Sessions run from 15 to 60 minutes, and you wear a provided spandex outfit.
A robot massage costs less than a human one, and there's no tipping.
For now it's face-down only, so it works your back, glutes, and legs but not your front.
No need to worry about making small talk or hurting anyone's feelings when you ask for firmer pressure.
Amber Gibson Pierce was hosted by W Scottsdale and Conrad DC, and some of her expenses were covered. All opinions and recommendations in this article are their own.
