La Quinta Hotels Investigating Dystopian Incident At Miami Hotel

A hotel check-in in Miami is making headlines after a viral video showed a guest being welcomed — not by a person behind the counter — but by a kiosk and a headset-wearing receptionist on a screen.

The video, recorded at a La Quinta Inn & Suites, shows a tired traveler going through the check-in process while a remote hotel employee appears on-screen, guiding him through the steps from miles away. The clip, posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), has now been viewed over 2 million times and sparked a heated discussion about the future of hospitality.

For many travelers, the moment struck a nerve.

Imagine stepping off a flight, wandering through a new airport, and finally making it to your hotel with nothing but sleep on your mind. You expect a friendly face at the desk — maybe even a quick local tip about food nearby — but instead, you find a kiosk with no one in sight and a sign that simply reads: Check in & check out here.

The confusion is clear in the video. The guest fumbles through the automated system, and after a brief pause, a young man with a foreign accent appears on a small screen. He politely walks the guest through the check-in, while a robotic voice lists off hotel policies. No lobby staff. No in-person welcome.

And the internet had thoughts.

“Gotta keep it local, fam,” one user commented.

“This is beyond ridiculous,” another wrote, frustrated by the apparent lack of real human interaction.

One person went further, raising safety concerns: “The reason for a desk is like having a doorman in an apartment building — security. I wouldn’t feel safe in a hotel with a staff this lean.”

Some viewers were so surprised by the experience that they questioned whether it was even real. One comment speculated the whole thing might be AI-generated. But a spokeswoman for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts — which owns the La Quinta brand — stepped in to clarify.