ENHANCING YOUR HOTEL EXPERIENCE

The hospitality sector is increasingly utilising new technologies to increase revenue and to keep visitors interested, writes Linda Pearson.

In a recent deal worth in excess of €1million, Dublin-based systems integrator, Digital Communication Management Group Ltd (DCM) is to provide a complete technology solution for the Marriott Hotel Group. The deal provides the Marriott Ashbourne Hotel, Co Meath with the technology to manage their hotel to the highest level while providing guests with an extensive suite of inroom services to include Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), the Complete Telephone System, Digital Signage, Wireless Internet Access, State of the Art Plasma Screens and Full Network and I.T. Solutions.

This deal demonstrates that nowadays the hospitality sector is increasingly implementing new technologies such as IPTV and wireless internet access into their hotels in an effort to provide guests with leading edge services. The primary benefit for hotels is to increase revenue and reduce costs.

Attracting Foreign Visitors

In hotels all around the world, the use of the latest computerised systems has become a key differentiator in attracting foreign visitors and optimising hotel profits and efficiency. Even midmarket hotels have to run efficiently if they are to attract market share and establish their niche. In this day and age, they can only do this if they have the technology that the modern traveller expects and takes for granted.

Commenting on the deal, Thomas F. Hewitt, CEO of Interstate, the company employed to manage the Marriot Ashbourne said, “we awarded this contract based on DCMs proven experience in providing technology solutions to the hospitality sector throughout Ireland. We believe that this deal provides us with a significant advantage over our competitors within the hotel and hospitality industry in Ireland.”

In return Paddy Cotter, Sales Director of DCM said, “The Marriott Ashbourne was looking for a turn-key solution from their technology provider. We have provided them with the technology that enables them to fully manage their business and provide their guests with state of the art services, in a hasslefree manner.”

Communication Services

The DCM Group provides communications solutions to Irish SME and enterprise organisations. The company offers a range of IT services including technical consultancy, installation, equipment repair and maintenance, network design and mixed platform integration to name some of their services. Cotter says one of the many reasons DCM were awarded the deal with Marriott Hotel Group is because they are “effectively years ahead of competitors”. When asked what this deal in excess of €1million means for hotel customers Cotter said, “in relation to hotel guests they now have a full IPTV interactive television system offering the latest Hollywood blockbusters and music, from their HD ready LCD screens. They can even plug their Ipod into the system.”

“They will also have broadband access in their rooms either through their laptops or with a wireless keyboard from the television itself. For the Marriott Hotel we gave them a fully customised portal which offers their guests such features as view bill, welcome screen and express checkout. In a nutshell we have future proofed the hotel’s IT and communications requirements for the next ten years. We are also providing digital signage for the public areas and conference rooms on 42” plasma screens. These can be customized to whatever the hotel requires,” continued the Sales Director.

Increasing Revenue

The idea that implementing the newest technologies benefits hotels by helping them increase revenue and reduce costs is reinforced by Cotter. “Using DCM’s IPTV solution the Ashbourne Marriott can now gain revenue from the bedrooms as well as advertising and promoting the services and amenities of the hotel,” he says.

Adapting To Customers' Needs

From a guest’s perspective, wireless internet access has become increasingly important, alongside the latest digital pay to view and video on demand. The availability of a reliable, high-speed internet service for example is becoming an essential prerequisite for the modern-day traveller and it is an added bonus if hotels use technology in their pursuit of providing improved customer service.

According to Cotter it is important businesses adapt to lifestyle changes and peoples’ needs. “Offering leading edge services gives consumers the chance to work more efficiently and easily in today’s environment whether that is in their office or from their own home. Companies have now to adapt to peoples lifestyles and provide the tools for this. I believe you have to understand what your customer wants and try and provide them with the best solution working to your own strengths. If you do that then keeping up with new technologies is easy enough,” explains the Sales Director.

The development of next-generation, customercentric technologies to better meet the needs of the global hotel community is becoming a more apparent trend. Cotter says, “IPTV is now a buzz word in hotels as it can offer high quality picture over an Ethernet network with FTA channels that can save the hotel a fortune.”

To The Future

In high end hotels, new computer systems that connect individual rooms to network servers can now keep track of guests’ preferences and change the room conditions automatically. These ‘smart’ systems can learn whether a frequent guest likes the lights dimmed, the curtains closed or the room toasty warm. They can also personalise the electronics in the room so that the certain type of music preferred by the guest greets them when they enter their rooms. And sensors in refrigerators alert maids when the minibar is running low on soda. Is this the future for hotels everywhere? Undoubtedly, the technology is a smarter and sophisticated way to improve customer service and attract and retain guests so maybe hotels will have to keep up with technology if they are to fight for first place in the marketplace. The technology backbone is no longer an afterthought and technology is now up there with the spas, rooms and food.

Digital Communication Management Group Ltd is one of Ireland’s largest supplier of specialist it products and support service providers DCM, Digital Communication Management Group Ltd is a recognised expert in the provision of communications solutions to Irish SME and enterprise organisations. Founded in 1978 Digital Communications Management Ltd is a privately-held specialist VAR (value added reseller), combining sales and support of system solutions with unprecedented levels of technical support and consultancy. Tom Devaney, Manager of Ashbourne Marriott with Paddy Cotter, Sales Director, DCM Group LEADING IRISH PROVIDER DCM is one of Ireland’s largest supplier of specialist IT products and support service providers. DCM is recognised as the leading Irish provider of telephone systems and Internetworking products covering both LAN and WAN and providing services up to ISP and Carrier Class. DCM offers a broad range of IT services including technical consultancy, installation, equipment repair and maintenance, network design and mixed platform integration, workflow design and implementation, professional training, high speed/capacity storage and server solutions, digital asset management, conferencing solutions and professional video/audio editing suites. OFFERING THE BEST PACKAGES DCM is the only privately owned ‘Elite’ Partners for Juniper Networks in Ireland and Top Tier Channel Partners with Siemens Ireland, delivering the best product for customers and a complete solution package. Contact: www.DCMGroup.com