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Hotels

Hotel Iptv True Unified Communications For Hotels

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HOSPITALITY IPTV True Unified Communications for Hotels
IPTV is the new buzz word in the hospitality sector and with good reason as it opens up a whole new world of interactivity and endless possibilities, which ultimately increases guest satisfaction and if designed correctly, will increase hotel revenue. However according to Wowtels managing director, Pietro Casoar, (www.wowtel-dreamwise.com), the Dreamwise IP unified communications system can provide much more than just TV to hotels. In this article we shall explore some critical elements that can dramatically benefit hotel operators by implementing the Wowtel Dreamwise system.

Lets take a look at some of the key points regarding the current conventional technology used in vast majority of hotels today. Conventional TV systems (Hotel MATV) consist of 2 main features:
A limited number of Live TV channels due to the coaxial cable networks installed
NVOD or Near Video On Demand

the technology falls short of providing any additional information and interactive services that may provide any real benefit to the guest and hotel at the same time. NVOD in itself is quite limited and is more than an inconvenience to guests as it requires them to wait for the movie to start, rather than immediately viewing the movie once the movie purchase has been made, says Mr. Casoar.

Standard MATV Technology

The overwhelming majority of hotels currently use standard MATV systems to provide TV to their guests via RF (radio frequency) equipment and cable called coaxial cable which was invented by Oliver Heaviside way back in 1929. Although the cable is widely used in most hotels and is a legacy technology, it is utilized to provide TV channels, NVOD movies and some promotional media. However according to Mr. Casoar, MATV systems fall short of giving any real interactivity or depth to the hotels communications network. What most people dont realise with current hotel MATV systems is that even though the channels come from a digital source, in 99% of cases the channels are actually converted and broadcast in analogue, thus greatly reducing picture quality, adding probability of interference which most of the time results in snow, thus, amongst so many other factors, basically resulting in a sub-standard service compared to todays high standards. Whereas our Wowtel Dreamwise system works on full digital IP technology, bad picture quality doesnt exist in our systems, says Mr. Casoar.

Conventional TV system shortcomings:
Channels are broadcast in Analogue and in standard definition
No High Definition Channels are possible using analogue
Poor picture quality TV channels
Susceptibility to Interference
Lack of personalization for guests
Limitation of the number of TV channels offered
Incapacity to provide interactive features to guests
No capacity to provide interactive e-commerce or marketing

Why use IPTV over the current analogue Hotel MATV Systems?
IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a system which Television Channels and Movie content is converted into data and transported through an IP network (a LAN) using either the hotels existing standard copper telephone cables thus eliminating the need for re-cabling or with Fibre Optic or Category 6 cables in new hotels. The digital data is then transported through the IP infrastructure, directly to each room via an IP Set Top Box or IP Television Set and guests can simply access the TV channels and other content using a standard TV remote control. For more advanced usage such as writing documents, emails etc… a wireless keyboard can be used.

What this means is that not only can the hotel now provide 1080p high definition Television and real Video On Demand (VOD), but other technologies such as IP Telephony, Internet and fully interactive promotional services can now be provided to each guest using the same single I.P. network infrastructure thus resulting in reduced cabling and labour costs whilst significantly adding value to the hotels communications system.

What are the highlights that make Wowtel-Dreamwise IP System the best choice?
No limitations on the number of TV channels that can be provided to guests
Provide a comprehensive local and international TV and radio channel line up
True Video On Demand (VOD) with full Play/Pause/Rewind/Fast Forward capabilities
On Demand free movie trailers to encourage movie purchase
Additional local and international Radio Channels (Via satellite and Internet)
Music On Demand (Inc. Music Video) with literally thousands of music titles
Fully customized guest interface and Middleware
Private messaging from front desk to guest
E-commerce and in-house shopping from TV screen
Targeted Direct marketing and Promotions
Full Interactive capability
Personalization services
Online bookings via the TV screen/remote control
Real time weather reports, flight information and other information services
Guests can view their bill before checkout
Full PMS integration for single billing solutions on guest checkout

What are some other services that can be added to the Wowtel-Dreamwise system?
Real time automated IP Security and Monitoring
Hacker detection, Anti-Hacker response and guest protection
24/7 Quality control
IP Telephony and VoIP Communications (including Skype Connectivity)
IP CCTV Security Video Cameras (Including PTZ)
IP Public Address (for security and mood creation requirements)
IP Access Control
IP Intercom
Secure and Encrypted Remote Access
Business applications and Video Games

What are the main benefits for Hotels?
Additional and Increased Revenue Generation
Improved Customer Satisfaction
Immediate Customer Service Response
Interactive Advertising and Promotional Vehicles
Better Market and Hotel Performance Intelligence
Greatly Reduce Printing, Stationary and Operational costs

About the Author:
Andrew Spence is a hotel specialist communications consultant and freelance journalist, with over 35 years experience providing sound advice to the global hospitality / lodging industry.

About Wowtel
Pietro Casoar is the Managing Director of Wowtel and an engineer, who has over 16 years of global experience in the RF and IT industries. He is also the author of several technical papers and presentations relating to RF and IP communications systems. Mr. Casoar is also one of the founders of Wowtel Pty Limited and the Wowtel-Dreamwise system, together with Mr. Vincent Fitzpatrick.

Pietros linkedin profile: http://au.linkedin.com/pub/pietro-casoar/7/165/a61
Wowtel are a manufacturer and provider of full turn-key unified IP communications to hotels, resorts, mining villages, hospitals, retirement villages, serviced apartments, ocean liners, housing estates, government and most major projects. Wowtel operate in the Asian, European and Oceania markets.

Hotels

Hotels Guide – Part 2 of 4

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Classification and hotels reservation

Regarding Italy, law differentiates the hotel services in:

– hotels: receptive services open to the public, with unitary administration providing lodging, possibly food and other accessory services, thanks to the reservation of rooms in hotels; – motel: hotels particularly equipped for the stop and services of vehicles or crafts assuring them repair services and fuel supply; – villages hotel: hotels that, in a single area, give centralized services to users of residence units located in more establishments.

This distinction, besides substituting the traditional structure among hotels, pensions, and inns, cancels the distribution in the traditional categories (from first to fourth), and hold the same rules regarding reservation of rooms in hotels. The law stipulates that hotels be marked, in descending order, from 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 star.

The enclosed denomination “luxury” is also stipulated, for five-stars hotels classified according to typical standards of international class.

Local authorities must fix the criteria for the classification of the receptive structures keeping in mind the dimensions, the structural requirements, the services offered and the qualification of specialists, the criteria and modalities in the reservation of rooms.

The law limited itself to set down the minimum requirements that should have the receptive services to be classified as hotels. They are:

– receptive capacity not lower than seven rooms; – presence of at least a hygienic service for every ten beds; – a bathroom with hot and cold current water for each room; – a room for common use; – technological facilities and an appropriate amount of qualified specialists for the running of the installation.

To determine the categories of hotels, that is, to assign the adequate number of stars, it’s used a punctuation expressing the quality of the best offerings of the facilities, the services the hotels are able to guarantee, the location, etc.

Also in this case, as explained before for travel agencies, local laws are quite uniform and use very similar features, as well as for the reservation of rooms. They dispose, for one-star hotels to have characteristic for which at least thirty points must have been assigned, for two-stars at least eighty points, until the 340 points of five-stars luxury hotels. The private bathroom in all the rooms vouches 30 points, if 90% of the rooms is endowed with bathroom 25 points must be assigned, if the rooms with bathroom are the 70% the points must be 20, etc. The night porter vouches 10 points, as well as the 24-hours room services; direct line telephone in each room gives 8 points, the same thing for the telex; color television in each room accounts 5 points, black and white television 4; for the covered pool 10 points, the uncovered one 5; and so forth.

The classification of hotels is made on the request of the hotel itself, which should indicate, in its application, the punctuation reached, result of the sum of parameters they offer.

Hotels

New Cuba Hotels To Open 25,000 New Rooms In 2020

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Recent government sources from the island have unveiled the countrys intention to build a further 24,000 hotel rooms in order to keep up with growing demand from increasing tourism to the island. With the popularity of Cuba holidays increasing rapidly every year the island has experienced a boom in tourism arrivals, with tourism figures growing every year.

In 2011 the island welcomed around 700,000 more visitors indicating a substantial growth of 7.3 per cent more travellers enjoying holidays in Cuba last year. This figure is expected to keep growing in 2012 and see further growth in the coming years. In addition to the regular tourism markets in Europe and Canada responsible for sending the largest number of tourists to the island, other source markets are emerging, with Russian and South American travellers now leading the way for growth. To cope with the expected ongoing growth the islands tourist infrastructure needs to expand considerably and it is for this reason that tourism officials have decided to start construction plans on new Cuba hotels in order to cater for the increased flow of tourists arriving to the island.

Cubas Vice Minister of Tourism, Alexis Trujillo, has confirmed that the building of these new hotel rooms is being funded by foreign and Cuban investment. He also confirmed that the island plans to increase the diversity of Cubas tourism product with the 13 new golf courses planned, all of which are in different stages of negotiation talks at the moment, as are the construction of new theme parks to spring up around the whole island.

Regarding foreign investment, Mr Trujillo explained that of the currently existing 58,000 hotel rooms in Cuba, 6000 belong to 30 companies of mixed ownership (divided ownership between Cuban capital and foreign capital) and they await further Cuba hotels to be constructed by these kind of consortia companies.

During a press conference called in the occasion of Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba, Trujillo highlighted the increase of foreign tourist arrivals to the island over the last few years, whose figures have experienced an average growth of 10.5 per cent since 1990.

Hotels

Ladera Hotel In St Lucia Named Top Caribbean Resort By Travel + Leisure Magazine

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One of St Lucias most coveted boutique properties has just earned a top ranking position on Travel + Leisure magazines annual Worlds Best Awards 2012 Readers, a prestigious recognition the resort earned thanks to the outstanding quality of the holiday experiences they offer to guests. Having appeared in the magazine’s prestigious list of Top 10 Caribbean Resorts for the second year running, this time around the Ladera Resort managed to steal the number one spot.

To the surprise of no one and giving credit to the thousands of travellers who choose this spectacular luxury hotel as their number one destination for pampering St Lucia holidays, once again, the Ladera has been named one of Travel + Leisures favourite Caribbean resorts, thus marking 2012 as the seventh year in a row that the exclusive property has been singled out for praise by the discriminating and well-travelled readers of said travel magazine, one of the most popular in the industry.

The beautiful Ladera Resort, small, cosy and chic, yet legendary because of its dramatic location atop a panoramic hill. It has long been praised for its pioneering openair architecture, luxury services, superior quality of hospitality and ecofriendly practices at 1,100 feet above the Caribbean Sea.

The property is currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary Year in 2012 and to mark the special ocassion the resort’s pampering guests with unique specials. During Laderas 20th Anniversary Year, the resort is unveiling four additional connecting luxury onebedroom Hilltop Dream suites on Paradise Ridge, opening in October 2012.

“Each new Hilltop Dream Suite will feature the famously breath-taking vistas from the open living room and will include private infinity pools, says Olivier Bottois, Laderas Vice President of Marketing & Operations.

The openair bedrooms are designed and appointed with furnishings and fixtures consistent with Laderas sustainable practices.

The resort’s awardwinning Dasheene restaurant is recognised as one of the top tables in the Caribbean, serving innovative West Indian cooking for even the most discerning of foodies. Ladera also features the intimate Ti Kaye Pose Spa and a spectacular 1,200 square foot Paradise Pavilion, where new outdoor Couples Massages are offered overlooking the Caribbean Sea and Pitons.

Ladera is honoured to continue its legacy as a T+L reader favourite, said Olivier Bottois, Laderas Vice President of Marketing & Operations.

We strive to provide our guests with the most authentic St. Lucian experience, whether they come here for a wedding, a honeymoon, a sunset dinner, or simply the vacation of a lifetime. Were thrilled that Travel + Leisure readers have recognised Ladera among the very best.

If all this wasn’t enough to entice more travellers to plan deluxe holidays in St Lucia at the resort, the Ladera is also launching a new Peak to Beach Package Collection elevating the holiday experience for guests with the Best to Even Better Two Hotels, Three Luxury Package Experiences under a Single Easy Net Rate Cap Maison & Ladera Resort, St Lucia.

After the resounding success of the original Peak to Beach joint holiday package, the islands 2 iconic luxury hotels, Ladera and Cap Maison, have partnered again to create the innovative, threetiered Peak to Beach Package Collection. The trio of unique sixnight packages provides guests with amazing holidays to St Lucia staying at two legendary St Lucia hotels located on opposite ends of this tropical island paradise and, depending on preference, an array of adventures and luxurious extras, all organised under a single, easy price.

Hotels

Lancaster Pa Hotels Are Crucial For Any Pennsylvania staycation

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In today’s tough economic times the annual summer vacation is one of the first things to go, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Let the large Lancaster Pa Hotels be the cornerstone of your new tradition – a “staycation.” A ataycation is a vacation without the huge travel costs because you stay closer to home. Instead of flying to Florida, Mexico or Europe have a staycation in Lancaster, and take advantage of the wide choice of hotels and the many different attractions in the area.

Lancaster, PA is in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country and is traditionally known for its large Amish community. It also is a central spot for learning about the Civil War and the African American contribution to the American Revolution. It is this diverse set of options that makes Lancaster so attractive and this diversity is reflected in the range of hotels Lancaster has to offer.

The many different types of hotels guarantee that there is something for every style and taste. For those that are looking to explore the historic and quiet side of the Lancaster area there are hotels that were built in the late 1800s plus hotels out in the country where you can awake to the birds and enjoy beautiful sunset views. Spa hotels will appeal to those looking for some pampering. A unique experience can be had staying in a hotel featuring a train caboose or by sleeping near a water park.

To help you choose which hotel is perfect for your staycation, consider the many things there are to do, and choose a hotel that is central to your attractions. To help keep the costs of your staycation within your budget, plan to take in the many free things there are to do in the Lancaster area. From your hotel you can be minutes away from 28 covered bridges, Amish country, one-room school houses, museums and factory tours with free sampling! If you are looking for a little bit more excitement there are water parks, haunted theme parks, paintballing and family amusement parks.

Combine a historical Lancaster hotel with tours of nearby Gettysburg and Harrisburg, historical walking tours, an Underground Railway reenactment experience and the National Civil War Museum for a staycation that is sure to please any American Revolution and Civil War history buff. If trains are more your thing, then you can’t get any better than a stay in the Lancaster area hotel that is near railroad museums and tours and rides on local historic trains.

While the history or railroad buff is off exploring, other family members can spend their time at the more than 100 factory direct stores that can be found close to any Lancaster hotel, at the Rockvale or Tanger Outlet Malls. Or they can take the short trip to Hershey, PA for everything chocolate related.

So, just because money is tight, you don’t have stay at home in the backyard this summer. Plan your Lancaster, PA staycation, starting with the hotel that will set the entire mood. The hotels in Lancaster not only are a place to sleep, they can be the cornerstone for the entire trip.

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