These complement IP TV for video on demand, music on demand and online games, to name just a few, providing a more holistic approach to enhancing the guest experience.
In my view the strategy for new hotels and hotel projects should be to look at greater levels of integration of applications and services with property management systems and the room environmental control system including temperature control, air circulation, lighting, and curtains.
This not only personalises a guest’s room to their likings during their stay, but actually saves the hotel monies in operating costs by way of more efficient use of room lighting and air conditioning.
And yes, this also means that this technology will make your hotel greener, but that is a subject for another column.
| Advertisement |
Guest relations
But why all the hoopla for network convergence and this new generation of technologies? For me, the answer is simple; it’s all about the experience we provide and guest recognition.
The aforementioned can be encapsulated by my favorite buzz word at the moment; digital profiling. Digital Profiling not only addresses guest preferences such as pillows, preferred wines and newspapers but addresses the physical attributes of the hotel room and its associated ‘physical’ environment. The above examples demonstrate just that.
Delivering rich and easily accessible ‘just in time’ service to its guests will set a hotel apart from the competition, while tapping into new revenue opportunities
If hotel general managers and IT professionals are only now starting to think about the aforementioned then they have missed the boat. It is imperative all are on board because network convergence is a reality in the hospitality industry and the strategy to leverage this technology is pivotal if a hotel chain is to delight its guests and stay ahead of the pack.
ABOUT ROGER MCFARLAINE
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts vice president technology Middle East and Asia Roger McFarlaine has been an IT professional for close to 30 years, with experience ranging from computer operations, development and systems management.
As at one with the hotel industry as he is with technology, McFarlaine has worked across the world and also held regional positions with Marriott Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.
In his current role, McFarlaine manages a team of 23 IT managers and develops Mövenpick’s regional IT strategy, implement MIS/IT area strategic plans for existing and upcoming hotels, lead the development and deployment of network convergence and cabling architecture and further develop the in-room technology concepts.
A self-confessed hotel technology geek, McFarlaine aims to “lead the pack”, firmly believing that the technologies we think are 25 years away are actually going to be with us in under five years — meaning now is the time to invest for the future.
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
