Future Proofing the Hotel/Resort Infrastructure

With the significant investment that is made in new build hotels/resorts, or indeed during renovations, the investors, developers and operators need to feel comfortable that the communications infrastructures being deployed will deliver to their guests/unit owners the level of services they now demand. These infrastructures must be capable of supporting the inevitable rapid change in telecommunications, entertainment and operational systems to ensure that guests and stakeholders continue to benefit from latest technology for many years to come.

Whilst technological development is moving at a phenomenal pace, the good news is that more and more hospitality based applications are adopting IP as a common protocol. Welcome to the world of IP Convergence.

What is IP Convergence?

Convergence is the bringing together on a single network infrastructure of telephony, computer, video and a variety of other applications. Traditionally, these different services have been delivered across separate legacy networks, each requiring investment, development and support.  However, it is now possible to bring together all these applications on a single network using Internet Protocol (IP) as the transmission mechanism.

IP carries traffic around a Local Area Network (LAN), which inter-connects all the devices within a property and in turn a LAN connects to a Wide Area Network (WAN) where IP is used to create links with telephone subscribers worldwide, entertainment content providers and external networks such as the Internet, reservations agents, credit card companies and the resort operators’ head office.

Why Converge Networks?

Network convergence helps organisations in all sectors to improve flexibility, productivity and profitability whilst enhancing customer service.

A properly designed converged IP network provides for scalability, enabling new devices and applications to be deployed with ease as the hotel/resort evolves and guest expectations change. IP assures the future proofing of the infrastructure because more and more evolving applications are based on IP as a transmission mechanism.

What can the Network Support?

Many communications services can already be supported over a single IP network and more and more are becoming available.

• HSIA (wired and wireless)
• IP Telephony (significantly reducing telephony costs)
• IP Television (TV/movies on demand, trickplay functions such as pause/record)
• Guest information and concierge services via phones, TV's or touchcreens
• Property Management System (inter-working with in-room devices)
• Point of Sale System (deployed flexibly wherever and whenever needed)
• Surveillance systems (CCTV across the network, ease to move cameras)
• Radio Frequency ID (enabling tracking of resources, keyless doorlocks)
• Energy Management Systems (significantly reducing power consumption)

What is my Payback Period?

The Return on Investment model very much depends upon the specific layout and size of your property, but what is clear is that deploying a single infrastructure has lower capital and operating costs compared to deploying multiple systems.

A major cost reduction can be gained from IP Telephony. Imagine what effect a 50% reduction in call charges and dial tone delivery can have on any business!

An intelligent Energy Management System will significantly reduce your power consumption, automatically setting room temprature to an energy efficient level and switching off water heaters and lights when a room is unoccupied and re-setting them again on guest arrival.

With vendors creating IP based solutions then as technology advances you will be ready to accept it, keeping your property at the high-end in a demanding and highly competitive market.

How can I make Sense of all this?

DXI is ready to work with you to guide you on an impartial basis through the myriad of options to develop a specification that is right for you. This blend of technical and business consultancy will ensure you make the right decisions to protect your investment.

DXI will then help with vendor, integrator, carrier and specialist system selection and then go on to project manage the network deployment for you, as part of your team, ensuring you have a world-class infrastructure on time, all the time.

Once implemented, DXI will help transition support and management to ensure the network operates to its optimum. Our ongoing consultancy will keep your infrastructure delivering for you, your guests and your unit owners.