In-Room Technologies Chapter 6

"The good news is that the PMS market has seldom seen such a variety of different approaches to solving your property's automation needs. The further good news is that the systems available have never been better for what is still the key system, the hub around which all other property systems revolve and in which you collect a huge amount of highly valuable guest data. Jon Inge, Hotel Systems Consultant

Today IT is part of the business now… Lets have a look at the systems

Lodging-Centric TechnologiesFOHBOHPMS CORPORATE CORPORATEACCOUNTING SYSTEM SYSTEM CORPORATE RESERVATION SYSTEM SYSTEM , MIS, DSS, EIS FORECASTING & SCHEDULING SCHEDULING TIME & ATTENDANCE GLOBAL GLOBALRESERVATION SYSTEM SYSTEM TRAVEL TRAVELAGENTS CORPORATE GUEST GUEST HISTORY HISTORY PURCHASING & INVENTORY INVENTORY FOOD & BEVERAGE BEVERAGEINVENTORY SYSTEM SYSTEM RESTAURANT RESTAURANTMANAGEMENT SYSTEM SYSTEM (POS) (POS) ELECTRONIC BAR BAR DISPENSER DISPENSER MINIBAR CALL CALLACCOUNTING SYSTEM SYSTEM (CAS) (CAS) LD YIELD YIELDMANAGEMENT PAY PER VIEW / VIEW / CHECK OUT CREDIT CARD CREDIT CARDAUTHORIZATION & EFT & EFT PBX (SWITCH MAID DIAL-IN VOIC MESSAGE MESSAGEHANDLING WAKE-UP SYSTEM SYSTEM SALES & CATERING SYSTEM SYSTEM REMOTE SALES SALESMARKETING MAINTENANCE ENERGY ENERGY FIRE & FIRE & LIFE SAFETY LIFE SAFETY ELECTRONIC LOCK & LOCK & SECURITY SECURITY SYSTEM SYSTEM INROOM ENERGY ENERGYCONTROL SYSTEMS OFF PREMISE SYSTEMS INHOUSE INTERFACE WITH DIRECTION OF DATA FLOW Internet/ Intranet

Hotel information system

1.Improved labor productivity and organization efficiency 2.Enhanced decision-making capability in less time 3.Reduced operating costs 4.Increased information accuracy 5.Increased revenues 6.Greater guest satisfaction and loyalty 7.Improved controls 8.Ease of use Advantages of Technology in Hotels

1.Security 2.Ergonomics 3.Cost 4.Upgrades and maintenance Disadvantages of Technology in Hotels

1.Electronic Locking System 2.Energy Management & Climate Control Systems 3.Fire Alarm & Security Systems 4.In-room Minibars 5.In-room safe boxes 6.Guestroom Phone System 7.Voic /Wake-up Systems 8.In-room Entertainment Systems 9.Guestroom control panels 10.Self check-in/out systems In-Room Technologies

Electronic Locking Systems

Majority of the hotels use electronic locking systems (ELS) Hotel Key System Evolution Mechanical Keys Punched-hole coded- plastic room key card Optical Cards Electronic Key Card Electronic Locking Systems (ELS)

Cheaper than electronic locking systems Heavier to carry Inconvenient Once lost, the cost of replacement is high Not traceable Duplicable Mechanical Keys

About 85 percent of lodging establishments in the United States have electronic locking systems installed Types: Hard-wired ELS Micro-processor based One-way communication ELS Two-way communication ELS Electronic Locking Systems (ELS)

Hard-wired system is an example to a first generation ELS They operate through a centralized master code console interfaced to every single key lock Very Expensive to wire each door Great security Hard-wired ELS

One-way communication This system uses a microcomputer (keycard console) with an electronic key encoder, a device used to encode new lock combinations on guest keycards at check-in Micro-processor based ELS

Electronic key encoder: device to encode new lock combinations One-way e-locks

Check-in: Front Desk Agent encodes the key for room 101 Guest enters the e-key into lock 101 The lock erases the Previous code. Now this door can be opened with this card now Until the next new card comes in

Unique keys Light plastic, magnetic stripe keys: Security Replaceable The cost of a new key is low Recyclable The cost of rekeying is non-existent. Access control Audit-trail capability Privacy Feature Advantages of ELS over Mechanical Keys

One key can not be used in multiple locks. If the guest decided to change rooms, he/she has to go to front desk to recode the key. If a wrong key is inserted into a lock, it does not alert security staff. Disadvantages of one-way ELS

Two-way communication keys are more expensive to install; however, they offer several security and convenience features. In the two-way communication locks, a central database communicates to locks wirelessly. One key can be used in multiple places (i.e. pool, health club, concierge floor) Two-way communication ELS

Keycards- Magnetic Stripe Cards

A memory card is equipped with a memory chip to store lock access codes and records. They can store data from 2 kilobyte (KB) (it can carry 25 different key lock codes), 8 KB (it can carry up to 125 different key lock codes), or 64 KB (it can carry up to 1350 different key lock codes). These are great for staff members or managers who have access to multiple locks. The cost of a memory card can be from $2.00 per card to $4.00 per card. Cards Keycards- Memory Card

A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit(s) card (ICC), is defined as any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits which can process information. Smart cards can store more data than the memory cards. Smart cards can also process data, allowing it to serve as an electronic purse or ID. Keycards- Smart Cards

The first generation of biometric ELS was seen in Saflok was one of the first companies to introduce the biometric locks The guest registers his/her fingerprint or iris scan or other biometric metric (i.e. hand scan, palm scan) at the time of check-in. Keycards-Biometric

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. There are two main components of a RFID ELS: RFID Lock: This is the key lock that looks for a RFID tag to grant access. RFID tags (keys): These are the identification codes for key locks. They can be in the shape of a plastic keycard, or can be stored in different devices, such as a wristband. Keycards- RFID

Mechanical Key Electronic Key as a Security Device Code-based Key Biometric Lock RFID Based Lock Smart Lock Videos* * (password: videos)

Energy Management Systems & Climate Control Systems InnCom Systems

After labor, energy is the second-largest operating expense for a hotel Guestroom energy consumption typically accounts for 40 percent to 80 percent of a hotels total energy costs Energy Management & Climate Control Systems

EMS-Digital Thermostat humidity control outside temperature display

1) centrally controlled systems 2) individually controlled systems 3) network controlled systems EMS Types

1.Electronic key-card based energy management systems This system employs a wall mounted unit that controls the electrical devices and Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) devices with the help of a magnetic stripe key card EMS Devices

2. Body-motion detector based energy management systems A body-motion detector is installed inside the guestroom and in some cases in the corridors. When the body-motion unit does not detect a motion, indicating that there is not a guest or an animal in the room or in the corridor, it controls the lights and HVAC equipment. EMS Devices

Body Motion Sensor to control Hallway lights (Royal Hotel, Lyon, France) Video

3. Body-heat detector based energy management system Similar to body-motion detector based systems, this system detects body-heat of a human or an animal. This system is more reliable than the body-motion detector. When the system does not detect body hear, it assumes that it is non-occupy mode, and sets HVAC equipment back to preset temperatures EMS Devices

EMS-Wireless Light Switch replaces the standard hard- wired line-voltage light switch Lighting can be pre-set to save energy costs By enabling the front desk to remotely turn lights on and off in the guestroom when a guest checks in or out, infrared switch provides the next level of energy and utility management.

EMS-Lamp Control Mode It converts any standard lamp into a remotely controllable lamp with full dimming capability. (infrared)

Guestroom Status The guest may choose either the DND or MUR functions without needing to open the guestroom door. If DND is pressed, a lettered, backlit "Do-Not-Disturb" indicator is displayed on the external door plate If MUR is selected, a discreet LED indicator, readable only by hotel staff, is displayed on the external plate.

Guestroom Status: External Door Plate installed on the wall outside the guestroom DND or MUR indicate current room occupancy status

Network controlled energy management systems have four levels of temperature set-backs: 1.Sold 2.Unsold 3.Sold Occupied 4.Sold Unoccupied EMS Control Levels

Networked Fire Alarm System: In this system, smoke- detectors are networked to a central management system wirelessly Fire Alarm and Security Systems

There are three different type of minibar systems. These are: 1.Traditional minibars (non-automated), 2.Semi-automated minibars 3.Automated minibars (micro-processor based). In-Room Minibars

Traditional minibars are based on manual checking and/or honor system. After minibar staff members fill out the minibar initially, they have to check every occupied room every day to see of anything has been consumed. Traditional Minibars

Semi-Automated minibar Systems are equipped with a door alert system that reports directly to the minibar central computer system via existing telephone wiring each time the bar door is opened. This way, minibar staff members know which rooms need refilling and which rooms do not. This decreases the restocking time and guest disturbances are significantly reduced. Semi-automatic Minibars

Automated Minibar Systems (Micro-processor based) are capable of monitoring and posting sales transactions, determining refill quantities, reminding the expiration dates of products offered, and enhancing profitability. The automated minibar has infrared sensors that sense when a product is removed from the tray. Automated Minibar Systems

Traditionally, hotels used to offer safe boxes in the front desk. However, in todays hotels, most rooms are equipped with modern, small, individual size safes. Mechanical key safes Electronic in-room safes Key card safes Code-based electronic in-room safes Smart-card based safes Biometric safes In-Room Safes

Hotel Billing Information System (HOBIC) Call Accounting System (CAS) Features Call Automatic identification of outward dialing Automatic route selection Least cost routing Call rating program PBX Guestroom Phone Systems

CAS works with PBX PBX phone systems are created to form a private network of users to share selected external telephone lines. It is more cost efficient to share a few external lines than to allow every user their own external lines. Within a PBX phone system it is easier to reach someone because it is only a three or four digit extension. Private Branch Exchange (PBX)

Dial-up access- First generation High Speed Internet Access- Wired High Speed Internet Access-Wireless b- 11 Mbps g- 54 Mbps a- 54 Mbps n- 100 Mbps Hybrid High Speed Internet Access

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Bundle Offerings– Phone + Internet Access Future of Hotel Telephone Systems

Most of the hotels that have telephone in the guestroom offer voice mail service. A hotel using voice mail assigns a voice mailbox to each guest upon check-in. If the voice mail system is interfaced with PMS, the voice mail talks to the guest in the guests language (i.e. English, German, Spanish). The guests have the option to set-up the voice mail or leave it as default message. Guests can record their greeting recording or set a unique PIN code to access the voice messages In-Room Voice Mail Systems

Manual wake-up system Semi-automated wake-up system Full-automated wake-up system Interactive TV System Wake up system Alarm clock in the room Wake Up Systems

Personalized welcome message upon check-in Video on demand (pay per view) High speed Internet access Wake-up call Order room service Live feedback Different languages Internet Protocol based Radio View Bill/Self- Check out System Parental Controls In-Room Entertainment Systems

Other In-Room Systems

Guestroom Control Panels

Clocky

Anyfill Battery Charger

Flame Free Candles

DND/MUR Card

Digital Frame

Emergency Light System

Wii

Digital Door Viewer

eXperimental Guestroom Video

End of Chapter 6