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 Near Delhi Airport

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In the past there were hardly any decent hotels near Delhi Airport. However things have definitely changed with renovation work at the Delhi airport and also due to the new terminal T3. Most of the hotels are under construction and will be available to travelers from 2012 onwards. There are several hotels near Delhi Domestic airport. There are many hotels that are situated near the national highway in the Mahipalpur area.

There is also a transit hotel near the new terminal T3 at Delhi Airport. It offers services to both domestic and international passengers. This hotel has all the modern facilities that helps the traveler to relax .Delhi attracts thousands of travelers everyday as it is trade hub. It is rapidly developing as a commercial center .Apart from business the city also attracts travelers throughout the country and world as it has several historical places of interest. The best part about hotels Delhi airport that depending on the budget of the traveler any kind of hotel can be available. Delhi hotel booking has also become very easier with their several agents throughout the country. The best part is most of the hotels can also be booked online.

Many international tourists prefer to stay at hotels near Delhi International airport as will save the cost of traveling to the airport. Staying at a hotel near the airport will save them a lot of time, energy and money of traveling to the airport.

Many tourists often look for budget hotels during their stay at Delhi. Paharganj in Delhi is famous for budget hotels. The area is quite popular with tourists for its budget accommodations. Moreover the greatest advantage is that the place is situated very near to the national and international airports. Most of the budget hotels have all the modern amenities and are quite comfortable for staying for budget travelers. The hotels of Paharganj are also famous to tourists from abroad as they are always featured in travel or guide books for travelers. There are many MNCs and top notch companies are located here which leads to a lot of business traveling. Most of the executive prefer staying near the airport so that they can save time on traveling. Most of the hotels travel desk has car rental services which one can always contact to go out for sightseeing to historical places. Therefore the advantage of staying close to the airport is that one can save time in traveling that can be used for sightseeing.

Dubai Escorts – Choose Your Agency Wisely

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Like Americas number one party town (New York), Dubai could be said to be a city that never sleeps. The nightlife goes on even after clubs and bars have closed their doors. If you came to Dubai to party you can party on with a beautiful lady of your dreams. Elite Dubai Escorts are available to VIP gentlemen 24/7. Why not take the party back to your hotel after the club has closed? You will find that most Elite Dubai Escorts stay in five star hotels so if you desire you can even go back to her hotel to continue the evening in more intimate surroundings

Many Escort Agencies in Dubai stop answering their phone and refuse to take bookings after 12pm. But if you search carefully online you will see that there are several agencies with a more cosmopolitan outlook. These agencies realise that VIP visitors to Dubai are international travellers and may be on New York time or London time consequently they may require escort services in the early hours of the morning. Also as a VIP a high standard of customer service is required and expected. Visitors from major western cities come to Dubai and are amazed at the high standard of service offered by Dubais many luxury hotels and restaurants. Elite escort agencies in Dubai such as Club ill Repute see this high standard of service as the benchmark for the agency and the Dubai Escorts they provide.

Before going online to choose your Dubai escort beware of the many scam agencies you will find on the internet. These agencies specialize in the so called Bait and Switch. This occurs when an agency will display photos of absolutely stunning and gorgeous escorts (that they do not have and have not way of getting), then when a client books the escort a totally different and below standard escort is provided!

In conclusion, there are many genuine Escort agencies in Dubai but take care when making your choice of escort agency as a VIP you will require discretion and honesty. Dubai is an amazing city and there is plenty of fun and enjoyment to be had especially if money is no object. Take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy the sights and sounds of Dubai with a gorgeous female companion

Best Shimla Hotels For New Year Party

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Looking for some real European-style white Christmas and New Year? Then head to Shimla, the onetime summer capital of the country and one of the famous hill stations of North India.

Shimla sometimes pronounced as Simla is the capital city of the state of Himachal Pradesh and is situated at a height of 2000metres above sea level. It was the summer capital of India during the erstwhile British Raj and during the sultry Indian summers, the whole Government moved to the picturesque hills of Shimla. The British had developed this town significantly and their influence can be still seen in the numerous colonial structures strewn all around the city. The city can be reached from all the major cities of the country by roads, railways and airways. The nearest airport is at Jubbarhatti 12kms away and it caters to domestic flights only. The railway line from Kalka to Shimla is a scenic route and the train journey is highly recommended by travelers as a once in a lifetime journey. Shimla is nestled in the mighty Himalayas and therefore enjoys pleasant summers and cold winters. Though it is primarily a summer destination but the winter celebrations and new years in Shimla are rapidly gaining a popular reputation. The winters can be quite cold with snow fall and minus degree temperatures but that doesn”t deter revelers. Visitors can enjoy a white new years in Shimla complete with celebrations and snowfall. A much sought after destination in Shimla during winters is Kufri that is situated on the outskirts. Children can enjoy on the snow, join in a no holds barred snow fight or enjoy ice skating on Asia”s only natural ice skating rink. Couples can take a trip on horseback over the snow and enjoy the peace and quiet on a snow trail. You can go shopping on the Mall that is the main shopping street and you can look for handicrafts at Lakkar Bazar. The Tibetan Market is a good place to shop for good quality woolen garments and other items. After the day is done you can sit down and enjoy a cup of steaming hot tea at any of the cafes in the Mall.

Quality Hotels in Shimla

Hotel Shingar is among the best 2 star hotels in Shimla and is located near the Mall road. It enjoys a customer recommendation of 80% which means 8 out of 10 would love a second visit and that makes it one of the popular Shimla hotels. It offers well furnished rooms that have an attached bath room and running hot water. It also provides a multi cuisine restaurant, 24hr room service and a travel desk. The rooms cost Rs.2778.

Hotel Sangeet is one of the popular budget hotels in Shimla that enjoys wide recommendation among guests. Located near the Mall road, it has received a customer recommendation of 77% which means 8 out of 10 people would like to try out this place again. It provides well furnished and well equipped rooms that cost Rs.1000.

Information Technology In Hospitality Industry

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Traditionally, hotels were largely dependent on cards and paperwork at the front desk to keep in touch with old and current customers. They were largely at the mercy of the desires of vacationers to arrive, and on their own efforts and staff to be ready for potential surges or long droughts of occupancy. Luckily, such inconvenience and old-fashioned methods are long since past, thanks to advances in information technology.

The first area in which information technology became important was in regards to billing. Old-fashioned paper-based book-keeping was time consuming and inefficient, and was not able to quickly tell a hotel owner what the situation of their hotel was. Luckily, advances in modern record keeping allow for a hotel owner to keep track of what they have on hand, how much of it they have, and how much it costs. Accounting is complicated, but advanced accounting software, especially that tailored to the unique needs of the hospitality industry, helps to enable hotel owners to make smart decisions. Services and products that are no longer used can be quickly cut off to save money, while those who show demand can be increased in quantity or modified so as to reduce the heavy usage.

Most hotels are familiar with booking rooms and reservations over the phone, but information technology has expanded well beyond that. Hotels can now work with various online travel companies and booking services to have their rooms booked online, with no need to employ expensive staff. This also allows a hotel to advertise their open rooms and special deals directly to persons who would be most likely to purchase them, instead of wasting lots of money advertising in an unfocused manner. High quality information technology thus allows for better arrangement and management of bookings in order to allow a hotel to better maximize occupancy, and to know in advance when large groups or lean times are approaching. This allows a hotel manager to make plans regarding temporary staff, good times to renovate or expand, or other concerns, because he/she can determine the state of their hotel currently and for the next few months with only a few clicks on the computer.

The advances in information technology extend well beyond booking, however. The internet is essential for vacationers who wish to contact those back home, and for those traveling on business to get in touch with the office. Therefore, wireless internet has become a very common and very useful service for hotels to provide. Many business minded persons even require that a hotel offer internet services so that they can keep working while on the road. Luckily, such services are easy to provide, as all that is required is a wireless router and various devices to ensure the entire hotel is filled with the network. Modern advances in wireless internet also allow for the wireless internet provided for hotel visitors to be used to network the hotel itself. Security cameras, door locks, and other devices essential to hotel security and safety can be wired into the network, so that staff are alerted whenever a door is propped open, a fire alarm goes off or suspicious activity occurs. Though the hotel guests are wholly unaware of it, this sort of added safety and security keeps them safe, and in the event of a problem they will most certainly appreciate the benefits of such a system.

As advanced as it is, information technology in the hospitality industry is still going forward. Intelligent booking systems enable rapid and efficient guest feedback, along with the ability to predict who is likely to use the hotel again and inform them via e-mail or text messages when good deals arrive. Hotels with room service or other guest services can offer their menus online, allowing for quick updates, high-quality photos, and other ways to allow guests to see and order services before they even arrive. There are also advances in terms of payroll and inventory which make information technology a valuable asset for saving money and maximizing profits. The unique nature of the hospitality industry makes it a great place for new and emerging information technology, and forward-thinking hotel owners and managers are always looking for smart equipment and software to invest in.