doesn’t necessarily mean it will be right. Remember Beta – vs – VHS...... should I mention Blu-Ray – vs – HD-DVD. Here’s one way to make a reasonable sound prediction of what the market will do in a 2-3 years. Firstly look at it in reverse. Where were we five years ago. Hotels were just starting to install Cat 5e cable to guest rooms. Digital free to air TV was available in 4:3 aspect and only very limited widescreen, IP video on demand was in its infancy. VCR player IRE systems were starting to be phased out, and LCDs were being phased in. Now, look at where we are today (in hotels). Nearly all movie content comes from a digital source. IP Video on Demand is installed in nearly all five star properties. LCD’s are installed in nearly all hotel rooms. Digital TV in 16:9 aspect is available in about half of all hotel rooms. If we think about this in hindsight, it was fairly predictable. Sure it’s getting a little trickier, but let’s have a look at what’s kicking off now in the entertainment side of technology. Smart TV’s; downloading movies off the net (legally); watching them in 3D; watching your home TV via a Slingbox from your hotel room on other side of the planet; airplay your own content from your Apple or Android device wirelessly to your TV; controlling the TV with your phone instead of a remote. This is all happening now, and when we think ‘this is really out-there’, take a look at the Gen X’s, Gen Y’s and even the naughty’s. They are connectivity dependant; they can’t go to the shops without updating their facebook. They are content dependant; they can’t get on a bus without their iPod blasting their eardrums. God help us when they join the business ranks.
Now how do we prepare for this? Allow me to predict it, It’s like that 1989 film, Field of Dreams. To give your hotel the best chance, build the infrastructure behind the system properly. This is less likely to
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Vol 16 No. 4 |
Hotel Engineer
have major changes over the next 5 years and it is the most costly. A consultant should be advising you to install industry best standard cabling (Cat 6a or better), Broadcast grade MATV networks and head-ends, and Commercial grade wireless networks delivering Wireless ‘N’ technology at 5GHz. Have your network designed by a certified network engineer and the cabling certified by the manufacturer. Engage a network service provider that is ITIL, COBIT or ISO compliant and certified. Ensure your network service provider will work with other vendors. Ensure they have enough feet on the street to support your SLA. Your in-room technology WILL be governed by your network capabilities. Also keeping this ahead of your tender will put in the best position.
What do I install? The bleeding edge of technology is often painful. Sure, go with the latest but also ensure the products they are installing meet a high standard in both manufacture and OEM support. Google will tell you a lot about the gear, good or bad. Ask to the model numbers of the equipment, the redundancies and remote monitoring capabilities. Try to choose a vendor that embraces open-source operating systems in their
servers and in-room set-top-boxes. This way, whether you purchase the equipment yourself, or you go vendor financed, you have far more opportunities to revive them with new soft technologies mid-term. Closedsource technologies have a history of being on the end-of-support pile before the end of term. They also rely on the IRE vendor to retain a development license beyond their period of development. This is of course whether they are the developers. Ensure your service providers content is really late release. These days three months is out-of date in relation to content for those Movie Buffs. Just remember, Movie Buffs account for most in-house movie purchases, excluding the adult content. Give your hotel the edge. Make the choice between digital TV (DVB-T) and IPTV very carefully. Every hotel has different circumstances. Some factors include TV make and model, Pay TV providers, network infrastructure and CAPEX funds. Ensure you in-room equipment is Guest Proof. Minimize the cabling behind the TV. Lock up the set-top-box. Purchase only hotel grade televisions. And the most import, check out the tendering vendors recent installations. Stay at the hotel for a night and do your best to break it (not smash it..... please!). n