The Big Picture for 2012 brought to you by Airwave

The Big Picture for 2012 brought to you by

AMSUNG Paradise 236x125_Layout 2 17/10/2011 11:01 Page 1

MEDIASUITE Philips launch their new Smart TV range

HOTEL SATELLITE Airwave's best installations unveiled

Dynamic Displays Sharp Aquos TV offers the complete hotel display solution

Teleadapt Get ready to connect your guests to Media, Audio, Internet and Power

HOTEL BUS AV SUPP 210x297.qxd:Layout 1 06/10/2011 15:14 Page 1

SLIMMER, LIGHTER, GREENER. THE NEW LG COMMERCIAL PRO. The LG LW451 delivers movies, sports and shows in the brilliance and clarity of Full HD and the sleek design appeals to your customers. With commercial features including USB Link Loader and USB Cloning and Kensington Lock for protection against theft the LG LW451 can also show content in 3D. LG commercial TVs deliver practical solutions for luxurious results.

LW451 42”, 47” and 55” www.lg.com/uk/it-products

contents

WELCOME!

012 In the year of the 2012 Olympics, Airwave Europe is delighted to produce this supplement, to provide hoteliers with an overview of some of the latest technological products and services available.

Of course, we can never predict the future with complete confidence, but we are pleased to share our views and to offer 4 Airwave the contributions of our partners, Airwave share their vision who are the leading players of the future. helping to shape tomorrow’s 7 Samsung onscreen experience for all of us.

Smarten up to Samsung At Airwave, we fully understand 10 LG the technology, our unique multiLife’s good with LG brand approach allows us to offer the best solution for both 12 Airwave at work hoteliers and guests. We hope From hotels through that this guide sparks up some hospitals to oil rigs in 22 great ideas2for17/10/2011 you – so please countries - AIRWAVE_Layout 10:34 Page 1 enjoy the Big Picture 2012.

14 Lausanne Hospitality School Tim Worrall, MD Professor Ian Millar Airwave Europe Limited speculates on the inroom future

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Contents

16 Sky

Drive your business with Sky

18 Sharp

Sharp displays their edge

20 Square [i]

Apple IPTV for hotels

22 Philips

hilips launch their P new Mediasuite TVs

028 27 Teleadapt

Get connected today

28 Airwave Satellite

Look to the skies with Airwave

29 Exterity

Exterity IPTV flexibility, reliability and interactivity

30 TMB Systems

Time to be compliant with card systems

25 Tilevision

Splash out on bathroom TV

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AIRWAVE

Vision of

the Future T

he late, great Steve Jobs drew inspiration from the hockey player Wayne Cretzky, whom he often quoted, “I skate to where the puck is likely to be, not where it is has been.” Now that’s a saying that is worth remembering.

So let’s be clear, nothing is forever – but the challenge is predicting what the future is likely to be. Last year, we observed that the speed of technological change was increasing, and many of the old paradigms of hotel in-room entertainment were crumbling, with a new set of market drivers emerging. For instance, the tradition of seven year Pay TV contracts (mainly funded by adult movie consumption), is under increasing pressure as tiered internet access rises as the main revenue driver. Historically, the old Pay TV model fitted well with the 7-8 year refurbishment cycle of most hotel rooms, but whilst fittings may stand the test of time, it is clear that the television, which still remains the main technology statement in a hotel room, now suffers from the onset of old age after 4-5 years. Hotels are reluctant to sign up to long term deals which tie their hands and cut future options, and now have the chance to look at things with fresh eyes, seeking out new concepts which deliver to the guest today, but are designed to be as future-proof as possible – all at the right cost, of course!

The Power in your Hand

There was a day when technology in the hotel room lead the way; don’t forget that

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The Thirst for Bandwidth Grows

in the nineties this was the testing ground for the first interactive TV systems including features like video-on-demand, room service ordering, view bill etc. However, it is now clear that the smartphone in your hand has more power and relevance than most TV system set-top boxes. Also, not only is the hardware regularly updated by the consumer who eagerly awaits the new phone release, but the applications and content are chosen by individual preference.

Therefore, the focus shifts to connectivity both between device (smartphone, tablet etc) and the TV screen, as well as between device and the outside world.

In a short space of time the demand model for internet bandwidth has changed from merely multiplying the number of business guests with a laptop times the usage to a much more complex equation. Today, we need to factor in the total number of guests per room (leisure and business), together with the number of potential internet enabled devices now present in each room.

What is more important – your child updating their Facebook status, or you sending that all important proposal? We all know the answer – they both are.

A new tiered pricing structure model is beginning to emerge that addresses the key levers in the market, and helps match demand with supply. Under this scenario, free low bandwidth internet access is often offered for a limited period, like one hour, which enables email messages to be sent and received, and also allows the site to

AIRWAVE advertise free internet. After the initial free period, the guest has the option to either continue with low bandwidth internet for the duration of their stay for say £4.95, or upgrade to a Premium Service for say £9.95, with dedicated bi-directional bandwidth allowing services like Facetime, Video-conferencing, You Tube, Skype, BBC iPlayer etc. For the guest this approach would guarantee the required a service level and also provide the necessary revenue stream for the hotel to pay for the internet connection. We believe that the hotels which continue to insist on providing Free Internet with no restrictions without building it into their room rate, will eventually succumb to meltdown and delivering a poor service to their guests.

The information superhighway is like a motorway – the more lanes you have, the more you need. However, a good rule of thumb is for a 125 roomed hotel to install a 100Mb dedicated bearer and use say 30Mb initial, with the ability to ramp up connectivity as usage increases as it inevitably will.

The Future is Smart

Predictions for the growth of both Smart Phones and TVs are exponential. By 2014, it is believed that 80% of LED screens sold will be internet enabled, and already the main hospitality manufacturers like Samsung and Philips have Smart products becoming available. Based on the activity in the domestic market, the most popular services used are in the area of catch-up TV, like BBC iPlayer and YouTube. For a hotel, these services are bandwidth hungry and therefore it is essential that provision is made to both connect the right sized pipe to the property, and to ensure that a sustainable business model is employed to cover the costs, manage usage and deliver a great experience.

Competitive advantage will increasingly be gained by hoteliers developing applications (APPS), for Smart devices which both enhance the stay and reward loyalty.

The Great Coax Comeback

A few years ago, some deluded hotel designers binned coaxial cable and blindly

“By 2014, it is believed that 80% of LED screens sold will be internet enabled, and already the main hospitality manufacturers like Samsung and Philips have Smart products becoming available.” specified just CAT5/6 cabling in some developments in the notion coax was dead.

Strange thing really, as coaxial cable is thicker than CAT5 and has a much higher bandwidth capacity, and is more robust.

Moreover, in an IPTV solution, all the incoming live TV channels still need to be encoded to run over the data network, and then decoded in the room on the STB to then be turned into a digital signal on an HDMI cable for the TV. An idea - why not just deliver the digital TV signal along the coax to the TV ? You can cut out all the energy sapping infrastructure and inevitable complexity and associated costs. A single coaxial cable can in fact carry nearly 1,000 channels, including all Digital Freeview channels, FM Radio and DAB services, plus all Digital satellite channels.

Coaxial networks can cope with carrying high quality HD and 3DTV channels, foreign language services, as well as interactive systems which are supplied by some of the Hotel Integrators. We now always recommend a home run to each riser, so that a hotel has the future option to upgrade to a full Integrated Reception System (IRS) enabling the reception of the both digital terrestrial signals and HD satellite in every room as some hotels have already discovered this year.

The IRS then provides signal to the new Samsung TVs with inbuilt satellite to deliver literally thousands of TV and Radio Channels right into the room over coax at a fraction of the cost of any IPTV system. In 9.3 million UK homes, Sky HD is currently delivered from dish (after receiving a signal

from 22,000 miles up in space of course) to the TV using coaxial cable. We now see box per room as an extremely realistic option offering that home from home experience for the guest. It is one way of at least trying to retrieve some of the lost ground over the last few years and narrowing the technology gap between the experience in home and hotel. There also are some very innovative two way coaxial systems emerging for those properties currently without the right infrastructure.

In conclusion, Coax alone is not the full solution as a return path and connectivity for Smart functionality is also key. In the foreseeable future we see live TV delivered best over coaxial cable, and Smart services delivered over data networks. Installing both cables is surely the smart thing to do.

Get Connected

Connectivity is becoming increasingly important as guests arrive with a plethora of digital devices, such as iphones, cameras, MP3 players etc packed with content, and demand ways to play out their media. Companies like TeleAdapt have grown a successful international business catering for this need, and now many hotel TV manufacturers are positioning their in-built connectivity panels at the side of their screens to enable easy plug and play usage. We see this trend continuing to grow.

LED Leads the Way

First there was CRT, then Plasma, then LCD and now it’s LED. The reasoning for LED is simple – crisper, brighter picture, better contrast ratio, thinner screens, smaller bezel, more attractive, less weight, less energy consumption. The drawback is sometimes inferior sound quality. If the longevity of the product is important, then go LED. If budget is the primary concern, a feature packed LCD geared for immediate reception of HD is the best option.

OK, now it’s time to start skating to where you think the puck will be!

2012 - What’s hot and what’s not OUT IN

LCD LED Analogue Digital Simple Infochannel Red Button Services Freeview Freeview HD, HD Satellite 3 Sky Channels Sky HD box per room Set Top Box Smart Phone/TV Long Term Contracts Flexibility Cheap Lifetime Value VOD Revenue Tiered Internet Local System Cloud Based Technology Driven Guest Focused

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samsung

samsung Hospitality TVs improved guest experience through technical innovations.

T

he next 12-18 months promise to be even busier than usual for the hotel and leisure industry in the UK and Ireland. As Britain makes its final preparations for the London 2012 Olympics, key players are facing some important investment decisions. In London alone, over 5,000 new hotel rooms are due to open, and a series of UK-wide refurbishment and development projects are in progress. Now is the time to find out how Samsung’s Hospitality TV proposition can help you create an enhanced in-room experience for your guests, and bring unrivalled benefits to your business.

In the hotel room, the TV is the central source of entertainment for most hotel guests. They want to enjoy a superior television experience, with technology and value added features being a key indicator of quality.

Television is no longer just a utility; it is an opportunity for businesses to be associated with high-level brands and, above all excellent quality of service and experience. This is why Samsung has taken their solution to the next level. Packed with a host of exciting new features, our next-

generation range blends smart functionality and superior picture quality with advanced design and eco-friendly responsibility.

The Samsung Smart TV gives your guests access to multiple types of content.

They can search the web while watching TV, stay connected with friends and family through the Social TV feature, download

“Innovation that will exceed guest expectations while driving new service and revenue opportunities for your business.” movies, play games and much, much more with the world’s first TV app store, providing them with a true multitasking experience. The result is a stunningly flexible solution that will enhance your hospitality offering and satisfy even the most demanding of guests.

As TV technology advances, so too do expectations. At Samsung we are committed to providing you with the variety, value and innovation that will exceed these expectations while driving new service and revenue opportunities for your business.

Enhance the elegance of your hotel rooms

Elevate your guests viewing pleasure with the eye catching design of our Samsung Hospitality TV. Utilising our One Design approach which minimises the surrounding frame to only 1” in thickness all you see is what’s on the screen. Our TVs will soon become the focal point of your rooms.

Upgrade your guests’ entertainment experience

Our Hospitality TVs come with exclusive Samsung technologies guaranteed to make their stay even more enjoyable: Satellite Broadcasting services like DVBS2/T2 are unique to Samsung Hospitality TVs. By giving you free access to over 1500 channels, you can provide your guests with a wider range of programmes from both local and international satellite services.

Many of these channels are now in HD and some are even in 3D, the BBC is broadcasting the Olympics in 3D via satellite so by upgrading your hotels to Samsung Hospitality TVs with 3D you could offer your guests the ultimate Olympic experience.

Make your guests really feel at home with Samsung Hospitality TVs. Our exclusive My Channel Operation has been designed for maximum convenience. It allows your guests to access channels according to their personal preference, by using a variety of menus in their local language. For example, a French visitor can select ‘France’ and immediately view and select all available French channels on their guide.

Our intelligent SIRCH (Samsung Interactive Remote Control for Hospitality) solution makes life easier by managing your estate of TVs from one central location via over air broadcast. You can configure settings, like limiting volume and updating channel lists, universally and remotely.

Firmware upgrades can also be made the same way eliminating interruption or service limitation, providing a better experience for your guests. This significantly reduces the cost of manually updating each set individually, saving time and resource.

Samsung Hospitality TVs come fitted with a wide range of impressive and easyto-use features that will make your guests

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samsung are built with less harmful materials so that the manufacturing and recycling processes are much more efficient and environmentally friendly.

feel extra-comfortable and keep them coming back for more:

Built-in Clock Display

Switch the clock display on and off as they need. Plus, a back-up power supply means they don’t have to worry about losing their alarm setting if power goes off in the night.

Our Systems Integration Partner

Auto Sensing Inputs

Allow your guests to enjoy the convenience of being at home while on the road. Auto Sensing automatically detects any compatible device connected to it via HDMI or USB, so they can quickly and easily review photos, listen to music, watch a movie or even playback a video.

the future of home entertainment from the comfort of their room.

Multi-code remote

Available in various screen sizes

USB Cloning Device

Save time and money with more energy-efficient features

Support multi-code remote controllers for up to 9 TVs and operate them individually, to make your life easier.

Particularly useful where multiple users are in one room - such as a gym.

From installation to maintenance, programming and security, Samsung’s Hospitality TVs deliver ongoing benefit to your business. Our unique range of clever and convenient features help you minimise your operational costs and improve your energy efficiency.

Easily customise and copy settings to all your TVs at once - including logos, picture size, speaker volume and even DTV channels.

Hotel Logo Display

Provide guests with a constant - yet subtle reminder of your property. Our TV can display your logo on-screen for 3-7 seconds once it’s turned on, helping to generate awareness and reinforce your brand. Logos can be uploaded as bitmaps and can be copied using the USB Cloning Device.

Energy Efficient

Samsung’s LED TVs set new standards in energy-saving. By leveraging efficient LED technology, they use almost 50% less energy when compared to ENERGY STAR 4.0. In other words, a 55” Samsung LED TV consumes the same amount of energy as a conventional 32” LCD TV.

Easy Installation & Setup

Installing your new Samsung Hospitality TV is simple thanks to our easy-to-use, on-screen instructions which appear on the screen when it is turned on. They’ll guide you through the entire process, and are flexible enough to accommodate additional installation modes and processes for easy customisation.

Grab attention with a totally immersive 3D experience

Meet the growing demand for the latest in TV technology and the highest picture quality with the Samsung Hospitality TV. It’s a TV that will satisfy the needs of your customers for the best picture quality, along with an immersive 3D viewing experience.

And because Samsung is at the forefront of 3D technology, your guests will experience

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Samsung’s Hospitality TVs produce full HD 3D images that are amazingly realistic and bursting with colour. We achieve the very highest standard in Extreme 3D imaging through our intuitive 3D HyperReal Engine.

It is a brain-like technology that controls the colour, contrast, 3D effects and motion for mind blowing results. Full HD 3D visuals are so life-like and crystal-clear that they ensure that your experience is not only captivating but also comfortable.

Samsung Hospitality TVs are a cost effective business solution due to their energy efficient features and ability to decrease maintenance and management costs. Our TVs are designed to use less power and reduce your overall energy bill by up to 40%. In addition Samsung TVs

Samsung have partnered with Airwave Europe Ltd for the installation of Samsung Hospitality TVs. Airwave is one of the UKs leading suppliers, installers and integrators of digital television and audio visual equipment.

They have supplied and installed over 100,000 digital ready televisions within Hotels and other businesses, upgraded a further 18,000 existing televisions to digital, and have also undertaken major IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) and digital signage projects within stadia and corporate environments.

Within the hotel industry Airwave have installed Samsung Hospitality TVs in major hotel brands around the UK including Premier Inn, Holiday Inn, Best Western, Tune Hotels, Z Hotels, Seymour Hotels, H10 and Center Parcs, Their experience means they can advise on the right TVs for your business and handle all the installation and set-up for you.

To find out more about Samsung’s exciting new Hospitality TV proposition and how our experienced integration partner can help you please email us at samsung@hospitalitytv.co.uk.

Alternatively, come and join us at the Samsung’s Hospitality TV Showcase on Wednesday 30th November in the Waldorf Astoria, Syon Park, London.

You can review the agenda and register at http://www.samsunghotel.co.uk/

LG

e v a w r i LG & A

LG & Airwave

LG and Airwave bring the next generation of visual entertainment to the hospitality and leisure sector

W

ith the Olympics fast approaching, there is one sector in particular that is gearing up for a bumper year in preparation for the world’s biggest sporting event – the hotel industry. With less than a year to go before the 2012 Olympics kicks off in London, hoteliers are already reporting record occupancy levels across the capital and the surrounding area.

According to a market review by HotStats on the UK hotel market in July 2011, this rise in occupancy levels was accompanied by a rise in room rates indicating that as well as demand for hotel rooms, there is also a demand for luxury, high-quality accommodation as consumers and business users seek out the best rooms in the best hotels.

This comes as no surprise to LG and Airwave who have been providing visual

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entertainment solutions for the hotel industry for many years. From HD TVs through to internet-ready and 3D TV solutions, LG has been at the forefront of hotel industry, ensuring that there is a solution for every hotel requirement.

The Maldron Hotel in Cardiff, Wales is a perfect example of the work LG and Airwave have been carrying out across the industry. This hotel is one of Cardiff's tallest buildings with panoramic views over Cardiff City and Cardiff Bay. All of its rooms boast double beds, with superior king rooms available which consist of a large king size bed looking out over the panoramic views of the city from the 10th and 11th floors – with one of the standout features of the rooms being their floor to ceiling windows which enhance the spectacular views.

The Maldron Hotel offers 216 guest rooms with a range of configurations including double/king-size beds, inter-connecting and disabled access rooms.

Each room has broadband wireless internet access, offering eight state-ofthe-art conference rooms as well for business guests.

Airwave supplied 220 x 32” HD ready LCD LG Electronics TV sets for the four-star hotel in the first quarter of 2011. Designed for the luxury hotel sector, the TVs come with special features including a digital clock, alarm feature and full hotel mode menu, ready to be installed quickly and efficiently into the hotel rooms with minimal fuss or disruption to guests.

The LG TVs have been desk-mounted on stylish furniture in the hotel’s bedrooms. The installation also included a digital signage

LG network within the public areas using 42” full HD displays.

LG offers a wide range of hospitality display products which include basic stand-alone sets, interactive-ready displays and full interactive display sets. The company’s hospitality market share in the UK has increased over the last year to 30%.

This success has been achieved mainly due to its superior product functionality, number one rated service support and close relationships with such partners as Airwave, as well as hotel groups like Maldron who have had great experiences with the quality of LG’s solutions and now use them across their business.

Charles Mupfurutsa, UK hospitality manager at LG, was involved with the project from the outset and is delighted with the outcome: “We have been working with

Airwave on a number of hotel projects over the last few years, and it is a testament to the hard work and service they offer that we continue to do so. Not only do they have a great technical knowledge of our products, they have a strong understanding of the hospitality industry and so can advise and support us in our efforts to provide the best solutions for every hotel requirement, no matter how varied.”

Airwave’s Commercial Director, Julian Arnold, supported the implementation of the supply of the TV sets, working closely with Charles on the project: “As always, working closely with LG ensures we are fully equipped to provide the necessary solution for the hotel industry requirements. The 32” HD ready TVs were perfect for the Maldron Hotel, offering a compact yet high-quality TV experience for their customers.”

The Maldron Hotel project is indicative of the new and exciting technologies that are arriving in the market and the opportunities that these present for companies like LG and Airwave. LG offers a wide range of solutions to meet the everchanging demands of the commercial, hospitality and hotel industries which include adopting the newest technologies to ensure competitive edge in this fast-paced market.

With hotels realising that there are other avenues to make money, such as internet services instead of pay-per-view movies, solutions from LG help to keep them on top of the latest technology and achieve and sustain a real competitive advantage.

One such example is the range of MultiFunction Monitors (MFM). This is a range of screens that straddle the divide between a TV and a monitor - it is a monitor with a TV tuner and ‘hotel mode’, meaning you can create a welcome screen, limit the volume, and update new content regularly via the USB port - all crucial features of a product for hotel rooms. This can be used as a costeffective alternative to a TV or monitor when versatility is the main requirement, providing a solution for smaller hotels and chains, that may not have the initial outlay, to afford a full range of high-end TVs.

savings that can be gained from LED products. What’s more, these TVs are a lot slimmer than LCD and, as consumers move to adopt LED in their homes, there is a growing level of expectation that hotel customers have in terms of having a TV set in their room that’s as good, if not better, than the one they have at home. If a consumer is paying £150 upwards for a room for the night, they will undoubtedly feel a bit cheated if faced with a poor quality TV in their luxury hotel room.

Elsewhere in the hospitality sector, another technology that is booming is the implementation of 3D TVs in pubs and bars, primarily to televise sporting events such as football, tennis, and in preparation for next year’s Olympics. In August this year the director of Olympics coverage for the BBC, Roger Mosey, confirmed that parts of the

‘Solutions from LG help to keep hotels on top of the latest technology and achieve and sustain a real competitive advantage’ For hotel solutions which require a more straight-forward offering, LG provides a range of commercial TVs – the flagship being the Commercial Pro – which are designed to offer the same quality features that consumers expect from an LG TV set, but designed for longer use than usual TV sets. The range includes high-end features expected of hotel TVs, such as a volume limiter and USB connectivity, but also comes in 32”+ sizes to offer an enhanced viewing experience.

One of the newest technologies to reach the market and become a hit with the hotel industry is the arrival of LED TVs. LED TVs are backlit with LED lights in order to enhance the brightness of the screen image.

These LED lights line the entire back of the screen to brighten the image quality in order to enhance the picture and create the ultimate viewing experience for guests.

Most hotel TVs have LCD screens today, but as vendors such as LG increasingly move to LED product design, so therefore do hoteliers as they realise the energy and cost

2012 Olympics will be broadcast in 3D, following on from the successful Wimbledon tennis 3D coverage that the BBC carried out in the summer.

This sojourn into 3D broadcasting follows the success of BSkyB and its 3D broadcasting of the Premier League in pubs up and down the country. Introduced in early 2010, BSkyB were the first broadcaster to launch a dedicated 3D channel, initially to show live sporting events. It has become so popular with the hospitality sector that in 2011, LG and Airwave installed 3,500 47” 3D screens across the UK in conjunction with BSkyB. Across the UK market in 2011 alone, LG has worked alongside Airwave to install TV solutions in a number of venues. From hotel TVs to MFMs and 3D TVs, LG and Airwave have been able to provide both the hotel and hospitality sector with a range of solutions to the growing demands of their guests, giving them a real return on their investment by creating repeat business amongst their guests.

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airwave at work

Airwave at Work THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN – The Best in Hotel Technology • AirCAST – simply press the “Red Button”

AirCAST is the new Interactive Hotel TV Information System, based on the beloved “Red Button” made famous by broadcasters like the BBC and Sky, but bespoke to your hotel. The system enables your guests to access information at will using familiar technology, to select categories and multiple pages of information, to view images and videos, and to react to advertisements or highlighted events by pressing a “Call to Action” button on the remote. The system is delivered and installed by our experienced team and configured with your specific branding. Best of all, this high quality digital system requires no additional equipment in the guest bedroom, as it uses the hotel’s existing coaxial TV network, the normal remote control and the technology already within a standard Freeview TV.

• SIRCH no longer

Managed centrally, SIRCH (Samsung Interactive Remote Control for Hospitality) allows TV settings, like volume limitation or channel line ups to be configured universally and remotely. It is designed to be mounted at the broadcast head-end System in hotels and can even deliver firmware updates to TVs on the network using the existing coaxial cable. Airwave Europe is the exclusive distributor of the product which is an essential component in managing configuration with the minimum of time and energy.

• IPod TV

Increasingly hotel guests are carrying their own content with them; on a media player, phone or tablet device, so wouldn’t it be a great idea to enable those guests to playback that content during their stay in your hotel? When it comes to Apple connectivity, Airwave has the ideal solution…a single docking station that works seamlessly with the iPod, iPhone and iPad. The BlackBox iMediaDock transmits audio and video from your favourite Apple device via a single HDMI cable to your chosen Hotel TV. It also charges the device and comes with an infra-red remote control, so guests can sit back and enjoy.

• Phone Charger with Magnetic Attraction

How do you enable your guests and visitor to charge their mobile device simply and power efficiently? Airwave has the answer in the form of the ingenious Zip-Mini charging panel. This small, easy to install unit can charge up to 4 devices using magnetic contacts, so there’s only one power supply and no USB ports or permanent cables that have a tendency to break over time. The Zip-Mini is even splash proof making it perfect for bars, restaurants and hotel lounges, as well as guest bedrooms. Small fly leads are available for all major phones, tablets and e-readers.

The user simply connects a lead to their device, passes the other end of the cable near the charger and magnetic attraction does the rest.

• Digital Signage

Communication within a hotel is key to ensuring that guests get the most from their stay, and if a hotelier can convey good information it can improve sales and efficiency within a hotel.

Airwave has successfully demonstrated how Digital Signage can present attractive content and useful information in public areas, meeting rooms and even on TVs in guest bedrooms. For example, the AirSIGN system is a state of the art solution that can be adapted to be used by the experienced marketer or a novice. It can show video, images, text, animation…just about anything you like, and this content can be managed and scheduled from any PC with an internet connection. Digital Signage doesn’t have to be expensive and Airwave can provide a complete solution, including a screen for less than £500.

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• Samsung TVs* *now with Satellite inside

Every so often a milestone product emerges. In 2012 it is the Samsung hospitality LCD and LED, with an inbuilt satellite tuner. With the right aerial system, this can deliver hundreds of high quality digital, HD and 3D channels including FreeSat, (BBC1 HD,BBC HD, ITV HD, 4 HD), and French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Asian TV and radio channels, without any monthly cost.

The Aerial Network, called an IRS (Integrated Reception System), is standard equipment in residential apartment blocks, and enables all channels to be broadcast directly to the tuner in the TV. Of course, the value of delivering high quality TV content in the guest’s mother tongue is clear.

• AirSTREAM – Digital satellite for all TVs

Traditionally, hotels wishing to relay foreign language channels had racks of satellite receivers – one for each channel – in their basements and only distributed those channels in analogue meaning both high costs and poor quality pictures. Now with AirSTREAM, the digital satellite channels can be transcoded to digital terrestrial at a much lower cost, providing more channel choice and a much improved digital picture, with no loss of quality. This is also a great way to retrofit systems with some of the earlier “HD Ready” TVs, and enable them to receive channels like BBC1 HD etc, in time for the Olympics.

airwave at work

Airwave’s Sky news

Premier Inn leads the way

Premier Inn is the UK’s largest hotel group with over 590 properties and nearly 45,000 rooms. Over the last few years, Airwave has upgraded the entire base to Freeview, providing brand consistency and ensuring that Premier stays ahead of the market by providing guests with a wide choice of TV and radio channels in crystal clear digital quality.

Innovations at Center Parcs

Airwave is very pleased to be the main supplier of AV equipment to Center Parcs Villages throughout the UK, including the equipment at their luxury Treehouse developments at their Sherwood Forest and Longleat sites, designed for those who want the ultimate Center Parcs experience. All Treehouses incorporate an Octagonal Games Den, complete with a stunning Philips Aurea LED TV connected to Sky HD, Blu-ray, X-Box Kinect and a Philips surround sound system.

The whole experience is controlled by a touch screen video console, specially branded and configured for Center Parcs. All TVs benefit from Sky HD with up to 50 HD channels including movies and sports, as well as a Naturecam, set up to focus on local wildlife.

Airwave enjoys a good relationship with Sky and has provided the world renowned Sky News HD Centre with over 480 monitors and bespoke desk mounts, to enable staff and journalists to monitor and review news feeds from all over the world.

When Sky News required high-end Commercial Display screens for their latest state of the art Central London Millbank Studio they approached Julian Arnold, Commercial Director at Airwave. He commented “We were able to understand Sky’s requirements and drew up a shortlist of the most appropriate products from leading suppliers. Much of our installation work was completed out of hours, and we are pleased to have installed over 100 screens ranging from 19 to 85 inch from companies such as LG, Sharp and Panasonic” Airwave has also worked closely with Sky on 3D and has supplied over 4,000 pubs and clubs with LG 47 inch screens.

Content that circles the Globe

Airwave entertains guests, patients, passengers and company employees in Hotels, Hospitals, Ferries and Oil Rigs in all four corners of the globe. Content is normally downloaded using secure encryption systems over the internet directly to the local server for future play-out. The company currently supplies film, TV content in over 22 countries including the UK, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, France, Portugal, South Africa, Egypt, Oman, UAE, India, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Airwave are licensed to provide the very latest movies from Hollywood studios including Universal, Paramount, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox and Sony as well as the French studio Canal+ and other independent studios. Movies are normally supplied with English, French, Italian, German and Spanish soundtracks and can be supplied on a Pay TV or free-to-view basis.

Airwave Healthcare – making everyone feel better

The Healthcare division headed by Airwave Director, Paul Chambers, has now installed basic TV through to full media systems in over 140 hospitals across the UK in both private and NHS sectors, including Great Ormond Street, Harefield, Peterborough, HCA , Nuffield, BMI, Spire, Ramsey and Circle. See www.hospitaltv.co.uk

Holiday Inn stays ahead of the curve

The new Holiday Inn, Bristol City Centre has just been installed with a fantastic array of the latest Hotel AV products on the market. There are 155 rooms in total, with 32 inch Samsung LEDs installed in the standard rooms and 40 inch screens in the Executive rooms and suites. As well as having two LED screens, the suites also benefit from luxurious bathroom TV’s. All rooms have the latest HD Teleadapt hub as well as iPod docking stations with Clock/Alarm functionality.

The bar area enjoys an HD feed from SKY on all TVs, as well as the high luminosity projector. There are also two 3D LCD TVs from LG to further enhance the experience during key events. The conference area has been equipped with a professional Sharp Digital Signage Television and the entire hotel has its own Information Channel. There are even screens in the public area restrooms and gymnasium.

Airwave’s French Connection

Airwave Europe has proven its expertise in Digital Signage after completing the task of installing 42” LG LCD screens into the windows of French Connection’s top UK stores.

13

LAUSANNE HOSPITALITY SCHOOL

The

Future Ian Millar, Professor of IT at the Lausanne Hospitality School in Switzerland, shares his predictions for the future of hotel technology

T

he term ‘long term strategy’ may be good in some instances and of course applies to technology, but with the speed of change in the technology world, 'long' is a dangerous word.

Just look at the speed at which the simple television set has changed. CRT to Plasma, to LCD, to LED, maybe with a touch of 3D with or without glasses.

Having a TV today with just one USB port and one HDMI, seems, well, 'a bit basic'.

How many years has that taken? How many people have invested in LCD TVs with 720P only to finally understand that 1080P is what they should have bought?

Simply put, the speed at which technology is, changing is quite frankly, scary.

Go on Google and type in the letter “I”. Here in Switzerland, the iPhone 5 comes up number two, just after Ikea. A phone that is not even released yet!

Then we see the release and we get the iPhone 4S – how disappointing! So where will this take us in the future when it comes to hospitality? If we were to sit down, get out our iPad, either 1 or 2, or maybe your Samsung, or your Amazon fire tablet, and try and create a five-year technology strategy, what would be the conclusions, what would the hotel of the future look like in 2016?

Here's something to consider – when do your contract dates run to? Many contracts are made by previous management. When does your in room entertainment, internet access contract terminate, enabling you to look at future technologies? By what date do you need to renew or get out? Maybe something to discuss in the Monday morning meeting!

The Future – 2016 Predictions

In 2016 guests will predominately interact with the hotel through their smart phones.

This will be pre, during and post stay.

14

Once their room is ready, the guest will receive a message on their phone with their room number, inviting them to check in when they want. This type of guest will bypass reception and go straight to their dedicated room where their phone will also open the door for them.

Just to note on this process, certain countries will need a serious overhaul of their laws to allow this to happen; not to be covered in this article, maybe in another.

‘Your guest will place their phone on a pad on their desk and this pad will immediately start charging the guest’s phone through electromagnetic induction’ Once in their room the room will set itself to the desired preferences of the guest in terms of temperature and lighting, which of course will be LED lighting as is being introduced as law in most European countries.

Your guest will place their phone on a pad on their desk (sorry no more magazines on horse riding and watches), and this pad will immediately start charging the guest's phone through electromagnetic induction.

Your guest will then wish to connect to the internet (yes this will still be around) with whatever device they have in 2016, and this will of course be at no charge to the them. This may be through the WiFi provided by the hotel, or through 4G, or in 2016 8G, who knows.

The centre piece of the room, the television, will of course be on, showing the favourite channel of that particular guest.

Amazing quality, potentially 3D without

glasses, IF the content exists, controlled either by the guest's own phone, or if I may go out on a limb, probably voice-activated.

Youtube, skype, messenger would all be there for the guest, logging them into their own accounts.

The days of £15 films will be gone, with an offering of films, documentaries, news updates all for free through 100s of TV apps, as the TV will be connected direct to the internet.

All hotel services will be available either through the hotel TV or the guest's own phone. You will not need to pick up the phone to order room service, you will receive confirmation on the screen, and up-selling will be the norm, all driven by technology.

To finance all of this, advertising will become more prevalent, with the alarm call screen on the TV sponsored by a famous cereal company.

Tablet menus will be the norm in the restaurant, as well as touch surface bar counters and tables.

We will still sleep (thankfully) in a bed, or at least one that will rock us to sleep at night. Light therapy will become the norm to help us to sleep better through the stressful days we lead.

A favourite would be the shower that in the morning remembers the guest's preferred temperature.

Bathroom TVs will again become the norm, displaying not just television, but the guest's daily appointments, and all the other personal information they would like to know.

Check out will be a breeze; no more queues. There will be a PDF sent direct to the guest's phone.

This of course will not be an experience that all of our guests will require or even more enjoy. But there WILL be guests who DO want this kind of experience. And it is our job to provide that experience. If you don't provide all the answers, they will go with someone that does.

Looking for a hotel revenue driver?

The Arch London Hotel, www.thearchlondon.com

Sky offers your guests quality television entertainment across a breadth of content – from sport to movies, entertainment to news, music to style & culture and lots more.

Whether it’s inside rooms or at the bar, in stunning HD or ground breaking 3D, keeping guests entertained can help boost your hotel business.

Cater for business clientele and leisure guests alike.

Whatever the hotel requirement, Sky has a product to match including: Hotel Bar • Rooms • Conference Rooms • VIP Areas Spa & Poolside • Golf Clubs • Gyms • Staff areas • Lobby

For more on Sky for your hotel

Call 08442 410 629 or visit www.sky.com/business Calls cost up to 5.1 pence per minute with a 12.5 pence connection charge for BT customers. Calls from other providers may vary. Information correct at time of going to print (October 2011).

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10/10/2011 16:51

SKY

LOOKING FOR A REVENUE DRIVER?

The Arch London Hotel, www.thearchlondon.com offer guests Sky HD in rooms

Buzz terms associated with hotels include ‘enhancing the guest experience’, ‘positive customer satisfaction’, ‘a home from home experience’, ‘generating revenue’… the list goes on. Achieving these are where the challenges arise. Although there is no single solution, the power of television cannot be underestimated.

Television entertainment can work on a number of levels and many successful hotels have invested in Sky to help keep guests happy whilst enjoying additional food and beverage sales as a result.

Whether you’re a large hotel group or a smaller independently run hotel, Sky has a product that can help your business. We ask some key questions to help explain why Sky television could be the ideal way to support your hotel business.

TEMPT GUESTS WITH SKY IN ROOMS Q. What are the key benefits of having Sky in hotel rooms?

People are used to having multi-channel television. Many will have Sky at home and enjoy the breadth of channels on offer.

Having this same offer in room means guests are not losing out on the entertainment they are familiar with and may well expect.

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Q. How can having Sky in your hotel rooms help business?

If guests are comfortable in their room, not only will it make their stay enjoyable, but it can also lead to repeat visits. Guests can take advantage of room service or the mini-bar more than normal. It also gives your hotel a key point of difference from other hotels. As well as making your hotel the first choice next time, such TV quality can generate invaluable word of mouth exposure.

Q. How can Sky TV be viewed inside hotel rooms?

There are 2 options. Option 1 puts your guests in control with a Sky box in each room. This way, your guest can choose exactly what they watch; similar to how they would view TV at home. The second option is a ‘pick and mix’ where you choose the specific channels you want to show throughout rooms. This allows you to tailor TV content to suit your guests’ needs.

Q. What is the advantage with box per room?

This option provides each room with its own SkyHD box , allowing guests to have full control over a broad range of programming from movies to entertainment, variety to news, knowledge to kids and music to style and culture. Box per room is a great way to provide a premium service to guests, setting your hotel apart, or encouraging guests to upgrade their room choice. Prices are based on a ‘per room per month’ basis.

Q. How does the ‘Pick and Mix’ option work?

This is known as a SMATV channel system – common in many hotels. This system means that there is an individual Sky box for each channel chosen – all stored in a central location. It then allows for each channel to be shown in each room.

Q. Should I choose Sky for my hotel rooms?

You’ll already have TV’s inside your room so it’s the quality and breadth of content on the TV that can make a big difference

SKY to your guests stay and your business.

With the added prospect of an increase demand for room service and the mini-bar, your investment in Sky could soon turn into added revenues for the hotel.

DRIVE FOOD AND BEVERAGE REVENUE IN THE BAR Food and beverage revenue is important for any hotel bar. Other than great food and drink, guests often need a reason to stay in the hotel bar instead of visiting another venue nearby. This is where Sky can help keep guests inside your hotel and prove to be a key revenue driver.

Q. What are the options for showing Sky in the hotel bar?

There are two channel packages to chose from – Sky Base and Sky Ultimate. The Sky Base package offers a selection of sports channels including Sky Sports 1, 3 and Sky Sports News. Music and entertainment is also included so all guests can be catered for. The Sky Ultimate package is your comprehensive sports package offering all of the Sky Base channels as well as Sky Sports 2, 4 and ESPN meaning guests can enjoy a range of sport including the best football

action as well as rugby, cricket, golf and lots more.

Q. Will High Definition (HD) channels be available?

The Sky box you receive as part of your subscription will be a HD box (a free Sky+HD box when taking Sky Ultimate). Plus, there is no additional charge for the HD Pack which contains all of the HD channels available in your chosen channel package.

As long as you have a HD screen, your guests will be able to enjoy stunning HD quality in your hotel bar.

Q. How much does it cost?

The cost of your chosen package is based on the number of rooms in your hotel and so

will vary from hotel to hotel.

Q. What about Sky 3D? Consumers are becoming increasingly familiar with 3D technology as the popularity in 3D continues to grow in the home TV market. Pubs up and down the country are realising the business potential of showing live sport in a whole new dimension, and the trend looks to be following suit with hotels.

3D TV is revolutionary and gives a hotel even more of an edge over other live sport venues.

Q. Why should I consider Sky 3D? 3D offers a point of difference – it’s the latest buzz in TV viewing. Sky Sports show an ever growing number of events in 3D including Barclays Premier League football, rugby League, cricket, darts, golf, boxing and more. Hotels can capture a bigger share of the out-of-home viewing audience and showing live sport in 3D is as good as taking the viewer to the event itself – only from the comfort of your hotel.

Q. How much does it cost?

SkyHD boxes are 3D ready and you can get a SkyHD box for free when you take Sky Ultimate in the bar. A 3D TV is required as are 3D glasses.

We’ve scratched the surface to highlight some of the key questions in helping you decide on taking Sky in your hotel.

Ultimately, Sky can work as a great revenue driver for your hotel business – both in room or in the hotel bar.

With HD and 3D, offering Sky in your hotel means not only do you meet your guests’ expectations but you also gain a competitive edge over other hotels and venues looking to capture a share of your business.

For more on Sky for your hotel,

Call 08442 410 629 or visit www.sky.com/business

Calls cost up to 5.1 pence per minute with a 12.5 pence connection charge for BT customers. Calls from other providers may vary. Information correct at time of going to print (October 2011).

17

SHARP

Sharp Aquos TV and professional monitors offer the complete hotel display solution

Dynamic H

otels and conference centres are no longer simple, static structures, but interactive hubs of technology.

Technology adds value and helps generate revenue for the hospitality industry. Sharp offers a wide array of display products for reception areas, meeting rooms, hotel rooms, and administrative offices, enabling your hotel to become a cutting edge choice destination for tourists and business people alike.

Aquos TV to Fit Any Hotel Space

Sharp high definition AQUOS® LCD TVs combine space-saving versatility with stylish design to enhance any room in a hotel. From 19 to 60”, Sharp has one of the widest ranges of size classes in the marketplace, providing the hotelier with a suitable fit for any size of guest room, suite or bar area.

Aquos TVs are slim and elegant, with fantastic sharpness and contrast giving a truly fabulous picture no matter how bright the room. Hoteliers will also reap the benefits of minimal energy consumption, especially important as customers are now expecting larger and larger models.

Sharp AQUOS TVs always come equipped with the very latest LCD LED picture technology. No matter whether your preference is for 2D or 3D TV, the guests will enjoy vibrant, lifelike colours and extra image depth, allowing you and your customers many years of viewing pleasure and satisfaction.

Sharp Smart Internet TV

Sharp AQUOS is a smarter TV for modern day hotel guests who need more than just a television. The AQUOS NET+ menu

18

Displays gives you access to popular online services. Simply by using the remote control, the net function will enable your guests to surf the net, read the news and much more. USB time shift enables the replay or pausing of live television via the standard digital aerial, ensuring that crucial

‘No matter whether your preference is for 2D or 3D TV, the guests will enjoy vibrant, lifelike colours and extra image depth, allowing you and your customers many years of viewing pleasure and satisfaction’

moments are not missed. Guests can stop and rewind live transmissions and see what they want to watch, when they want to watch it.

Professional Displays for Hotel Digital Signage

Sharp Professional displays are designed for 24/7 use with high brightness suitable for all indoor hotel conditions. The fanless design and stylish slim bezel mean that they will be the perfect fit for any hotel environment. With a wide choice of connections and signal support, Sharp Professional displays connect to almost any type of digital hotel content.

Another great benefit of these displays is that they can be operated in both portrait and landscape orientation, fitting any hotel space.

Sharp Professional displays are perfect for video conferencing, meeting rooms and lobby information displays. Using

SHARP SDSS™ Sharp Digital Signage Software, event announcements, advertising and more can be easily managed and distributed throughout the facility. With additional options including input/output expansion boards, signage controllers and integrated protective overlays, the adaptability of Sharp PN-E series displays is unparalleled.

Hotel Video Walls – e with Creating the Wow Factor tionsThe Sharp V-series video wall panels will

bring any hotel reception, atrium or entertainment area to life, Quattron technology with thegiving your hotel a real cutting edge contemporary D backlighting for a fantastic feel and creating the wow-factor for your guests.

These screens offer cutting edge ption. This is one example of how Sharp providing maximum brightness nmenttechnology and protects natural resources. and uniformity of colour thanks to their unique Sharp 10th Generation LCD glass and LED backlights.

Theare individual panels ergy-saving functions and have ultra thin bezels so a minimal frame onmental impact as possible. effect is achieved and their scalability gives the hotelier an ability to create a truly amazing dynamic wall of digital content. gy efficiency class A or A+.

Easy to assemble and easily controlled mong the in several sizeor categories viaTop theTen RS-232C interface a network, video walls composed of Sharp PN-V601 out by the German environmental dynamic, high-impact June 6,monitors 2011 atbring www.bund.net/tv-finder) exposure to commercial display content. opean Ecolabel The V-series monitors offer an excellent alternative to old fashioned and high maintenance large screen projectors in your hotel meeting room facilities

Sharp Professional Displays Stand Out From the Rest

• Reliability – The Professional Series is olabel designed Awardto operate reliably 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is backed up were the first to be awarded by a three-year warrantythe withofficial six hours swap al of theon-site EU, the EUout Ecolabel, in 2005.

• Fan-free design – Fan-free design p LED TVs bearnothe EUenters Ecolabel. ensures dust the display and gives quiet operation in both portrait and lanscape orientation.

• Connectivity - Wide range of input DVI, HDMI, VGA, Video, acturingconnections process is inc. resource-efficient RS232 and LAN. e, and the majority of components • Thin Bezel design - Only 19.8mm size cled. for 60 inch.

• Full Range of Sizes – Four different sizes classes to accomodate a wide range of environments.

• Superb image quality – For vivid, high-contrast images, PN-E601/E521

or the environment

nt with the

complex in Sakai, Japan ensures the cesses and consumption of energy. In CD panels for TVs that are the world’s quality, performance and cost. This uction of LCD panels and Sharp ay, as the largest solar factory pacity of one gigawatt.

LCD panels incorporate Sharp’s UV2A technology*, which prevents light leakage from the backlight to enable the display of extremely deep blacks.

All PN-E Series monitors boast 1,920 (H) x 1,080 (V)-pixel full-HD resolution

to ensure that none of the detail or visual impact is lost. Thanks to full-HD resolution, everything from fine text to intricate graphics is stunningly crisp and clear.

Sharp also helps your hotel achieve environmental targets through a number of fantastic features.

Eight Ecological Features To really become an environmentally advanced company, Sharp has further strengthened its efforts towards making its new products eco-friendly. To achieve that goal, eight superior ecological features and additional ecological features are built in LE AQUOS series models with numbers of 811 and higher.

1 4 Primary Colour Technology In addition to the three primary colours red, green and blue, the brilliant yellow sub-pixels enables efficient backlight operation with reproduction in higher quality. Less power is needed to reproduce the same level of yellow output than with conventional panels.

2 LED Sharp’s LED system enables precise brightness control and high-speed response. This reduces the light required to view the same picture and decreases power consumption.

3 X-Gen Panel Compared to the conventional Advanced Super View panel, the new X-Gen panel has a wider aperture ratio, allowing improved light transmission through the panel. This greatly helps to achieve a higher contrast ratio with less power.

4 Eco Picture Control Analysing the picture signal to optimally control the backlight brightness and picture quality produces a high-quality picture with low power consumption.

5 Main Power Switch Turning off the TV with the side switch enables saving almost the same amount of power as pulling the plug out of the wall socket (0.01 W max).

6 Energy Save Mode The LE Series represents the latest in energy-saving design with a dedicated Eco button on the remote control that allows the user to choose between two levels of energy saving: standard and advanced. Setting the power-saving level can result in decreased overall power consumption.

7 Optical Picture Control (OPC) OPC automatically adjusts the screen brightness according to the ambient room brightness. This is not only eco-friendly, since it leads to greater conservation of energy, but also easy on the eyes.

8 No-Signal Off / No-Operation Off The TV automatically switches into standby mode to reduce power consumption if there is no signal for 15 minutes or no operation for 3 hours.

19

SQUARE [i] international

Plan for tomorrow’s developments with Apple IPTV solutions for hotels

B

oth at home and the office, the digital revolution is here; flat screen TVs, HD content, iPod, iPhone, iPad, HSIA, video and music on demand and so much more. The Square [ i ] platform allows you to harness all these elements over one industry standard network and IP protocol and allows you to plan for tomorrow’s new developments. Let your guests play their own content through your solution. Give them access to all the day to day communication tools and social media they interact with every day – Skype, iChat, Webmail, YouTube, Facebook, MSN, Twitter – you can even interact with your guests… your very own audience.

On this very same infrastructure, server and platform, you can also deliver digital signage, business center machines, internet kiosks and administer it all through one simple, intuitive interface with drag and drop technology and tick boxes.

Square [ i ] International is the world’s only Apple Premium Reseller with a dedicated hospitality division and offices in three continents.

Our technology eradicates clunky coax based solutions and provides the hotel with a Mac Mini or iMac in the guest, bedroom enabling the guest to experience feature graphic-rich television.

It even works with set top boxes too, if budget is limited.

According to Darren King, chief executive of Square [ i ]; “Hotels have been struggling in matching the guest expectation with the technology they enjoy at home. Square [ i ] solves that issue for the hotel by providing cutting edge design and technology for the guest’s in-room entertainment using the world’s most powerful brand”.

Square [ i ] utilizes its 19+ years of experience in the Apple enterprise sector and applies it to providing hotels with a fantastically-designed product that meets the customers’ needs and at the same time provides hotels an opportunity to make a future-proof investment for in-room technology.

Murtaza Bukhari, VP Sales EMEA continues “Our product allows the hotel to stay ahead of the curve by providing cutting edge technology that guests can relate to and understand how to interact with. The hoteliers are under constant pressure to differentiate themselves from

the competition and we are glad to say that Apple IPTV does so perfectly”.

• A turn-key solution with built-in access points, media hubs and a full computer • Exceed guest expectations and differentiate your hotel in the market • Maximise ROI, attract new and secure repeat business • Hybrid platform – Macs and set top boxes on the same network • Ever-evolving solution of the world’s best operating system • Globally Supported and monitored • Airwave partners with Square [i] to provide movie content to their hotels from the UK to Australia.

What our customers say: Rebecca Coonan – General Manager Parkhouse Hotel (Five-Star)

“We’ve all found Square [ i ] to be a pleasure to use and support. Userfriendly, cutting-edge, hospitalityfocused tech that really adds a Wow! factor to our hotel.

We’ve had raving reviews from guests aged nine to 90! It just works, simple. The system offers so many extra in-room facilities in one gorgeous piece of Apple design.”

Robert Holland – General Manager The Bermondsey Square Hotel

“Our customers have an expectation that the hotel will come equipped with all the mod cons and in that respect, the iMacs do not disappoint.”

Contact details: 020 7692 6808 78 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1HB sales@square-i.tv www.square-i.tv

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AIRWAVE SUP 2012 MASTER_Layout 1 18/10/2011 09:23 Page 21

PHILLIPS

Philips launches MediaSuite TVs Giving today’s hotel guests, tomorrow’s connectivity New research shows that more than half of travelers would rather book a hotel with internet-connected TVs

The feedback from the CoCreation Expert Team resulted in Philips creating dedicated hospitality apps for NetTV, as is shown here with the ‘City Info’ app on MediaSuite.

Philips, the leading provider of TV solutions to the hospitality industry, launches MediaSuite - a new internet enabled TV range allowing guests to access a world of online entertainment and information from within the comfort of their hotel room.

The launch of Philips’ MediaSuite is supported by research indicating travelers are attracted to hotels offering interactive TV services. More than half (55%) of respondents in a pan-European survey of more than 10,000 travelers, said that they would chose a hotel offering an internet enabled TV service over one which does not. 92% stated they would use NetTV every time they are in a hotel room.

Philips’ MediaSuite TVs are the latest addition to Philips’ portfolio of products specially designed for the hotel sector. This new range allows hoteliers to cost-effectively offer guests previously inaccessible interactive services via a wealth of online NetTV apps without the need for a set-top box.

Philips MediaSuite enables guests to experience the full functionality of the internet without the need to unpack a laptop or notebook to access the web. Catch-up TV, online apps such as local weather and news, Facebook and Twitter can now be accessed through the TV, meaning guests can be as connected in their hotel room as they are at home. The easy-to-use system includes an innovative remote control specifically designed for intuitive navigation through the range of interactive services. Tim Worrall, Managing Director of Airwave adds: “The MediaSuite truly is a solution that matches the exact need of the today’s traveler, hoteliers can now safely offer a home-away-from-home experience with the connectivity through the TV that people are used to.”

Wouter Staal, Sr. Global Marketing Manager, Philips Hotel TV, commented: “Our mission is to help hotel owners and managers around the world deliver a differentiated guest experience in a cost-effective and sustainable way through our Hotel TV solutions. MediaSuite enhances our offering and demonstrates our commitment to providing competitive advantage to our partners through innovation and service.”

Tim Worrall of Airwave continues: “Through projects we’ve done with Philips recently, like the Macdonalds Hotels Group, Potters Holidays in Great Yarmouth and the Westland Hotel in London, it shows we’re a great team together who can meet the need of the modern hotelier, giving him or her the tailor made solution their guests require.”

22

CoCreation Expert Team in launching the MediaSuite Philips has more than thirty years’ experience in the hotel business providing innovative solutions through a complete range of LED TVs with groundbreaking features. Its commitment to innovation is further demonstrated by the launch of its ‘CoCreation Expert Team’. This panel of independent industry leaders brings together years of expertise and will test Philips products and offer insight on how Philips can continue to develop market-leading solutions to enhance hotel guests’ experiences.

Philips’ ‘CoCreation Expert Team’ features senior management from major hotel partners including Marriott, Starwood and Accor and leading hospitality industry consultants Ted Horner, Bryan Steele and Ian Millar of Lausanne Hotel School.

White Box London event and Partner Seminar Philips has hosted four White Box Experience events across Europe to launch the new MediaSuite range of products with NetTV for hotels.

The London event at The Cumberland has been a great success where over 150 industry professionals and media came together to experience the new products and its opportunities. More recently during the Philips Partner Seminar, the global hospitality industry came together at the Renaissance Amsterdam where the range was officially presented. Guest speakers included Pedro Martinez from NH Hoteles, Michael Zetterlund from Nordic Choice Hotels, Martin de Neuville of Pierre et Vacance Center Parcs and many more. Wouter Staal: “It’s been a great month launching our new ranges to the public and the responses have been phenomenal. We’re very proud to have been able to bring the complete industry together to show them our new product line-up.” Tim Worrall concludes: “It’s great to see Philips doing these activities and going out to the market directly. As Preferred Partner we’re constantly trained and updated on the latest innovations, thereby bringing great added value to hotels in the UK and beyond.”

The new range of Philips Hotel TVs is available from now onwards.

For more information visit www.philips.com/hoteltv or www.airwave.tv, or connect with Philips through Facebook and Twitter (keyword: PhilipsHotelTV).

/PhilipsHotelTV

Give today’s guest tomorrow’s connectivity MediaSuite: your room enriched with online apps Created and launched together with various hotel industry leaders

For more information visit www.philips.com/hoteltv

AIRWAVE SUP 2012 MASTER_Layout 1 18/10/2011 09:23 Page 24

Today’s Hotel Guests Arrive with All Their Electronics....

...Plug Them in

We have all the products you need to do it... Working closely with consumer technology manufacturers and hoteliers internationally, we have developed a complete line of connectivity products for the hotel industry. Products that make it possible for your guests to seamlessly connect their personal media devices to the hotel room television. We also provide easy-to-use Internet access points, both wired or wireless, as well as the products to recharge all their electronic devices. Whatever your guest’s connectivity needs, we have the solution. We provide user-friendly connectivity solutions that are aesthetically pleasing, cost effective, and guaranteed to truly enhance your guest’s stay.

Visit our website at: www.teleadapt.com Axis 5, Rhodes Way, Watford, WD24 4YW, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1923 810 200 E-mail: info@teleadapt.com

2011 A4 HOTEL BUSINESS.indd 1

07/10/2011 12:41

TELEADAPT

Get ready to connect your guests…

to Media, Audio, Internet and Power.

L

ooking towards the London2012 Olympic Games, all eyes tend to be on the lodging industry as we gear up for the world’s largest international competitive event. Every four years, the host country’s hotels and resorts set the tone for guestroom technology for the years to come. We all want to know what technology can facilitate worldwide communications and in-room entertainment amongst business and leisure travellers.

Unsurprisingly, the connectivity needs for athletes, broadcasters, families and friends are the same as all of our technology demands. Our need to charge personal devices, to be entertained and to easily communicate with each other is always important, even more so when you are away from home. And, for many travellers, if the right technology is not available to them in the guestroom they will not choose to stay at your hotel.

Fortunately, there is TeleAdapt, where everything we do is focused on assisting hotels in catering to their guests’ technology needs - ranging from the most basic demand for more power… to access to reliable Internet… to next generation multimedia entertainment connectivity.

Advanced Media Entertainment Experience Entertainment media has gone mobile and guests are bringing their own content in the form of iPod playlists, iTunes movies, streaming online video, video games and more. Guests expect the opportunity to enjoy their own media without being limited to small screens and headphones.

TeleAdapt’s MediaHub HD™ takes the in-room entertainment system to a new level with connection points the guest can use to enjoy their own music, pictures, videos, games and more through the big screen TV. Built-in auto sensing also creates an effortless plug and play experience for the guest. Install MediaHub HD with any TV or STB with an available HDMI port and devices will be auto-sensed to play through the TV without the need to fumble with the TV remote control.

6

panel manufacturer to incorporate this wireless technology into their product.

MediaHub’s Bluetooth pairing point converts the in-room TV into a wireless speaker, letting guests fill the room with the sound of their own music from an iDevice, smartphone, laptop or tablet computer without having to tie their player to the panel with a cable or dock. Guests can have the freedom to keep their musicplaying smartphone and tablets with them to control their playlists, check email, browse the Internet or use other “apps” while their music plays.

reduction, single day alarm, AUX line-in for non-Apple devices and side USB ports for convenient device charging. Choose among a wide range of docking clock radios for iPod or iPad docking or hi-end retail units ideal for suites with fantastic sound and Apple App features.

More Power Please Today’s guests arrive with many electronic devices, and they need to be recharged.

With more and more portable electronics entering the guestroom, easy-to-find power outlets are a necessity, regardless of how or if the guest will use them in the room.

TeleAdapt’s PowerHub™ is a practical solution for providing additional power outlets and an Internet connection point right at the workstation or nightstand. Add the PowerHub to any MediaHub product so guests can enjoy endless personal entertainment with the convenience of power and data in one location. TeleAdapt also offers a number of multi-device charging stations for the guest-room, public areas or portable units for retail.

Alarm Clock Radios Made for Hotels TeleAdapt carries an innovative range of clock radios that are perfect for guests with iDevices and include features that only make sense for hotel rooms such as volume

Dependable Wi-Fi Access For Your Guests A common challenge among hoteliers is how to add a reliable Wi-Fi signal throughout their property while keeping costs down and avoiding disruptions to business. DeskPoint Pro is a Wireless Access Point (WAP) that takes an existing Internet wiring network and converts it into a wireless signal, without costly new cable runs. One WAP provides 100% room-toroom wireless coverage, both a wired and wireless access point for guests as well as a conveniently located side USB port for mobile device charging. Support for up to five SSIDs and seven VLANs make DeskPoint Pro the ideal solution for hotels that have various back-of-house applications and tiered guest-facing user groups.

Accessories that Generate Revenue

The Wow-Factor with Wireless Music Streaming

TeleAdapt offers a line of media cables, charging cables and power adapters for the forgetful laptop, PDA or mobile phone user. ConnectKit™ cable sets, individually packaged cables and branded adapters are ideal for sale through the mini-bar, room service or from the concierge for a fast-moving revenue generator. These products provide revenue for you, and are a convenience for guests, allowing them to use the technology amenities you’ve provided.

Bluetooth technology is becoming a technology standard in consumer electronics with Apple® and other major smartphone and tablet brands embracing Bluetooth® for wireless music streaming.

TeleAdapt is the first and only connectivity

For more information on the full range of TeleAdapt connectivity products for the hospitality industry, please visit www.teleadapt.com or email info@teleadapt.com

AIRWAVE

Look to the Skies S

ome of our most successful installations in 2011 have been with those hotels who understand their guests and have embraced the new technology available to deliver digital satellite channels.

Here, we look at some of the many options available.

Tune Hotels

Tune hotels offer a 5 star bed at 1 star prices and is aimed at the savvy guest who wants value for money. The new 183 roomed Liverpool Street Hotel maintains a low rate as it gives the guest the option to pay charges for extras like breakfast, towels, room cleaning and also TV. However, those guests requiring TV will not be short-changed, as the latest 26 inch Samsung Hotel LCD TVs with inbuilt satellite tuners have been installed which will deliver the full FreeSat TV and Radio service to the guests, which includes channels like BBC 1 HD, BBC HD, ITV HD and 4HD.

Z Hotels Soho

The ground-breaking Z Hotel Soho, marks a brand new era in hotels, with a chic urbanite feel to the room and a very affordable cost. All rooms feature the latest, top of the range 40 inch Samsung LED TV as well as the full Sky HD service, which includes sports and movies. iPod docking stations and internet access are also included in the rate. With rooms from ÂŁ85, this is designer label without the designer price tag.

Citadines Trafalgar

Greenhills Hotel, Jersey

With a very cosmopolitan European guest mix, the charming Greenhills Hotel in Jersey, part of the Seymour Group, has opted for the latest Samsung LEDs with inbuilt satellite in order to both enhance the UK terrestrial offering via FreeSat, as well as provide

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French, German and other European language channels via satellite. As all coaxial cables were already fed to the headend, the system was easily upgraded to an Integrated Reception System (IRS) and both guests and management are delighted with the results.

Even though Citadines Trafalgar with its 187 apartments enjoys a near unrivalled location in Central London, it is ironic that it could not easily receive the basic Freeview service because of problems of line of sight to the transmitter. For Airwave, the solution was simple and the new AirSTREAM system has been installed which converts digital satellite (FreeSat) to digital terrestrial signals onto the hotel network. Because of the international guest mix, the same equipment is used to retransmit international channels in the same way.

There is no requirement for any set top box at the headend and the system is completely digital.

TMB SYSTEMS

Credit Where Credit’s Due

Payment card industry security compliance – it’s time to act

N

o UK hotel could operate without the ability to take credit cards but many do not realise that they run the risk of credit card clearing being withdrawn unless they comply to the Payment Card Industry Data security standards (PCI DSS).

TMB Systems Limited provide a variety of specialist services to the hospitality industry including internet access, telephone systems, TV systems (in partnership with Airwave), access control and CCTV systems.

In 2011 TMB Systems Limited launched a PCI consultancy service to assist hotels become PCI DSS compliant which proved instantly popular with both new and existing clients.

TMB Systems has a set of 'points to ponder' to understand why and how to comply with PCI DSS as outlined below: The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (or PCI-DSS) is a series of requirements for securing credit card data and involves all people, processes and technology that store, process, or transmit cardholder data. The first step in complying with PCI-DSS is discovering and defining your Cardholder Data Environment (CDE), all of the places, systems, people, and hardware that cardholder information could touch. All of these places are subject to PCI audit, so you must verify that no cardholder data exists outside your Cardholder Data Environment.

Reduce Data Collection Data collection is the key to data security.

This principle primarily means: if you don’t need it, don’t collect or store it.

sure that network is physically segregated from your payment systems network. By separating your internal networks, you can limit damage caused by a breach, virus, or malicious insider.

It’s Your Network: Know What’s Going On You can’t breach information if you don’t have it. Because of the high costs associated with data breaches, credit card data and other sensitive personal information should be collected sparingly and protected like gold.

Limit Access Access to PCI and HR data should be granted on a 'need to know' basis, and access should be reviewed regularly.

Every month your hotel exchanges data worth thousands of pounds over your networks. Yet, often hotels never review their network logs, or 'statements' for unauthorized activity. Many don’t know exactly where this valuable information goes. In addition to maintaining server logs and data trails, make sure your security professionals actively review this data.

Proper logging and analysis will allow your company to better quantify risk, fix vulnerabilities and even track down the perpetrators of an attack.

Security is not just an IT Thing

‘Data collection is the key to security. This principle primarily means: if you don’t need it, don’t collect or store it’ Split Up Your Network If your Sales department doesn’t need access to employees’ records, then separate the Sales office’s network from the HR department. If your hotel provides wireless networks to hotel guests, make

Even the best IT security cannot prevent a careless mistake from an employee. Hotels bear the heavy responsibility of training all staff in the proper handling of PCI data, especially in an age of Facebook, Twitter, text messaging and smart phones. Though technology solutions are often essential, security is not a product. Security is fundamentally a human system, which uses technological tools. Create a culture of privacy and security by evaluating employees on their adherence to privacy and security practices during each performance review.

Summary PCI data is as valuable as gold and as dangerous as uranium. Although your organisation will never be able to completely eliminate the risk of a breach, taking these common-sense steps will significantly reduce your potential liability.

TMB Systems Limited specialist PCI consultants can be contacted on 08000 910 232 or via www.tmbonline.co.uk

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