Hospitality
Thoughtful Solutions throughout the Hotel
As competition for customers intensifies the hotel industry is increasingly turning to technology to drive efficiency throughout its processes and simultaneously improve the customer experience.
Comfort for the occupants
Certainly, modern technology can offer guests enhanced comfort with increased functionality of room. This is possible via the effective linking of hotel management technology to provide clear information on when to make-up a room, when not to disturb, and when room has been or is being cleaned. However, the knowledge of these products within the hotel sector often give complete room information and manage occupancy to ensure maximum comfort for the guest plus optimum efficiency for the hotel.
At check-in guests are issued with a Prox. smart card which allows access to the room via a smart card reader and, crucially, detects the guest’s presence or absence from the room. This ability to determine the whereabouts of guests is a key component in energy control, particularly in terms of in-room heating and lighting. The use of room cards to operate heating and lighting within hotels is not a new concept but the microchip technology developed with the Prox. smart card means that these controls can only be operated when a guests card connects with the technology. This correct temperature control philosophy offers the potential for enormous energy savings. Unnecessary heating and cooling of vacant rooms is a considerable cost and can be eliminated by the use of smart technology.
When a guest checks into the room, he can select the desired temperature in 'Comfort Mode' usually between 19oC and 23oC. Upon leaving, the system sets itself to ‘Pre-Comfort Mode’, usually 2oC lower than the guest’s optimum temperature. Furthermore, when windows are opened, heating is restricted to provide automatic frost protection whilst cooling is negated. When a guest checks out of the hotel the temperature adjusts to just above the condensation point at 16oC to save energy and protect the building. For prolonged periods of non-occupation, such as during refurbishment, frost protection only can be selected at approximately 7oC.
Efficiency of the hotel
KNX Technology can also help drive efficiency through the room servicing and maintenance processes. Service personnel are issued with their own room passes which enable access to a room but not the use of television or audio equipment. Once the smart card is in the reader the hotel will know which room is being serviced and by whom. Once a room is ready the front desk is automatically alerted. Knowing the whereabouts of service personnel and how long it is taking to service a room is highly valuable information when a hotel is attempting to drive efficiency through its operations. With KNX technology, easy location of cleaning staff and instant knowledge of room status can drive efficiencies through the servicing process.
EnTech also believe that intelligent building products can make a contribution towards a more efficient maintenance programme. Guests no longer have to contend with faulty equipment; an EnTech KNX installation will immediately alert the maintenance department and the problem can be rectified without inconvenience to the guest.
For the guest, the KNX system can also have comfort, security and fire safety benefits. The KNX system will alert front desk if there is any unauthorised entry into the room and the card will identify which member of staff has cleaned a room or used their pass to enter a room. In case of emergency, the system will identify which rooms are occupied, automatically turn on the lights and, using digital signage, shepherd guests to the most appropriate exit.
The KNX technology ensures that everything is under control from check-in to check-out with a main overview at reception that ensures continuous monitoring of the room, even at check-out, the technology can detect whether the guest has used items from the mini-bar via the use of barcoding on the fridge doors linked to the hotel KNX management system, which is particularly important as many hotels attempt to become cashless operations.
One size fits all
EnTech remain concerned that the British hotel industry is slow to appreciate the potential of the KNX technology. The disappointment is that British hotels, which are already refurbishing in order to meet fire and safety standards have been slow to embrace this technology and are now falling behind their foreign counterparts. The best international hotels, such as the Grand Hyatt Dubai have installed a comprehensive KNX system and are reaping the benefits.
Don't be fooled into thinking that KNX is only relevant to the big hotels; small hotels can also reap the energy saving benefits of a KNX installation. It is easily installed during a refurbishment programme and will pay for itself very quickly. We estimate a pay-back period for the installation of smart technology of between 2½ to 3 years solely from potential energy savings.