Airwave Hotel TV 2012 - Customer Overview, The Big Picture for 2013

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Is 2013 the year that Smart becomes a reality?

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The Apex of Guest TV

AirMEDIA

Economy, efficiency, functionality and style with Philips

Airwave’s best installations unveiled

Smarten up and get app happy with AirMEDIA

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contents

Welcome!

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his is now our fourth supplement providing hoteliers with an overview of some of the latest technological products and services available.

I can now say with some confidence that together with our partners, the advice we have given has been instrumental in helping to shape the future onscreen experience in hospitality.

Again, we trust that this guide sparks up some great ideas for you – so please enjoy the Big Picture 2013.

Tim Worrall, MD Airwave Europe Limited

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Contents 4

Airwave Connect to the Future with Airwave

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Samsung Smarten up to Samsung

10 LG Life’s good with LG

12 Sharp Think outside the box with Sharp

13 Top 10 See Airwave’s top innovations

14 The Next Generation With Airwave’s family of Air products

18 Airwave at Work Airwave’s top success stories

20 Lausanne Hospitality School Ian Millar speculates on the future of hotel technology

22 Digital Signage Stadium, university and retail TV

25 Teleadapt Get connected today

27 Tilevision Splash out on bathroom TV

28 Square International Customise your system with Apple TV

29 Exterity Give your guests the ultimate experience

30 Bandwidth The new utility

United.TV Global Vision, Local Care 2 013 will see the start of a new concept in the provision television hospitality across Europe with the formation of the United.TV network which includes Airwave and a number of other specialist partners serving each country.

United.TV is a family of companies across Europe with a common set of standards, allowing for a consistent installation quality for both networks and AV equipment.

These companies already work closely with the key suppliers such as Philips, Samsung and LG, and will soon also provide a unique installation and maintenance support mechanism for pan-European hotel groups.

The network will provide consistent solutions for hotels and the hospitality

industry as well as the retail digital signage sector.

United.TV is also hub of innovation enabling the partner companies to develop the best new technology including information channels, OTT services, content and SMART TV solutions and deploy across Europe.

Bert Nijeboer, from the hospitality specialist TriAV, which covers Benelux explains “We are delighted to be part of United.TV as we are industry specialists, who are fully committed to providing a quality installation and maintenance solution for all Audio-visual and network related requirements in hospitality. We have a great relationship with companies like Airwave and already share ideas on best practice and new product developments. United.TV is a

way of formalising what we have already been doing, and allows both TV suppliers and International Hotel groups to approach us directly.”

Airwave Europe MD, Tim Worrall elaborated “As a company and following our recent acquisition of Techlive, we now operate in over 32 countries where we supply movie content in partnership with local operators. We find that the challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry are similar, and therefore common technical approaches apply in many different markets. Both TV suppliers and international hotel groups require consistency and to work with companies they can rely on. With United.

TV, we can provide support Global Vision backed up by Local Care.”

See www.united.tv

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connect

Connect to

the future The future takes no prisoners. If you take ill-informed advice and either install the wrong infrastructure, or end up tied into long term contracts with aging technology, your guests will not thank you for it - voting with their feet.

Digital TV Started a Revolution Last year we saw the final stage of the digital upgrade in the UK, which resulted in hotels being able to go from providing five grainy analogue channels to more than 50 high quality digital TV and radio channels.

Gone are the days where guests complain about the quality of their in-room picture and limited channel choice. This has also impacted upon the traditional suppliers of hotel Pay TV systems, as hoteliers believed that this quantum leap in both TV channel choice and picture quality was enough to keep their guests happy. The trend for the last few years has been for this sector of the market to decrease, whilst the ‘stand alone’ market has grown.

Whilst the bandwidth from Terrestrial Freeview is limited, current services from satellite offer much more choice which can cater for your international guests, as well as provide many extra UK HD services.

For most new build hotels, for the marginal additional cost we would recommend installation of an Integrated Reception System, (IRS), which can deliver all freeto-air channels from two different satellites, as well as all the local terrestrial Freeview channels. Airwave installed such a system for the Holiday Inn and Staybridge hotels serving the Olympic Park in Stratford in 2012, and when the BBC announced 24 simultaneous HD channels covering all events, we were able to remotely tune all TVs into the new channels at no cost to the hotel.

These IRS networks are extremely flexible and the same equipment can be used to deliver the full Sky package to all rooms including up to 600 TV and radio channels, 50 of which are HD.

Size Matters People want at least what they have at home, and we have seen a rapid growth in screen sizes with even hotels in the budget sector selecting 40 or 42 inch LEDs, which were the preserve of four and five star hotels just one year ago. The screens are also getting thinner, with the aesthetics becoming increasingly important. With such a plethora of channels, and the mounting of the screens on walls, it is

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enable easy plug and play usage. Whilst wired connectivity is a stable and robust solution, the latest connectivity options from AirMEDIA, Samsung and Philips are wireless and seriously sexy. With this feature guests can securely send content, like music, images and video from their iPads, tablets and smart phones directly to the screen in their room. This is a much more enjoyable experience than listening or viewing on the smaller mobile device. becoming even more important that hoteliers select commercial hotel screens with features such as volume control, menu lock, USB cloning, remote tuning and extended warranties.

Get Connected Connectivity is becoming increasingly important as guests arrived all with a plethora of digital devices, such as iPhones, cameras, MP3 players 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

Bandwidth is the New Utility A recent report from the USA showed that demand for bandwidth in American hotels was doubling every year. This is being driven by an increasing number of guests carrying more bandwidth hungry devices when they travel and expecting faster connectivity. We all know that bandwidth is expensive, but it is becoming clearer that there is a willingness to pay for good secure, reliable and fast connectivity. The tiered approach to internet access is being widely accepted as a norm, with just a few brands wishing to offer it completely free as part of their consumer offering.

Under the tried scenario, free low bandwidth internet access is often offered

connect for a limited period, like one hour, which enables email messages to be sent and received, and also allows the site to 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. For the guest this approach would guarantee the required 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. This way, we can stay in the good book of those reviewers on TripAdvisor.

business model is employed to cover the costs, manage usage and deliver a great experience.

Issues such as usability and security are critical for the hospitality industry and therefore dedicated SMART products like AirMEDIA, Samsung Smart Hub and Philips Net TV are essential in order to protect sensitive personal data and ensure a great guest experience.

As long as it is well executed, providing a dedicated hotel-branded APP for should increase loyalty and drive incremental revenues. These APPS need to seamlessly connect to existing booking systems as well as add real value to the guest experience.

RF Networks Deliver the Goods

Keep Your Guests Appy The growth of SMART TVs is undeniable and, in the US, viewing of streaming internet video on the main home TV has grown from 33 per cent to 45 per cent.

During the same period, consumers who used a laptop/PC as the primary screen for watching streamed content fell from 48 per cent to 31 per cent. Put simply, people like watching video content on the largest screen possible (so long as the picture quality does not deteriorate).

Clearly, the TV will stay at the centre of the in-room viewing experience for as long as humans have eyes (well at least for the foreseeable future). 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. People want to watch what they want when they want, and in August 2012 alone, the BBC had 196M requests for content on its iPlayer service, with viewing figures growing every day.

For a large 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 ensure that a sustainable

The broadcasting world has realised that the best way to deliver thousands of high quality HD TV and radio channels is using Digital RF Networks. When it comes to offering bespoke on demand content like iPlayer and YouTube etc, then an Over-thetop (OTT) solution is called for. This then involves using an internet connection as the return path. Exactly the same solution applies in the hotel world.

A few years ago, it was fashionable to just specify just CAT5/6 data networks in new build hotels. Strange thing really, as coaxial cable is thicker than CAT5 and has a much higher bandwidth capacity, and is more robust. In many RF installations, where there are long cable runs, we are also installing fibre cables to carry the Digital TV signals. Moreover, in an IPTV only 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 over 1,500 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, as well as foreign language services, and of course premium services such as Sky’s In-Room proposition. Airwave now always recommends 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 numerous 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.

Now over 10.5 million UK homes deliver their Sky HD service from their dish over coaxial cable to the TV (after receiving a signal from 22,000 miles up in space of course). 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 narrow the technology gap between the experience in home and hotel.

In the foreseeable future we continue to 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.

2013 - What’s Hot and What’s Not OUT LCD Analogue Stand Alone TV Channelised Headend 3 Sky Channels IPTV Long Term Contracts Cheap VOD Revenue Local System Technology Driven

IN LED Digital Connected TV Freeview HD, HD Satellite Sky HD box per room Hybrid – TV and Smart TV Flexibility Lifetime Value Tiered Internet Cloud Based Guest Focused

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samsung

Give Your Guests

An Experience like no other

Hospitality TV Case Summary 1: Premier Inn, Samsung and Airwave

Samsung Hospitality TV

Airwave installs 40” Samsung screens for major Premier Inn refurbishment

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amsung Hospitality TVs ally the stylish designs and technological excellence that have made Samsung the most popular brand of consumer TV with features developed specially for the hospitality industry.

Available in sizes to suit all room types, the new line-up of energyefficient TVs delivers the hint of luxury desired by guests and the easy management and low running costs demanded by hoteliers.

Powerful features across the range include in-built quad core tuners, Sirch

– which allows remote management of multiple TVs, and Reach – which allows fully customizable information overlays for specific hotel content pertaining to local facilities, contacts and timetables.

Other notable technology included across the Samsung range include built in clocks, brighter and cost saving LED panels and enhanced connectivity to DLNA devices using Samsungs unique AllShare software.

Whatever your budget or technological requirement the Samsung range of hospitality TVs have the answer.

Big ideas need a big platform...

Samsung Large Format Display Samsung’s new line of large format displays (LFD) command the World’s stage. Only Samsung has the experience and innovative technology of fully integrated LFD solutions to deliver your message and bring your vision to life on the big screen. An unrivalled combination of design and integration expertise, high quality core professional display and audio systems technologies, and experienced professionals make it all happen.

With one of the broadest LFD offerings the Samsung range of products include energy efficient LED video wall solutions, workhorse CCFL video wall panels and engaging CCFL touch panel for total user engagement.

Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface Communicate. Collaborate. Connect Samsung SUR40 uses PixelSense technology, a unique vision based system, to see and respond to touch and objects creating a new experience for sharing information. It serves as the centrepiece for multiple users to easily collaborate and engage with digital content and each other.

■ Use as a table, on the wall, or in an enclosure ■ Large 40” multi-touch display ■ 360 degree user interface in Surface mode ■ Immersive experience with HD 1080p display and four-speaker audio ■ Durable and designed for public use ■ Connected PC for integration with peripherals and other systems A worldwide network of development partners is available to deliver endto-end solutions and create custom applications to meet a broad and demanding list of end user or business requirements.

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Airwave supplied and installed the latest 40” Samsung LED hotel screens complete with Freeview HD for Whitbread’s major Premier Inn refurbishment, complemented by the Teleadapt MediaHub SL unit. There has been a fantastic guest reaction to the screens, which have increased from 22” to 40” in size, proving that Premier Inn is leading the way into a new era for budget hotels, offering high quality essentials such as comfortable King-size beds, powerful showers, Wi-Fi and of course television, providing the key basics for an enjoyable guest experience.

Toby Hart, Operations Director at Airwave, commented: “Airwave have completed another seamless upgrade for Whitbread with 500 site visits over just a 11 month period, liaising with 2 contractors and a demanding schedule this was no small task but was executed with minimal disturbance to guests.”

Hospitality TV Case Summary 2: Clarenco, Samsung and Airwave Clarenco’s ‘Amazing Retreats’ lovingly restores properties with an unusual character, in remote locations across the UK. Over the past 12 months Airwave has been working with Clarenco to upgrade the TV systems of their unique luxury hotels. These include Spitbank Fort, Plas Rhianfa, Ackergil Tower and Stanbrook Abbey.

Airwave installed the latest Samsung satellite hotel TVs in conjunction with an IRS system to allow hundreds of satellite channels to be viewed by guests, many in HD.

Hospitality TV Case Summary 3: Cliveden House Hotel, Samsung and Airwave Cliveden is a privately owned 5 Red Star awardwinning hotel and is the sister hotel to the world-renowned Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in Hampshire. In order to provide today’s guests with the same 5 star experience they are used to at Cliveden, management recognised the need to accompany their luxury furnishings and glorious grounds with a sleek, high quality television for guests to enjoy in their bedrooms.

Airwave recommended the new Samsung LED TVs as the perfect fit for their requirements.

The flat 40” LED screens with super slim bezels fit elegantly into their elaborate guest rooms.

Wayne Bowring, Key Account Manager, said “the Samsung TVs are top of the range and the perfect fit for a prestigious property like Cliveden”. Management at Cliveden are thrilled with the televisions, as well as the service they received from Airwave.

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philips

Get Smart and Connect Reap the benefits of Philips’ expert CoCreation team with the new 2012 product range

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o ensure you can cash-in on the latest ideas in revenue-creation and enhanced customer satisfaction, we offer you five ranges of hotel TVs, three of which are fully SmartTVs. So no matter what your business model – from a small familybusiness to a cosmopolitan luxury hotel – you can be certain of the perfect fit.

Delight most of your guests – and amaze the rest Fuelled by the latest smart features on their home TVs, many people now expect hotel TVs to be their gateway to the online universe. They have become accustomed to using the TV to Tweet and check their Facebook. They also expect the crystal-clear screen to play YouTube and the myriad of internet TV channels, as well as show content from their own digital devices wirelessly.

Now, thanks to advanced software that is exclusive to Philips, you can delight your guests who expect the SmartTV experience, with stunning, unique features such as SimplyShare, Appcontrol, Integrated IPTV and more – all specially developed for the hospitality market.

And for those guests who don’t expect this online universe, you will amaze them with breath-taking functionality that is fun and easy to use.

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SmartInfo – the best way to brand and share your information SmartInfo allows you to provide hotel or city information to your guests. You can change the information regularly and easily to keep your guests up to date with all the latest developments in your hotel.

Secure SimplyShare - fast and simple connectivity Guests will bring their own devices and content into your hotel room. And they will

Philips’ Super Seven 1. Sustainability – Save money while reducing environmental impact

2. Simplicity - MyChoice, Integrated 3.

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Wi-fi, SmartInstall, SmartInfo, Secure SimplyShare Smart technology - All LED TVs with three complete ranges of Smart TV, Integrated IPTV Services – Extended five year warranty, rentaltv and free pick-up and return Signature range - 3D, Ambilight and all hospitality features Security - VSecure over RF and IP, SmartTV content protection Segmentation - Dedicated Hotel, Healthcare and Prison Mode TVs

Case study: Fraser Place Canary Wharf Fraser Place Canary Wharf takes the concept of serviced apartments in London to new heights, literally.

The modern towers of these London riverside apartments stand out among the soaring skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and offer 96 stunning apartments, showcasing chic contemporary design.

It is not only the panoramic views that Frasers has to boast about. Philips worked with Airwave to provide 189 Philips 32” Media Suite and 26” Prime Suite Hotel TVs for the serviced apartments.

These were installed by Airwave on wall brackets, ensuring the ideal positioning for each room. Airwave also supplied DVD players, iPod docking stations and Philips music centres, meaning guests at Frasers are left feeling completely at home.

The dedicated hotel TV screens mean that management at Frasers has maximum control and include features such as volume limitation and menu locking. All screens are provided with tailored hospitality remote controls.

want to wirelessly listen to their music and view their pictures and videos on the big screen, without any security risks. With Secure SimplyShare they can, because it guarantees that the wireless connection is made to just one TV at a time, so no one else in a near-by room will inadvertently see their content. Secure SimplyShare is DNLA-certified, it is specifically made for hospitality, and is exclusive to Philips Hotel TVs.

Appcontrol – for extra convenience Philips offers a special country selection filter so that your guests can instantly select Apps in their language. In addition, all apps are stored centrally and managed

by Philips, so you will never need to upgrade your TVs with the latest versions.

The feature also enables hotels and integrators to remotely define which apps will be displayed on the portal of each TV, this could even be your own app. This means you can easily personalise your SmartTV experience per room or for a few rooms, a floor, or per hotel brand or country.

IPTV and IP streaming – for more appealing content With our SmartTVs your guests can have fast and easy access to the vast range of internet TV channels and video-on-demand services. This means you don’t need settop boxes but only CAT-cabling to offer all content on your screens. This helps you to significantly reduce costs while also ensuring a future-proof solution.

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LG

Life’s Good with LG LG Electronics launches the new LED back-lit LT TV Series dedicated to the hospitality industry

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G has been providing entertainment solutions to hotels in the UK for over five years and is at the forefront of the hotel industry with its HD TVs, Cinema 3D TVs and Smart TVs. LG is a sector leader in developing innovative technologies that solves everyday hotel solutions. The Commercial Pro offering allows for straightforward management for the hotelier, while giving consumers what they expect from an LG TV set.

The LT series boasts LED back-lit screen technology packaged in LG’s latest

TV design, with super slim depth and hairline bezel, making it a truly modern hotel TV. Furthermore, with 30 per cent increased energy efficiency, reduced installation time and maintenance costs, this series offers one of the most costeffective solutions on the market. The LT series comprises models which cover non-interactive, interactive ready, as well as fully interactive sets which incorporate Smart TV technology. LG’s flagship Pro:Centric technology is also incorporated within the interactive-ready and fullyinteractive models.

LG has invested in a dedicated production line for the LT Series, ensuring LG’s latest Hotel TVs are exclusively designed for the hospitality industry.

LG is committed to creating technology that is tailored to its customers’ needs and the LT Series interface allows for the positioning of hotels’ own branding.

In addition, the LT Series offers central control of a hotel’s network using the Pro:Centric server, a welcome screen and full Hotel Mode, allowing further branding opportunities for hotels and a more bespoke experience for guests.

The LT series is customised to enhance guests’ in-room experience, with features like the external speaker allowing guests to enjoy music in a secondary room – while relaxing in the bath for example. The series also boasts a 90 degree swivel stand to provide guests with a wide viewing angle and guarantees an even more comfortable hotel experience.

Charles Mupfurutsa, LG UK IT Solutions hospitality manager, comments: “LG has a strong heritage and understanding of the hospitality industry and is always striving to provide customers with the latest innovative products. With the new LT Series, we are building on the features and functionality that we know hoteliers have found so successful in the past, but adding new components to help take hotel entertainment even further.”

LG and Airwave at Work LG partners closely with Airwave to find the best TV solution for hotels across the UK. Here is a taster of a few of the projects we have completed together in the past year…

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Ramada Encore Hotel, Luton

Nº11 Cadogan Gardens, Knightsbridge

The concept of the Ramada Encore London Luton Airport Hotel is to combine the fresh, stylish, vibrant and upbeat; a concept fully captured by the contemporary style and comfort of their accommodation.

The hotel boasts 124 bright, modern and spacious bedrooms, all equipped with chic 26” LG Hotel TV screens. QDOS Communications called upon Airwave to supply and install these TVs, as well as additional LG screens in public areas and meeting rooms.

QDOS managed the installation of the hotel’s data network and WiFi, available free to guests throughout the hotel. Julian Arnold, commercial director at Airwave, said: “LG was a great choice of brand to match the stylish, upbeat concept of the Ramada Encore hotel. The screens fit perfectly into the chic, vibrant bedrooms.”

A member of the internationally recognised luxury boutique brand, Small Luxury Hotels of the World™, No.11 Cadogan Gardens is a fashionable five-star hotel brimming with character and charm. Airwave worked with LG to install 42” LG Hospitality TV screens into the guest rooms, delivering a range of free international channels with Airwave’s AirSTREAM network. Wayne Bowring, key account manager at Airwave, commented: “The combination of LG Hospitality TVs and the AirSTREAM system allows maximum flexibility to the hotel. The hotel can provide international satellite TV services without the need for on-going subscriptions and we can change the channels for specific services to accommodate the requests of guests. These channels make a great addition to the Freeview channel line-up.”

www.airwave.tv

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sharp

Sharp Aquos TV and Professional Monitors

Offer the Complete Hotel Display Solution

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otels and conference centres have evolved over recent years to harness advances in TV and LCD display 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 conference facilities that will enable your hotel to become a cutting edge choice destination for tourists and business people alike.

Aquos TV for In-Room Entertainment Sharp high definition AQUOS® LCD TVs combine space-saving versatility and stylish design to enhance any room in a hotel. From 22” through to 80”, Sharp has one of the widest ranges of size classes in the marketplace giving the hotelier a suitable fit for any size of guest room, suite or bar area.

Sharp is the only display manufacturer with a 10th Generation LCD Production

plant, this means we can produce bigger LCD displays more cost efficiently and gives us a key advantage over our competitors in producing 60, 70 and 80” Large Format Aquos TVs at very competitive prices.

These supersize Aquos TVs provide a real luxury feature for hotel suites, lobbies and bar areas.

Sharp Smart Internet TV for an enhanced guest Entertainment Experience Sharp AQUOS is a smarter TV for hotel guests who like to do things other than just watching TV. The AQUOS NET+ menu gives you access to popular online services.

Professional Displays for Hotel Digital Signage

Sharp and Airwave Highland Heritage Looks Sharp The Highland Heritage Hotel Group selected Sharp 22” LED HD Ready Televisions with Freeview for its beautifully located hotels. Airwave supplied 400 televisions in total to its four hotels in Tyndrum, Dalmally and Oban.

Sharp for Olympic Workers Accomodation Sharp worked with Airwave Europe to provide over 400 22” screens to 3 Go Native pop up hotels for key workers during the Summer 2012 Olympic Games. Airwave installed all of these screens into the central London locations, including 196 screens in two days.

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Sharp Professional displays are designed for 24/7 use with high brightness suitable for all indoor hotel conditions.

A fan-less design means that they operate silently and this combined with an attractive and stylish slim bezel means the will fit in to any hotel environment perfectly. With a wide choice of connections and signal support, Sharp Professional Displays will connect to almost any type of hotel digital content. Another great benefit of these displays is that they can be operated in both portrait and landscape orientation giving great versatility in all locations These models are excellent for video conferencing, meeting rooms and lobby information displays. Event announcements, advertising, and more can be easily managed and distributed throughout the facility on these monitors when used with SDSS™ Sharp Digital Signage Software.

With additional options including input/ output expansion board, signage controller and integrated protective overlays, the adaptability of Sharp PN-E series displays is unparalleled.

Touch Screens for Hotel Meeting Rooms and Conference Centres Sharp has developed an innovative range of large format touch screens specifically for use in meeting rooms and conference facilities. Unlike old fashioned projectors these products are designed and guaranteed for 24/7 use with high brightness Full LED backlight that make them suitable for all indoor environments however challenging and enable them to perform much better than projectors in very well lit areas.

The 60”, 70” and 80” models are supplied with Sharp’s proprietary “PenSoft” digital ink software, you are able to scan in or import documents directly into the whiteboard software and annotate on the large format screen. Like a smartphone you can zoom in and out of the content on the screen and finger swipe to turn the page, making this range a truly interactive tool for conference facilities and meeting rooms alike.

The guest can also use the large format touch screens for video conferencing and meeting presenters can easily communicate Microsoft PowerPoint presentations from the touch screen with the ability to annotate over the top of their slides, make notes on the digital flipchart software, play full HD video and annotate over live internet content.

The Sharp touch screen displays are the latest in Unified Communications technology and will give your meeting rooms and conference facilities a cutting edge advantage over your competitors.

top 10

Airwave’s Top 10

Innovations AirSTREAM Do you want to provide the best entertainment for guests without the related costs? Airwave’s AirSTREAM network solution allows the reception of 100s of free international satellite channels in many different languages, as well as the full Freeview UK channel selection, with 50 channels including BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Film 4, with many in HD. AirSTREAM also enables the delivery of High Definition TV to hotel televisions without the need for an HD tuner.

The ten best products from Airwave, designed to make your life easier and business better

Zip Mini Charger with Magnetic Attraction How do you enable your guests and visitors to charge their mobile device simply and power efficiently? Airwave has the answer in the form of the ingenious Zip-Mini charging panel from AirTech. This small, easy to install unit can charge up to four devices using magnetic contacts. 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.

iPod TV

Digital Accessories

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.

Modern day guests are arriving armed with smart phones, tablets and laptops. The AirTech range from Airwave provides a variety of digital companion accessories for sale in reception, enabling hotel guests to protect their devices, when heading down to the pool or setting off on bike rides. AirTech’s BubbleShield is a waterproof pocket for smart phones and tablets and StormCruiser is a heavy-duty handlebar mount and protective case, ideal for the cycling enthusiast.

SIRCH no longer

Renew sleep clock

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. SIRCH is an essential component in managing configuration with the minimum of time and energy.

Standard alarm clocks wake you at a set time which could be the wrong point in your sleep cycle. The Renew SleepClock from Gear 4 measures your guests’ sleep patterns and wakes them up at the lightest moment in their sleep cycle, so they feel refreshed and alert. This noncontact sleep monitor is also bedside speaker for iPod touch, iPhone and iPad.

Airwave multi-remote control

Sky In-Room

Do you sometimes wonder if your remote has legs?

Airwave’s multi-remote control works with any hotel TV and is branded with the Airwave logo, making it less likely to go missing. The battery cover is also cleverly secured with a screw so guests cannot take out the batteries.

Sky now offers the In-Room solution for as little as £4 per room per month.

Enhance your guests’ experience and get the edge over your competition with Sky TV. With a SkyHD box in hotel rooms, show the channels your guests are used to watching at home and boost your hotel business with the ultimate mix of movies to live sport and news to entertainment programming.

Cardola VirtualHotel

Media Sharing

Designed by hoteliers for hoteliers, Cardola VirtualHotel is a guest-focused iPad and iPhone solution, enabling guests to make restaurant bookings, order room service, book spa appointments, view special offers and events or other hotel services - from a single device. VirtualHotel provides the perfect solution, with tools that help to enrich and extend existing concierge services.

Integrating with existing PMS systems, as well as a fully featured content management system and reporting facility, VirtualHotel provides the complete solution. www.cardola.com

Smart TV delivers more than just the internet.

The latest solutions from Airwave, Samsung and Philips, allow media sharing; enabling hotel guests to connect their devices wirelessly to the inroom TVs and play out their own movies, videos, series and music while relaxing.

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air range

The Next Generation Airwave introduces you to the next stage in hotel in-room technology with their latest ‘Air’ solutions, compatible with your existing digital hotel TV screens.

AirMEDIA: Smarten Up Nobody can deny that Smart TV is the current buzzword in hotel technology.

However many Smart TV models are restricted in terms of web browsing and styling, as well as requiring hoteliers to purchase new Smart TV sets.

Why change your hotel TVs when you can simply upgrade to the AirMEDIA smart solution; providing guests with the very latest Smart TV features and apps, as well as hotel information and services.

AirMEDIA transforms HD Ready Hotel TVs into affordable modern Smart TVs. It’s a complete standalone solution that includes the AirMEDIA Box, a unique Hotel Gyro Remote Control and access to the MySmartUp Portal, which gives you complete control over look, feel and functionality.

Get app happy With AirMEDIA guests can use apps just like those on a smartphone or tablet device, but on a much larger screen. This opens up a huge range of applications including popular catch-up TV and video streaming services, journey planners,

event guides, news, magazines, weather services and so much more. Guests can also login to their favourite social networks or chat and shop online. Surfing the Web is a breeze using the feature rich HD Browser that providing access to even more exciting services, and all of this is done from the comfort of the guest’s hotel room. The Hotel Media Share app enables guests to stream their own content from their devices onto their in-room TV screens and watch movies, look at photos, listen music and more.

Dedicated Hotel Features AirMEDIA offers a fantastic service advantage that is specifically designed for hospitality, so guest’s personal details, usernames and passwords are cleared automatically after use; safety and security is assured. Best of all AirMEDIA requires no on-site server, just a wired or wireless network and a broadband internet connection.

Sleek, stylish and ecological It uses a small unobtrusive smart box that works with just about any hotel mode TV; and when you do want to upgrade to a slimmer, more eco-friendly TV, you just move the AirMEDIA box to the new set

AirCAST: Tailored Hotel ‘Red Button’ Services AirCAST is the revolutionary information system, enabling you to communicate with your guests via a dedicated ‘red button’ channel on their TV sets

INFORM Costly, printed in-room directories are a thing of the past. AirCAST enables hotel guests to quickly and easily navigate through different sections and pages on hotel information and services. Hoteliers can instantly update the system via a web interface, keeping information fresh and up to date.

■ Hotel services and facilities ■ Local area information and useful contacts ■ Local sites and attractions ■ Live feeds, e.g. News, Weather, Sport

PROMOTE Generate revenue by using AirCAST to promote hotel products, services and facilities or to advertise local businesses.

■ Hotel offers and promotions

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■ Restaurant, bar or spa deals ■ Advertise local businesses, such as taxi firms or restaurants

A TAILORED SOLUTION AirCAST is a bespoke information system for your hotel. It can be tailored to suit your hotels individual style and requirements.

■ Hotel logos, colours, images and corporate videos ■ Hotel specific content ■ Tailored categories and pages

HOW IT WORKS AirCAST is based on the same interactive technology used by broadcasters worldwide, for services such as BBC Red Button, and already built in to TV screens from all major manufacturers.

The system works on any coaxial TV network with the only in-room requirement being an integrated digital television (iDTV) such as those already

and your guest experience is still as great as it was before, no unwanted menus and feature changes, no missing apps because manufacturer’s licenses have expired, you remain in complete control.

The premium solution An advanced version of the AirMEDIA solution is available with great additional features. These include: ■ Property Management System (PMS) Integration ■ Movies On Demand (also known as VOD) ■ On-Screen Room Service ■ Feature Rich Concierge Services ■ View Bill ■ Express Checkout ■ Wake-Up Alarm

used to receive Freeview channels in the UK, so there’s no need for any card or set-top box in the room.

The AirCAST server simply plugs in, without the need to upgrade the network.

CASE STUDY: Holiday Inn Stratford City Centre Airwave supplied and installed the latest Samsung LED TVs as well as a dedicated AirCAST system at Holiday Inn London - Stratford City; a brand new 188-room site overlooking the Olympic village.

The Samsung sets are ideal for the Olympic village as they have inbuilt satellite tuners, allowing international guests access to hundreds of channels in many languages.

The AirCAST system was configured to fit Holiday Inn’s specific branding and content requirements, including corporate video and images. The hotel channel is also an engaging mechanism used to promote additional revenue-

air range

AirINFO: Get Informed Keep guests informed with a dedicated in-room hotel information channel. Stunning HD images, hotel branding, news and weather feeds makes AirINFO the ideal way to get your guests attention.

The system offers hotel information and advertising opportunities and the layout can be easily modified to incorporate hotel logos, colours, images and videos.

The AirINFO template consists of: ■ Hotel branding ■ On-Screen clock ■ Looping video feed ■ Regional weather outlook ■ National news RSS feed ■ Motorway traffic RSS feed ■ Areas for advertising and promotions ■ Text / message Area (HQ and Hotel Manager messages)

CASE STUDY: The Vale Resort, Wales Set within 650 acres of beautiful Welsh countryside, the Vale Resort is Wales’ highest rated four star resort. Airwave supplied and installed a tailored AirINFO channel, as well as 150 Samsung 40” screens. The entire network was also upgraded to receive HD quality television.

Management at the Vale Resort are very happy with the sleek, high definition information channel. Stepehen Leeke, Managing Director, said: ‘Our AirINFO channel perfect for broadcasting important information to our guests, such as information about our golf course, as well as the weather forecast and news. The channel is full HD quality which looks great on the Samsung screens. Airwave provided a very good, friendly and efficient service.’

AirINFO can be installed on your existing aerial network and broadcast over the internet directly to all guestrooms. Content is easily updated by staff at any location via a dedicated online control panel.

AirINFO’s simple scheduling structure allows you to plan updates in advance using a set of date and time rules. Set breakfast promotions to end at 11am and lunch promotions begin. Special events, offers or promotions can be automatically removed when they expire.

generating services to guests, such as in house restaurants and bars. The Holiday Inn staff can instantly update content via a web browser.

Jane Kendrick, Director of Operations at HI London, Stratford City, comments: “The system eliminates the need for a paper in-room directory, which means there are absolutely no printing costs. We can also update it instantly when we need to make changes. With all the information on screen, Holiday Inn is leading the way with green technology.”

CASE STUDY: Pomme d’Or, Jersey Airwave Europe upgraded the entire TV infrastructure of the Pomme d’Or Hotel in Jersey, part of the Seymour Group, to allow free-to-air satellite reception, including hundreds of channels from across the globe in many different languages, as well as AirINFO HD, tailored to meet the hotel’s requirements. The channel incorporates images and video as well as information on hotel services and local news and weather.

Senior management and guests at the Pomme d’Or Hotel are delighted with the results. Luis de Oliveira, General Manager, said, ‘our guests have very high expectations of in-room services and technology. In a highly competitive market, it is essential to enhance their experience with an exceptional information and entertainment environment. We offer an extensive range of channels in superb clarity.

Additionally, a dedicated information channel allows us to promote the hotel facilities and special offers via a very user-friendly portal.’

AirSIGN: Go Digital AirSIGN is the digital signage software, based on the same technology as the AirINFO inroom information services. AirINFO allows you to broadcast hotel information, news, weather and services to screens in public areas such as receptions, lounges, bars and restaurants.

AirSIGN can be configured to fit a screen of any size, from small 19” screens up to multi-screen video walls.

CASE STUDY: The Merton Hotel, Jersey The Merton Hotel, Jersey, part of the Seymour Group offers a tailored AirSIGN information screen in their reception area. The screen contains information on flight times, news, local weather, port information as well as important hotel marketing and branding. Airwave also supplied TV screens and information channels for the guestrooms as well as Hollywood movies on demand. Deputy General Manager, Norbert Stump, is very happy with the training they received as well as the availability of Airwave Technical Support to help on the phone with any queries: ‘Great service, great product! It is so easy now to send any information to the guestrooms. Inhouse advertising made very simple’.

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sky Full control: A Sky box in each room puts guests in full control

Z Hotels: Delivering TV entertainment to the Urbanite Traveller Hotels are increasingly looking to carve themselves a niche in the diverse hotel industry. Z Hotels, a relative newcomer to the industry, prides itself as being able to offer compact, affordable luxury in central locations. Director Jamie Goldstein explains why Sky’s In Room service has a key part to play in their simple yet effective hotel offering.

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fter 20 years working in the world of corporate hotels, Bev King decided he wanted to do something different. To create a completely new hotel concept that reflects the needs of the today’s traveller.

Together with his partners – Rich Meehan, Jon Raymond and Jamie Goldstein – he devised the concept for Z Hotels.

Z Hotels is the first hotel offer designed with the “Urbanite Stay” in mind: short stay, city centre accommodation offering the highest quality, at an affordable price in the most central of locations. The group’s first Z Hotel opened in the heart of Soho in November 2011 and comprises 85 bedrooms, with the second hotel recently opened in Victoria (106 bedrooms), a stone’s throw away from the station.

Further Z Hotels are to follow including a regional offering due to open next year.

The founders were mindful of the changing mind set of today’s hotel guests.

“As a team, we saw a gap in the hotel

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market and an opportunity to define a new category based around short-stay city centre accommodation. We know that when visitors to cities book their accommodation, a central location and reasonable price point are the key factors in making their decision as to where to stay. But customers also want a stylish interior, flat screen TVs, and free WiFi as standard. We believe you shouldn’t have to compromise on one to have the other, which is why we have launched Z Hotels”.

As well as the handmade organic natural fibre wool duvets and the ensuite wet room with fantastic eco-friendly aerated shower, one standard feature across the London based hotels is the in-room entertainment delivered via a Sky TV box in every room. Jamie explained “Sky TV certainly enhances our offer to our guests.

Many customers of course are already aware of the perceived value of Sky, and our ability to deliver top channels such

as Sky Sports, Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living and Sky Movies to every guest as standard, adds to the affordable luxury experience we pride ourselves on. Our customers see value in being able to watch live Barclays Premier League action or live Formula 1 drama on Sky Sports through to the latest blockbuster films across numerous genres on Sky Movies in the comfort of their own room at no additional charge”. The rooms are also fitted with the latest slim wall mounted 40” Samsung HD Smart TVs which complement the HD Sky boxes.

Jamie comments that Sky adds to the home from home experience. “With a Sky box in each room, the guest has total control over what they watch. The on screen electronic programme guide is easy to use and is familiar to UK guests who use it at home and the crystal clear HD quality is exactly what guests expect.

Incorporating Sky is not only great for guests but also helps in generating positive word of mouth and gives us an additional point of differentiation”.

In installing the product, Z Hotels worked with Airwave to ensure the Sky Box did not take up space in the compact bedrooms. “We developed a solution that allowed the Sky box to be out of sight yet fully functional, and gave guests full control over the in-room entertainment through one standard Sky HD remote control”. Z Hotels aim to make the hotel experience relaxed yet memorable. The concept is simple but one which resonates amongst the hotels’ target audience. By offering an exceptionally comfortable bed,

sky

Home from home: Sky is a service guests value and remember

a modern well designed en-suite wetroom, and fantastic in-room entertainment (incorporating the full Sky package), Z Hotels is able to enhance the value of every guest’s “Urbanite Stay”.

Z Soho is coming up to its first full year trading and indications show that it’s been a very successful first year. When

“With a Sky box in each room, the guest has total control over what they watch...”

asked his advice to other hotel managers considering Sky for their business, Jamie comments: “There should be a synergy between the customers’ expectations and hotel brand. If the Sky product offer can play a significant role in delivering against the values and promises of the hotel offer, then I would definitely recommend it’.

Something for all: A mix of content genres to suit all types of hotel guest

For more on Sky for your hotel, call 08442 411 510 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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Airwave at Work Sky High in the Treehouses

The Apex of Guest TV Apex Temple Court Hotel is a 4 star luxury hotel just off Fleet Street, London. The stylish hotel boasts 184 luxurious bedrooms and suites, all centred round a grand courtyard. Airwave installed an IRS system into the hotel allowing the reception of terrestrial Freeview TV channels and satellite delivered International channels, all on the same coaxial network. This was installed in combination with a Samsung SIRCH head-end; allowing the hotelier to select the channel listing for all rooms from a central point and distribute throughout the hotel. In the suites and deluxe rooms, Sky HD was also installed, offering the widest range of entertainment available.

Airwave supplied the latest Samsung 40” LED screens and CMS1 software, allowing the hotel to broadcast information, news and services to guests on their in room TVs. Guestrooms also boast Teleadapt Media Hubs, allowing hotel guests at Temple Court to connect their devices and play out their own personal content on the TV screens.

Andrew Jacques, IT Director at Apex Hotels, commented: ‘Airwave’s technical expertise provided a much improved and cost effective solution. Apex Hotels now offer an extensive number of UK and International channels. Airwave also helped with providing an innovative in room Sky HD and 3D solution to add an extra touch of luxury to all of the deluxe rooms. In short, Airwave provided a great complete service.’

The award-winning Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa has recently developed their own unique Treehouse accommodation in a secluded valley within the 130 acres of grounds that surround the hotel. The Treehouses at Chewton Glen are unique in every sense, built high among the trees each of the twelve Treehouse Suites provides an unforgettable setting for unwinding, for relaxing or for simply being.

They are a tranquil oasis where guests can truly relax and unwind in an unforgettable setting with a first class entertainment system. Airwave supplied and installed the latest Samsung 40” Hospitality TVs as well as 19” Tilevision screens in the bathrooms.

The Samsung LED TVs offer brilliant high definition picture and the super slim screens fit elegantly into the rooms. Guests can watch the full Sky HD channel selection, including movies, sport, music, entertainment and more. Airwave also supplied Blu ray players and Teleadapt MediaHub HD units, allowing guests to connect their devices seamlessly to the Samsung screens and play out their own music, series, movies and view photos and videos.

James Hobden, IT Manager at Chewton, commented: ‘Once again, Airwave has provided us with a great level of customer service and worked with us to ensure we found the best solution for our award-winning Treehouses. We are very impressed with the Samsung screens and with Sky HD and the Teleadapt units and feel sure that our guests will enjoy the entertainment systems and well as the Treehouses!’

Content that Circles the Globe Airwave now provides content to hotels, hospitals and marine vessels in 30 countries on 4 continents, with over 3,500 new rooms in 2012.

Airwave’s new customers are spread as far as Thailand, Serbia, Nigeria, Turkey, Iceland and Austria. The acquisition of Techlive International in June 2012, has also brought Airwave many more prestigious customers, including Four Seasons, Marriott, Sheraton, Renaissance, The Landmark, Le Meridien and Crown Plaza.

The largest of our new customers in 2012, The Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Thailand, is a beautiful resort offering four 5-star hotels each with its own distinct style and ambience. Airwave provides Blockbuster Hollywood movies to their 872 rooms in partnership with our local Content Partner in Thailand.

Airwave has also continued to develop our customer base in Australia, France, Germany, Switzerland, the North Sea, as well as the UK. This year in France, Airwave has worked with partner AllContentIPTV to provide Hollywood movies to the prestigious new Mama Shelter hotel in Marseille, which has rooms complete with 27” iMac with TV, radio, internet and free WiFi access as well as the video on demand movies from Airwave.

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Crystal Clear Channels for Clarenco Airwave Europe has been working with Clarenco over the past year to upgrade the TV systems at four of their unusual and unique luxury hotels in remote locations across the UK. Airwave installed the latest Samsung Hotel TVs at Plas Rhinfa, Spitbank Fort and Stanbrook Abbey, in conjunction with an IRS system to allow hundreds of satellite channels to be viewed by guests, many in HD. Airwave’s friendly and experienced engineers surveyed the hotels prior to installation and ensured that the televisions were mounted using the most suitable bracket for each location. Edward Clare, Business Development Executive at Clarenco said; “Airwave provided Clarenco with a fantastic level of service from carrying out the surveys to the installation of the TVs in all of our properties”.

airwave at work

Caring Solutions

State-of-the-art patient entertainment

Abbey Healthcare is a national group of care homes providing nursing, residential and specialist care. Airwave helped enhance residents’ comfort by installing high quality Sharp televisions into two Abbey sites, Abbey Cromwell House and Abbey Knebworth. At the Cromwell site, 32” Sharp TVs were installed into the bedrooms, as well as three 60” LG Plasma screens for the group rooms.

At their brand new state-of-the-art facility, Circle Reading, patients will experience hospital visits like never before. From free refreshments while you wait, to books to enjoy during your stay, Circle Reading hospital is designed for the patient. And they have an entertainment system to match. Airwave supplied and installed 22” Samsung white healthcare TVs for the bedsides, as well as 26” and 32” black Samsung TVs, offering the full Freeview channel selection, and a large 55” Samsung screen for the boardroom.

Airwave also provided Circle Reading with the innovative TV on trolley solution, installing top of the range 40” Samsung TVs on trolleys which can be easily rolled to and from the patient’s bedside.

Airwave continues international growth Great news for Airwave customers, Airwave Europe has now acquired Techlive International, who provide movie content and high quality interactive systems to the hospitality sector throughout Europe.

This transaction adds more prestigious names to Airwave Europe’s client portfolio, including Four Seasons, Marriott, Sheraton, Renaissance, The Landmark, Le Meridien and Crown Plaza.

RAF flies high with Airwave

King of the Castle

Founded in 1919 the RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity, an extension of the RAF tradition. Airwave worked with partner European Office Products to provide a high definition TV distribution system and digital signage solution for the RAF Benevolent Fund’s newly refurbished offices in Portland Place, London.

Most notably, Airwave delivered HD content over CAT5 cable to LG and Sharp television and commercial display screens throughout the building.

The digital signage software installed was Airwave’s AirSIGN. AirSIGN’S features include the support of multiple screen areas, e.g. video, background image and scrolling news.

Content can be changed from almost any location with internet access via a password protected web-based control panel, and multi-user access enables authorised users to take ownership of specific areas within the TV channel layout, without having the ability to change the other elements.

Student Castle is an exciting private student accommodation company, providing a fresh new look on student accommodation to make them one of the most exciting new players in the market. Airwave worked in partnership with Vinci, the main build contractor, to supply studio rooms, cluster rooms and common rooms. Modern and stylish studio rooms were supplied with LG 27” monitors with a built in DVB-T tuner qty off – the most cost effective solution for the application. 20 of the brand new cluster kitchens were supplied with LG 37” LCD televisions and common rooms with LG 60” plasma TVs, ensuring students get the best viewing experience in the comfort of their brand new halls. Airwave is excited to be complete phase 2 of the project in August 2013 and hopes to work with both Vinci and Student Castle in the future.

TV fit for Royalty at Mitchells & Butlers Airwave enjoyed their work installing TVs in 400 Mitchells & Butlers Pubs across the UK for the Royal Wedding in 2011. Mitchells and Butlers were supplied with these top of the range screens to guarantee they put on a show for one of the most eagerly anticipated TV events in the country’s recent history. The cabling and LG screens were all fully installed in 5 weeks by the Airwave technicians. Mitchell and Butlers is the largest operator of restaurants and pubs in the UK, with the largest choice of brands and best value prices. Their brands include O’Neill’s, All Bar One, Harvester and Toby Carvery.

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spotlight on...

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

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here has been much talk recently about what direction the world of the television will take.

Not just by which brand will take market share or the size and thinness of the screen itself but actually what ‘should’ a television actually do. And this is where we currently have many worlds colliding.

I have even heard of hotel CIO pose the question “Do we even need to put a TV in the guest room anymore?”

It is also certain that hotels need to watch consumer electronic trends very carefully to know what technology lifestyle their guests are living day to day at home and would therefore logically look for in a hotel guest room.

More than just a screen Personally I believe there should be a screen in the room but it has to be a lot more than just a screen. It has to be a portal to numerous virtual worlds.

Physical is defiantly so yesterday so no more need for DVD and blue ray players that some hotels adopted. And this is where connected TVs come into play.

It has been reported by the research company NPD that in the first quarter 2012, 27 per cent of all TV sets issued were connected with Western Europe recording a 36 per cent penetration.

It would be a good time to note here that there is a difference between connected TV and smart TV. Although different countries have different definitions, the main difference is that

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connected TV is capable of accessing video online and smart TV is capable of accessing a branded portal.

Over the top services With hospitality mainly picking up on the smart TV branded approach, it also has to have the capabilities of performing numerous tasks for today’s modern guests. Of course, traditional TV will still play its role mainly for the news channels, but then the virtual world of YouTube, Netflix, BBC iPlayer come into play. Link that with the way we actually watch this content with ‘catch up’; a more and more commonly heard phrase. There will of course still be the need for video on demand, especially for the leisure sector, but that will also lead to its own headache with the move towards having this type of content on guests’ own devices.

And we all know there has been a substantial shift in how people actually

consume content. A good example of this would be the recent 2012 Olympics.

London won the right to host the games on the July 6 2005. At that time in 2005 only 300,000 people in the UK had a broadband connection compared to the 11 million who were on a dial up connection. Moving forward to 2012, statistics from the BBC report that over 16 million people went to the Olympic part of their website per day. With 106 million requests for BBC Olympic video content across all online platforms, more than double seen for any previous events.

And the games were the first truly mobile games – with 9.2m UK mobile browsers to the BBC’s Olympics coverage, making up 34 per cent of all daily browsers to BBC’s Olympic coverage, and 12 million requests from mobiles for video throughout the Games. Almost 2 million people downloaded the BBC Olympic app for iPhone and android. More than 429,000 people requested the video clip of Usain Bolt’s victory in the 100 metres, but that was beaten by 830,000 people requesting to see the German Steven Feck’s zero point dive.

We have all heard of the number of YouTube videos watched. For me, a great perspective is that in 2011, YouTube had more than 1 trillion views or around 140 views for every person on earth.

And I could go on with all these statistics; more than 13 billion songs were listed on Spotify in the USA alone last year, 750 million photos were uploaded to Facebook over the new year period and more than 1 billion people have downloaded Angry Birds (myself included).

A technology experience So where am I going with this from the starting point of TVs? Where I believe the future is heading is away from what we have called traditional pay TV and providing guest internet access to that of creating a technology experience. Technology is part of the guest experience and from my point of view the future lies in managing all the infrastructure needed to create this experience. This is something hoteliers have done before, but is not a skill hospitality is known for. Some have called it ‘managed networks’, but whatever you call it, for me this is where hoteliers should call upon specialist companies top look after, maintain, upgrade, manage and ensure that guests and operation alike have a good working IT environment. By looking to specialist IT companies for this it will also free up time and resources that hoteliers can use to provide that great customer experience.

This will ensure guests in the future will always have access to their content regardless of how they wish to connect.

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digital signage

Clever Campuses Digital signage gives universities a unique opportunity to advertise, engage and inform on screens dotted throughout the university campus.

Signage is a great way to inform staff and students and send out appropriate info where you need it most. Content can show anything from displaying directions to guests to highlighting lesson schedules outside classrooms and lecture theatres, offering a unique opportunity to improve the look and efficiency of a working campus. The LG EzSign (pictured) is one of the latest and most successful products in the digital signage market. It offers a unique and flexible solution because the user can control content via a USB stick.

Digital Screens that work for you Airwave’s hospitality solutions go beyond the hotel and reach out to other sectors like stadia, arenas, university campuses and retail

Smart Stadiums In the last year the recession has hit some football, rugby and cricket clubs heavily, so now more than ever it’s crucial for clubs to take care of their facilities to ensure fans keep coming back week-in, week-out. To use football as an example, there is no doubt that the Barclays Premier League is a top global product, producing some of the most exciting football in the world; full of goals, passion drama and controversy.

However if you can’t make it to the game, excellent coverage is available at home provided by broadcasters such as Sky – meaning that if you miss the game it’s not the end of the world, plus you save the expense of attending a match.

Therefore in these tough financial times, clubs need to make an even greater effort to fill their stadiums; they need to generate ticket revenue and utilise their hotels, bars, restaurants and shopping facilities. Airwave has a number of products that can enhance a stadium’s appeal to their fans, guaranteeing they come back for more every week. These solutions keep fans entertained and engaged, before, during and after a match, therefore helping fans associate themselves more with the club by spending more time at the stadium, whilst ensuring clubs keep their revenues flowing.

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Concourse Canvasses Airwave has a number of great information, billboard style digital signage screens which enable clubs to target specific adverting, events and video content to the fans whilst being able to engage them with live or recorded content. Perfect for displaying features such as in-play betting, live score updates from other matches and the latest fantasy football points, signage gives fans a modern and unique two-screen experience keeping fans engaged before, during and after the match. The LG EzSign is a flexible digital signage solution for arenas and stadiums that are looking for a cost-effective way to engage with audiences, using eye-catching, upto-date information. The LG EzSign TV displays live television as well as tailored signage content, uploaded by USB drive and requires no additional hardware or media player.

digital signage

First class student solutions Airwave Europe provides the latest LCD/LED televisions for student accommodation. Brand new televisions can be provided or TV upgrades from older sets. Airwave provides TV screens of any size to fit student bedrooms or larger areas such as living rooms, common rooms and student bars. Freeview can be made available to stream to student’s laptops.

IPTV head-end equipment allows data to be streamed directly to student’s laptops via an individual stream, allowing the user to watch Freeview on their laptops without interruption, a welcome relief from an all too familiar problem in student halls where students are competing for the limited bandwidth available. AirMEDIA, Airwave’s Smart Television solution allows students to use Apps similar to those on a smartphone or tablet device; importantly the apps can be chosen by the institution meaning they can pick the most appropriate ones for their users. For example, social networking apps such as Twitter and Facebook are perfect for university students. AirCAST gives boarding schools, universities and private accommodation providers a fantastic opportunity to provide their very own red button service, enabling students and pupils to navigate through information pages on anything from accommodation services to travel and weather.

Touch Screens for all!

Airwave offers touch screen interactive solutions for classrooms and conference venues with screens of any size up to 80”. These screens are a great tool to engage students or colleagues whilst making a presentation or teaching a lesson, for example the smart pens allow the user to highlight and annotate their presentation as they run through the slides. A product for schools is the Samsung 65” e-board, which allows the user to use the interactive pen or to draw directly with their fingers onto the screen. Superior picture technologies and a 178 degree viewing angle it is one the best products currently on the market.

Great Apportunities!

The AirMEDIA system is a fantastic way to entertain fans and guests in your corporate and executive boxes.

AirMEDIA gives the club the opportunity for guests to view the club’s app for the first time and engage with a number of familiar apps and games they would receive on a smart phone or tablet.

Airwave can design a background to guarantee the screen is perfect for your club and we can also create a unique club app where you can send out exclusive content to your fans directly to their smart phones or tablets.

Stunning Video Walls Wow your fans in a stadium or arena with a video wall. Video walls are a great way to have the picture quality of an LCD or LED television on a grand scale. Video walls are an excellent way of showing live pictures at a sporting event or a concert to help build the atmosphere before the match and are a stunning way of showing content across large screens in great quality. We offer our own Airwave Screens, and award winning super slim panels from Samsung.

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connectivity

Making Your Hotel Room

Device-Friendly Choosing the right in-room technology doesn’t have to put your head in a spin. Teleadapt explains how

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here’s no question that today’s smartphones, tablets and the rise of digital multimedia have revolutionised our travel habits, challenging hoteliers to provide more interconnected hotel technology in their guestrooms.

Travellers now have the ability to carry music, films, and even games right in their pockets. Add to that our obsessive relationship with the internet and hoteliers have a technology pickle on their hands: How do you provide devicefriendly amenities but still keep your in-room technology scalable to address the future needs as technology trends continually evolve?

TeleAdapt specialises in solutions that make it seamless for guests to connect to the guestroom The key to choosing the right technology for your property is understanding the basic requirements for an entertainment system that caters to today’s multimedia devices, while at the same time fits into your property’s operational infrastructure and remains compatible with future traveller technology demands. TeleAdapt, the most trusted global hotel room connectivity provider, makes it easy for you by navigating the technology conundrum to identify technology products that make the most sense for hospitality. TeleAdapt specialises in solutions that make it seamless for guests to connect to the guestroom, giving them the freedom to consume their own content when or how they want for a completely personalised in-room entertainment experience.

In-room entertainment… your way Entertainment media has gone mobile and guests are bringing their own content into the guestroom. You can thank the smartphone, and now the tablet, for much of this revolution. There’s no denying they have become a gateway to a digital world

of entertainment. No longer are these new breed of hand-held, internet-ready electronics reserved for purely business related activity like emails or following up with business contacts. We all use them for more than that - checking in on the latest news headlines, staying abreast of our favourite sports teams, updating our social media status for friends and families, watching our favourite TV shows and movies… and for most of us they even double as our alarm clock!

Add to that other stowaway devices in guest luggage such as digital and video cameras, games consoles, laptops, Bluray or DVD players and you have guests expecting the opportunity to enjoy their own media without being limited to small screens and headphones.

TeleAdapt’s range of MediaHub connectivity panels 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.

MediaHub SL™ – slim design, scalable options, affordable price tag It’s MediaHub re-engineered! MediaHub SL boasts all the connectivity your guests need with a compact and sleek design. Starting with a passive model the MediaHub SL base model offers the ease of a plug-and-play multimedia TV connectivity experience. Moving up in the slim line range to choose MediaHub

SL+, a model that boasts auto sensing to create an absolutely effortless plug and play experience for the guest.

Install MediaHub SL+ with any hospitality grade TV or STB with an available HDMI port and serial or control interface and guest devices will be auto-sensed to play through the TV without the need to fumble with the TV remote control. Choose to add iDock™ or PowerHub for an all-in-one multimedia connectivity station, with dedicated iDevice AV docking for iPods, iPhones and iPads as well as additional power outlets for charging electronics while in use. Guests will appreciate the device-friendly TV amenity and interior designers will appreciate this stylish low-profile option.

MediaHub TL™ - singleHDMI panels with TruLink® technology TeleAdapt most recently introduced the MediaHub TL range, an IP-enabled panel that can be integrated into a property’s network structure to provide guest-facing connectivity to play any portable multimedia device through the in-room TV while monitoring guest usage. Built-in TruLink® technology facilitates FTP-based firmware updates for instantaneous property-wide upgrade deployment. Network-based remote monitoring and guest-usage reporting improve RevPAR evaluation as well. And, a single-HDMI CEC compatibility, it’s the smartest connectivity panel on the market.

Installation is fast, connectivity is simple and guest device compatibility is limitless. It’s the connectivity panel the hospitality industry has been waiting for!

All MediaHub products are available in desktop or wall-mount configurations and designers can choose among a variety of decorative trims so each MediaHub model will fit the décor of any new or existing guestroom design.

TeleAdapt has been at the forefront of media connectivity and continue to dictate the industry standard. The MediaHub range now offers a greater variety of options for different needs and budgets.

For more information on the new MediaHub range from TeleAdapt please visit www.teleadapt.com, email info@ teleadapt.com or call 01923 810200.

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bathroom TV

Splashing Down

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ince 2002, TileVision products have been used to enhance the bathroom guest experience by hotels across the world. Designed and manufactured in the UK to the highest design and quality standards, TileVision allows the guest to sit back and relax in the bath whilst watching TV. The new improved 22 and 26 inch products provide superb pictures from LCD screens and high-quality audio through a single flush-mount stereo ceiling speaker. Available in a black or mirror

finish, the DVB-T digital tuner receives Freeview television and radio with digital text, and interactive services (MHEG-5) via the red button.

Integration with hotel TV systems is achieved using RS232, RJ12 or the built in Sky™ Remote Link. The full-function remote control is waterproof and provided with a clear wall-mount holder to ensure it is always to hand.

The company’s managing director Andrew Brown comments, “There is a growing trend in the hospitality market

to include entertainment in the bathroom as a standard in all rooms; as a result we have experienced a dramatic increase in demand for TileVision as hoteliers look to offer guests a unique bathroom experience. What could be more of a ‘wow factor’ than discovering a waterproof television in the bathroom?”

TileVision has been installed in properties worldwide, from a few suites in small independent UK establishments, to hundreds of rooms in the casino resorts of Macau in China.

0845 555 1212

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IPTV

Hospitality In-Room Entertainment Is Changing To make sure you don’t get left behind, Square International explains how to keep up with its latest design

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otels are reporting a decline in use of expensive VOD services but an increase in Internet usage. More and more guests are travelling with their own portable devices holding their rich-media content, like movies, games and music.

Square International has developed an interface for Apple’s TV device to make it the perfect in-room entertainment system for hotels wanting to give their guests the freedom to watch exactly what they want.

The Apple TV is small in size but big on entertainment, adding an extra dimension to regular TV viewing. Giving guests access to their personal iTunes store media including movies, TV shows (where available), photos and music libraries. Access to the content they carry in iPhones, iPods and iPads. Even iTunes content stored on Windows machines.

Plus with over two million users, many guests will already be familiar with the numerous features Apple TV offers.

Customisation and hotel information The system can be customised to include your branding and images associated with the hotel. Additionally, you can integrate information about hotel services, including room service menus, the spa brochure, restaurant menus, shopping catalogues, local maps and city guides.

Remote management Our powerful, yet easy to use PC, phone or tablet management system allows front desk, housekeeping or engineering to use any web-enabled PC to enable / disable the system to act as an additional revenue stream, clear down all guest information with one click and even quickly and clearly see if a unit is offline.

TV Make use of the proven reliability and everexpanding channel line up and interactive features of either Freeview GD or FreeSat HD (compatible TV tuner required). Simply switch between the Apple TV’s menu and Freeview TV at the touch of a button on the bespoke remote control.

Movies Instant access to the hottest Hollywood titles and new releases, using your iTunes account details. Search by top films, title or genre. The intuitive user interface allows you to read a short film review and watch a trailer before making your decision. Once you’ve chosen, simply press play and in seconds you’re watching the opening credits. Alternatively if you have a Netflix

account (US only) you can login easily and select from their library.

The internet’s most wanted Play all of those funny, fascinating or weird videos you come across on YouTube and Vimeo. Browse your friends’ Flickr photos, watch HD podcasts or listen to internet radio - all through the sleek Apple TV interface.

AirPlay: Integration with your guests’ technology

By April 2011, Apple had reportedly sold 19 million iPads, 60 million iPod touches and 108 million iPhones. Let your guests use their devices to broadcast to the big screen!

Case Study: Staybridge Suites, London Stratford City Ranked #6 on TripAdvisor of hotels in London, Staybridge has implemented Apple TVs in its suite hotel located adjacent to the Olympic Park.

We spoke to general manager Wayne Androliakos about his experience working with Square [ i ] International and the ATVi. “Working with Square [ i ] International has been a refreshing experience. Both their approach to product development, focusing on developing products that appeal to both our guests and the hotel’s operational team equally, together with their personal approach to our relationship has made for a very enjoyable experience.”

He continues, “Initially I had reservations that such ground-breaking technology could stand up reliably

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against the incredible occupancy levels expected as an Olympic village hotel. However I’m delighted to report an almost flawless installation and tremendous feedback from our guests directly and via the internet.”

“I’d recommend Square [ i ] International and their ATVi solution to any hotelier looking to add a wow factor, together with simplicity of use to their guest rooms, without hesitation.”

IPTV

Exceed Demand

Provide the Best In this ever-competitive market, it’s vital that you give your guests the ultimate TV experience Succeeding in a difficult economy With the world economy struggling and the UK and Eurozone on the brink of another recession, every customer counts. Making sure guests not only spend on additional hotel services, but making sure they have the best possible stay to ensure they come back is vital to success. Part of this is a hotel IPTV system that gives the variety and choices guests expect.

Providing a premium experience IPTV solutions are designed for hotels looking to impress guests with crystal clear HD TV and video, branded interfaces, custom information channels, radio and interactive guest services. Using IPTV guests can view account information and even check-out directly from their in-

room TV. Content can also be controlled to ensure younger guests are protected where premium channels are available.

Making TV cost effective With the rise of internet video streaming, video on-demand is seen as an increasingly low priority item and this impacts revenue.

Leased systems tie hotels into multi-year contracts increasing costs for the hotel in the long term and restricting cash flow.

On the reverse, traditional systems have been cost prohibitive with a high cost of ownership. This is where embracing the latest IPTV technologies can help. Research shows that what guests most want from a hotel TV system is a wide variety of channels, including entertainment, news, sport and movies. This variety is what IPTV delivers and can often be achieved with no monthly running costs.

New revenue streams AV content is no longer confined to hotel rooms. Live TV in bars and other public areas give guests another reason to stay and spend time in the hotel. Advertising hotel services, such as spa treatments or meeting services, in different locations within the hotel gives greater visibility and boosts sales. In house training videos can also be accessed using video-on-demand in staff areas without any additional cost, ensuring training to the highest standards so that guests receive the highest level of service.

Delivering the best IPTV for hospitality is achieved using the Exterity solution.

Designed to utilise existing infrastructure, offer stunning visual clarity, and harness the cost savings of free to view content; only Exterity can offer you the modern hotel TV system guests want and hoteliers need to remain competitive. Find out more at www.exterity.com/hospitality

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0845 555 1212

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bandwidth

Bandwidth is the new Utility As guests carry an increasing number of internet enabled devices and the number of SMART-enabled TVs grow, Airwave has teamed up as a channel partner with Exponential-e, the dedicated B2B supplier of bandwidth and private networks industry.

I

n this article, Exponential-e impart some expert advice on meeting guests’ expectations.

A Business-only Network At Exponential-e, we are serious about business, business-only networks and being the best in the business. So our founding philosophy was and remains simple; to build the premier network to support UK enterprises that are equally serious about their business.

Since our foundation (2002), we have adopted the policies and the leading edge engineering technologies that offer UK companies resilience, speed, control and versatility – the prerequisites for a non-stop compute network platform.

In order to achieve this, we adopted a number of critical network topology design factors and a strict network design objective: that our network topology is optimised for corporate clients only. Most importantly, we insisted that no consumer broadband traffic would disrupt our network’s resilience and have any impact on our clients’ business. This is a peerless and crucial differentiator to achieving the optimum up-time and low latencies required for your business.

Intelligent Network Topology MPLS is a proven network architecture, but it lacks so many intelligent network design features and the versatility afforded

by VPLS. VPLS powers up solutions where we can design networks with both layer 2 and layer 3 options. Hence, in January 2006, we were the first UK company to embrace and build a fully meshed VPLS network – allowing us to meet the stringent demands of the most advance and complex network designs.

Smart Wires VPLS is now the cornerstone of our Smart Wires® approach to cloud computing – both private and public cloud applications where we can offer the important endto-end SLAs to support your cloud applications. Our wealth of experience with

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VPLS is peerless and invaluable when it comes to meeting the design objectives for the most complex networks.

Excellent Credentials Today, we have approximately 1,200 blue chip corporate clients and a balance sheet worthy of Dun & Bradstreet’s coveted No.1 credit status. We offer old fashioned quality of service sustained and supported by world-class leading edge network solutions.

Hospitality - Technology Enabling Service Excellence Whether 3 stars or 5 stars, service is at the heart of the hotel industry. Ensuring guests are catered for 24x7 means facilities need to be fully accessible. This includes access to a host of services that include: ■ High-speed Internet connectivity ■ HDTV and state-of-the-art guest systems ■ Reliable EPOS and front of house systems ■ Inbound call management We understand that the technology you use can often be a differentiator. And the provision of these services needs to be delivered securely, reliably and speedily in

order to exceed guest expectations and guarantee customer satisfaction.

Exponential-e’s commitment to the same high standards has led us to work with a number of world renowned Hotel groups and boutique hotels to efficiently deliver high bandwidth connectivity to support all of the above services.

Exponential-e are specialists in providing flexible, high capacity solutions over our 100GigE core network that enables hotels to deliver multiple services securely into their premises via one Ethernet connection. This can range from the secure delivery of Voice, WIFI, CCTV and business Internet, as well as direct access to cloud service providers, data centres and your PMS provider of choice.

Exponential-e can point to customers like the Intercontinental Hotel Group, (IHG), The Grange Tower Bridge hotel and the Sofitel St James as just a few of the hotels are working with to deliver cutting edge connectivity solutions.

We are very pleased that Airwave Europe is now a channel partner, as many of the services they supply demand a wide bandwidth with high service levels. As a dedicated B2B supplier we are uniquely positioned to provide a comprehensive solution, but at the right price.

To find out how email: info@exponential-e.com or visit: http://www.exponential-e.com/hotels

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