The Big Picture 2020

2020 Brought to you by:

HOTEL T V SYSTEMS – NET WORKS – IP T V – WIFI – SIGNAGE – CONTENT

WELCOME The writing of this introductory piece offers a welcome reflection on all that has happened over the last 12 months. The technology that we live and love continues to develop at a relentless pace, making the Airwave office an exciting and dynamic place to be.

The hero of our business will always be the television, but as mentioned by David Fogelman in his article on page 6, the hotel TV is now only one component in an often, complicated network of technologies. Our business is now just as involved with IOT, software systems, guest interfaces, content casting and the WIFI/ HSIA to support all of the above.

With this firmly in mind, 2019 has seen Airwave’s management team working tirelessly to evolve the business in line with this extra complexity. We’ve invested in a greater diversity of skillsets (most notably within our technical team, see pages 12-14) and added business layers to support the increasing expectations of our customers.

I very much hope that our passion for technology shines through the pages of the Big Picture and it provides a few things for you to think about. Enjoy the read.

James Grant, Editor Airwave Europe Ltd

21

08

10

CONTENTS 16

24

03 06 08 10 12 16 18 20 21 22 24 26 28 30

2020 VISION

2020 Vision David Fogelman – CEO Hotel Information Systems Airwave at Work - Hotels Airwave’s Technical Team Chromecast for Hotels Airwave at Work – Premier Inn Finance, Rental & Leasing Airwave at Work – Castles Ian Millar – Casting Editorial Airwave Healthcare Samsung Display Solutions LG Electronics Philips Professional Displays

most importantly, they’re here to stay with numbers growing by the minute.

With that in mind, it seems a simple equation - the longer a hotel waits to adopt device-driven TV technology = the less competitive it will become.

DATA DRIVEN

GENERATION Z

Technology is a critical component in the creation of a differentiated hotel experience.

The provision of cutting-edge television systems drives our business and shapes our behaviour (indeed, evolving technology has been an overriding theme across the last 11 Big Picture publications).

We strive not only to keep up with the latest developments but also, as much as realistically possible, predict tomorrow’s key technology. However, might it be foolish to concentrate exclusively on TV technology and gloss over why we’re all here in the first place?

The guest. That multi-faceted creature that we all strive to please.

www.airwave.tv

Of course, every guest is different and a TV system needs to cater for all demographics (we’ll get to this a bit later on), however a savvy hotel will look first at key customer groups and how best to please them.

Said savvy hotels will be paying close attention to Generation Z (those born between 1995 and 2010). Studies have revealed that Generation Z travel is rapidly catching up with the high-spending Millennials and will be worth $200 billion dollars to the travel industry by 2020.

Generation Z are tech hungry, device driven, content addicts and haven’t experienced life without the Internet –

Generation Z are bandwidth imbibers to the nth degree. They’ll turn up at hotels with smartphones, tablets and an army of datahungry devices, expecting to use them just like they do at home. But of course, the home environment only needs to serve the data needs of a handful of people.

Hotels need to provide a satisfactory connection for hundreds of guests whilst also keeping an eye on forever increasing file sizes, content resolutions and the ever-growing increase in data-usage. It’s estimated that a 90-minute 4k movie will use over 10 GB of data, multiply that a handful of times and you can see the issue.

Rest assured, bandwidth usage is only going to increase. Airwave recommend that this be the first consideration ahead of a TV system refurbishment, the rule being – don’t think about today’s bandwidth requirements, think about what will be needed in 5 years’ time. Naturally, Airwave is an expert in the delivery of commercial grade WIFI and HSIA systems and is always happy to advise.

info@airwave.tv

3

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

Of course, the implementation of a robust WIFI network to support increased bandwidth demand is one part of a series of Why buy a hotel TV? costs connected with the upgrade of a hotel’s TV system. The cost of technology – especially cutting-edge “wow factor” systems - can be prohibitive.

With this in mind, the Airwave sales team are often presented with Hotel TV’s recurring theme: “I can save money if I buy consumer TVs from the high-street.”

Indeed, shop-bought TVs might well be cheaper than equivalent hotel displays, however initial cost savings are likely to be dwarfed by the associated costs of buying domestic TVs for a hotel.

Remember, a domestic TV’s warranty does not cover use in a commercial environment – meaning the failure of just one screen could exceed the initial cost saving.

Often not considered are the operational efficiencies afforded by hotel TVs. These may be simple in nature such as the ability to remotely manage a portfolio of screens (updating channel lists, problem diagnostics etc) or at a more complicated level, managing room availability/check-out status via the TV. Simply speaking, operational efficiencies equate to ongoing cost savings and must always be taken into consideration when analysing initial expenditure.

Fully onboard with our thinking but still concerned about capital expenditure?

Why not make use of our in-house finance company and lease your system? (for further details, see page 20).

PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH.

A conveyor belt of new technology has revolutionised the TV market over the last few years. SMART TV is now commonplace (if not the norm), average screen sizes are getting bigger and bigger (think 49-inch as the current standard) 4K displays flirt with our wallets whilst OLED and QLED battle it out. LG has released a series of TVs as thin as wallpaper, HDR boasts brighter colours and better contrast and bezels veer from slim to non-existent.

It would be very easy for a hotel to get caught up in sexy hardware that shouts “hey, look at me!” and creates that all-important first impression.

However, as we all know, beauty is only skin deep.

What’s the point on spending big on hardware if the brain of the TV is neglected?

We encourage all our customers to think carefully about both the hardware and

4

www.airwave.tv

software element of a hotel TV system.

We offer a portfolio of systems that house (to name a few examples) dedicated casting functionality, catch-up TV services, information pages and even two-way communication enabling a guest to order room service via the in-room TV. Furthermore, all our systems can be remotely managed and updated, offering an element of future-proofing.

“Element” being the operative word. Such is the scale and scope of recent developments in TV technology, no one technology will categorically “future-proof” a TV system.

With this in mind, we find ourselves thinking “when will this innovation slow down?” Surely it has to slow down at some point soon?!

I ROBOT

In 2016, Hilton introduced “Connie” the robot concierge to the world. Connie cheerfully chatted to guests about local tourist attractions, dining recommendations and hotel features, providing a pleasant, if somewhat limited, guest experience.

2020’s robot is much more advanced; able to learn and replicate human emotions, recognise faces and perform a multitude of increasingly complicated tasks. Indeed, such is the complexity of today’s robot that the Hideo Sadawa in Japan and the Penheng Space Capsules in China are staffed largely by robots. Incredibly, every staff member at the Henn-na hotel in Nagasaki Japan….is a robot!

But how relevant is all this to our world of TV technology? At this point, it’s hard to say. The Internet of Things connects objects and compliances, communicates, interacts and creates “smart” devices that can often be semi or even fully autonomous.

In view of this, hotel TV’s future seems to be in the hands of interoperability.

Premium TV systems have already commenced this journey, enabling two-way communication between the in-room TV and a hotel’s internal systems. Will the next chapter see it commonplace for TVs to, for example, adjust the room temperature, close curtains and operate the lights?

series of problem-solving exercises?! Or more pertinently – we’ve all experienced the hotel TV that seems to fulfil a lot of functions, but is nigh on impossible to find the TV channels.

Much has been made of the hotel industry’s tendency to lag behind the TV technology we’re used to at home, maybe the way forward is to concentrate on getting the basics right (quick and easy casting, intuitive menus, responsive channel changes etc) before we start thinking about robots and interoperability?

Airwave’s ethos has always been to focus on the optimum user experience, not necessarily the most innovative solution available. Naturally, a balance needs to be found but as long as a hotel, as much as possible, looks to provide a top-drawer user experience, we think that’s the way forward.

SEAMLESS SERVICE

A hotel TV system that’s intuitive and easy-to-use is a great start. Human beings are intrinsically lazy, so won’t appreciate a prolonged battle with the remote control and/or a casting headache. At home, one can start watching an episode of Eastenders on the TV, pause it and pick it up at exactly the same point (days later if necessary) on a smartphone. Seamless operability is becoming the norm and of course, this needs to be replicated in the hotel room as much as possible.

OVER-INNOVATION

As exciting as the future may be, might it be the case that we’re in danger of “overinnovation?” Are we veering towards technology for technology’s sake?

How about that super-duper lighting system that can bathe every nook and cranny of your hotel room in several hues of light, but is impossible to turn on or off without a

ARE YOU BEING SERVED?

A wider reaching consequence of technology’s rapid evolution is the notion that technology is depersonalising the guest experience.

Is too much technology taking the “hospitality” out of hospitality?!

0845 555 1212

An Oracle Hospitality report, “Creating the Coveted Hotel Guest Experience2” suggests that ‘customer service and helpfulness of staff ” is the third most important element of a hotel experience (behind cleanliness of rooms and a hotel’s location).

Whilst we’re not sure that hotels staffed by robots is necessarily the way forward, our stance is that far from depersonalising the hotel experience, technology can provide the means for hotels to better serve their guests.

Otrum Enterprise’s room management functionality allows a TV to communicate a room’s status to reception, allowing guests to check in early (or check out late) if required; other features include room service, the booking of hotel amenities or even the ordering of an extra pillow – all available via the TV. Of course, such features do lessen the requirement for face-to-face interaction, but in doing so, they free up the time and resource of staff to better focus on quality interaction and ultimately, the provision of a better service.

And actually, shouldn’t the need to interact on a face-to-face level be the guest’s choice?

Sometimes after a long, stressful day, might a guest appreciate avoiding social interaction?

A real polariser of opinion, guests (rightly or wrongly) may consider this an intrusive inclusion. Hotels are worried about the GDPR implications and naturally, harbour concerns about their guest’s concerns. Once again, we arrive back at the technology for technology’s sake discourse.

At a much more basic level - can you rely on guests using a hotel TV’s smart services to delete their various login and password details? Or perhaps more alarmingly, what’s to stop a guest from stumbling upon a previous guest’s questionable browsing history?! A potentially disastrous PR issue for a hotel (especially those catering for families).

Thankfully, all hotel TVs have cache clearing functionality, deleting all browsing history and personal data ahead of the next guest’s stay.

ALL PART OF THE SERVICE

You may have noted that we tend to favour the term “hotel TV” rather than “hospitality TV.” Of course, these terms are interchangeable, Airwave’s choice of language representing our core business, the supply of TVs to hotels.

However, the very nature of a hotel TV’s functionality means that it’s not just suitable for hotels.

The “hotel” TV is an obvious choice for any environment that manages a portfolio of TVs, needing to be centrally managed and updated, protected from public interference and perhaps most relevant, having a warranty that covers commercial use.

A quick flick through the pages of the Big Picture highlights Airwave installations into castles (see page 21), hospitals and secure environments (see page 24-25) but we’re seeing a huge uplift in the supply of hotel TV systems into serviced apartments.

These essentially are long-stay hotels, sharing the same needs and characteristics of a hotel, but with

an even greater requirement for a home-from-home experience.

This experience is not being disturbed at 1AM by the next apartment’s TV or logging into the previous occupant’s Netflix account. Don’t forget that in any multi-dwelling unit, the dissemination (and storage) of information is important – why not use the hotel TV to send messages, promote services or hold emergency contact details?

TV FOR EVERYBODY

Whilst the needs of a serviced apartment’s guest are similar to that of a hotel, the best hotel TV systems should cater for every guest.

We’ve talked about the growing Generation Z demographic and the meteoric rise of BYOD and Chromecast, but what about those that don’t have a smart device or, perish the thought, the guest that simply wants to watch scheduled, terrestrial TV or a traditional VOD movie? A hotel wouldn’t get away with providing hot water to most of its guests, so what’s different about the provision of in-room entertainment?

Airwave sister company Techlive International (a global leader in the provision of movie and programming content to the hospitality industry) is the creator of Airtime, a cloudbased movie streaming app offering VOD content to 100% of guests.

A THANK YOU, TO YOU

We hope you enjoy reading the Big Picture as much as we’ve enjoyed writing it.

Hopefully it’s answered a few questions - and of course, asked a few more. We don’t pretend to know all the answers but can certainly help with most of them.

If you have any comments, thoughts or queries, we’d love to hear from you.

Creating the Coveted Hotel Guest Experience – Oracle Hospitality-Phocuswright Study

1.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING

Let’s stay for a moment on the guest’s right to privacy.

In recent years, advancements in digital technology have compromised traditional concepts of privacy – in this case, an individual’s right to communicate in a confidential manner.

From the proliferation of CCTV cameras to concerns about AI voice assistants storing conversations, we’re becoming increasing aware of a “Big Brother society.”

With this in mind, the June 2018 launch of Alexa for Hospitality (in partnership with Marriot) raised a few eyebrows. This hospitality tailored AI voice assistant acts as a digital concierge, essentially performing the same tasks as would be expected in the home environment.

www.airwave.tv

Airtime movie streaming app

info@airwave.tv

5

DAVID FOGELMAN –

SCCI GROUP CEO

MOVING QUICKLY

Life in any technology business flies by - and Airwave is not different. As we fast approach our second year under the ownership of the SCCI Group, our vision and core strategies are really beginning to take shape.

As much as we planned for the rapid uptake of BYOD and casting solutions, the sheer speed of this growth has surprised us. Indeed over the last year, the majority of Airwave installations have involved some form of casting solution and/or system software. We still love our traditional head-end and screen supply, but this is becoming the exception rather than the rule.

The net result of all this? system installations now require a much greater level of expertise – more akin to that of a network IT specialist than a RF technician. With this in mind, we have heavily invested in Airwave’s technical resource. We now offer a round-theclock support package and have trebled the size of the technical team, from 4 to 12.

We have invested in the multi-skilling of this technical resource and implemented a comprehensive development programme to ensure a deep breadth of knowledge and “strength in depth” (see page 12-14).

TOGETHER STRONGER

Airwave offer a full range of manufacturer systems such as Samsung’s REACH, LG’s Pro:Centric and Philips CMND on top of our own AirMedia RF & IP, however one of our first key decisions – to focus on the industryleading software solutions provided by Otrum – is really starting to pay dividends. Otrum’s customer centric software has few peers in the hospitality industry and this very much sets us apart from our competitors.

CONNECTIONS

A key component in the success of a Hotel TV system is the quality of the WIFI and data network. With this in mind, we have enhanced our WIFI proposition and joined forces with key WIFI operators. Unfortunately, WIFI solutions do not come in a ‘one size fits all’ package and recognising this, we have strategically aligned with WiFirst in the hospitality sector and Virgin Media in healthcare – two industry heavyweights to complement our current partnership with BT and Mikenopa.

HEALTHY TECHNOLOGY

The healthcare sector has also picked up on the BYOD revolution (in fact, some of the most ground-breaking projects we’ve worked

6

www.airwave.tv

Airwave’s exclusive Chromecast integrated TV

on have been in hospitals and care homes).

Paying for free-to-air TV and phone calls during a hospital stay should soon become a thing of the past.

Today, modern NHS Trusts and private hospitals are installing IPTV networks and stream content to the patient’s own device (I can see a time when the hospital TV on a bulky arm will also be thing of the past).

This convergence of technology adds real value to the patient experience and provides a cost-effective alternative to many of the antiquated systems currently installed in hospitals.

THE SMART CHOICE

Smart or non-smart? Currently hot topic amidst sub five-star hotels, a belief being that Chromecast negates the need for a smart solution. If the guest has all the apps on their device, why offer a smart TV? Adding a further nuance to the debate; the current Chromecast solution requires a dongle to be fitted to the rear of the screen, this adds cost and another layer of hardware to manage (Philips have circumnavigated this, launching a range of Chromecast integrated screens).

As with many things, the debate is not a simple one. In some cases, smart TVs may be overkill but of course, this is where our expertise comes in, I encourage you to drop us a line to help us, help you in your decision making.

EXCLUSIVELY AIRWAVE

Airwave realise that the guest viewing experience is a critical part of a successful hotel stay. It’s disappointing therefore to see a sizeable section of the hotel market buying domestic TVs, diluting the optimum viewing experience.

We’ve worked hard to combat this issue via education but have recently made a further step forward, partnering with Cello Electronics and introducing an, exclusive to Airwave, lowcost hospitality TV with integrated Chromecast - at a close to domestic price. I urge you to look at this fantastic new product before you make a purchasing decision.

MAKING CHANGES

2019 has seen the launch of our finance & rental package portfolio; spreading the cost of a hotel TV system over a 3 or 5 year period has proved hugely popular. We combine capex & opex costs, SLA and warranty into a simple, fixed monthly payment.

We have also consolidated our delivery platform, resulting in a comprehensive, nationwide installation and maintenance service - 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. I will assure you that this task is easier to write than implement! But we are now enjoying the benefits.

A THANK YOU FROM ME

So, another year on and my passion for the business has almost consumed me. I continue to enjoy every second at Airwave, working with passionate people and selling fantastic systems. I’m very conscious however, that the most important part of this business is you.

I would like to thank all our customers for helping us deliver your vision and look forward to continuing our partnership in 2020.

David

0845 555 1212

HOTEL INFORMATION SYSTEMS

A hotel information system is a key communication and branding tool, enhancing the guest experience and augmenting a hotel’s operational efficiency.

Systems come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from one-page branded splash screens to interactive solutions that allow two-way communication between hotel and guest.

Fully customisable, systems can be embedded on hotel TV displays across both RF (coaxial) or IP networks to form the backbone of a guest-room entertainment system. Systems are remotely managed and updated, adding an element of future-proofing to a hotel’s TV network.

Airwave’s team of content technicians provide design and implementation services across key industry solutions, including: Otrum, AirMedia, Samsung REACH, Philips CMND and LG Pro:Centric.

Struggling for inspiration? Why not take a look at a typical system?

THE HOME PAGE

Here’s your chance to make a great first impression. The best home screens use branding and well-chosen imagery/video to pack a punch – whilst also being simple, intuitive and easy to navigate.

Most important? Make sure it’s easy to find the TV channels! (believe it or not, this is often overlooked).

HOTEL INFORMATION

Well-designed hotel information pages help answer frequently asked questions, reducing calls to the front desk.

As well as standard hotel amenity details, information pages can be used to store wakeup alarm functionality, restaurant menus, promotions & special offers or even branded hotel videos.

In short – you have a blank canvas to work with!

8

www.airwave.tv

0845 555 1212

LOCAL AREA INFORMATION

Particularly useful in towns and cities, local area pages act as a digital concierge.

Popular features include scrollable maps, local weather conditions and integration with airport arrival and departure times.

Hotels can also generate revenue via the advertising of local companies such as taxi firms, restaurants and take-aways.

ROOM SERVICE

Premium systems can incorporate two-way communication, offering in-room purchasing features such as room service, late-check-out and facility bookings.

Other useful functionalities include the ordering of sundry items (such as shampoo or extra pillows) via the TV. This two-way interaction creates operational efficiencies and additional revenue streams.

SMART TV APPS

SMART apps are ideal “time passers”, providing guests with an almost infinite supply of popular content.

Most SMART hotel TVs can access hundreds of apps, but only a few are commonly used.

The most popular include TV catch-up services, YouTube, BBC News & Sport, radio stations and Airtime, the hospitality exclusive video-on-demand app.

CHROMECAST & CONTENT SHARING

Content casting functionality can be integrated with information systems, providing access to 1000+ apps, 200,000 TV shows & movies and 30 million songs – all accessible via the guest’s own device and providing a “homefrom-home” experience.

Accompanying written or video instructions simplify the casting experience, reducing calls to the front desk.

www.airwave.tv

info@airwave.tv

9

AIRWAVE AT WORK

THE ATRIUM, HEATHROW AIRPORT

AN INTERESTING CHALLENGE The Atrium Hotel is located 5 minutes from Heathrow Airport and offers a stylish, amenity rich experience across its 612 bedrooms. Striving to provide a home-from-home experience for its guests, the Atrium worked with Airwave to provide world-class audio visual technology throughout the hotel.

“Located directly under the flight path of one of the world’s busiest airports presented a unique challenge” said head of projects, Morne de Jager “to assure the integrity of the TV system’s reception, we spent two weeks on the hotel’s roof, testing dishes and aerials to make sure there was no interference from planes.”

Having received the “all clear” Airwave commenced the installation of various technologies.

THE TECHNOLOGY Having installed and commissioned an IPTV headend and network, Airwave wall-mounted 540 x 49-inch and 109 x 65-inch Samsung EJ690U Series hospitality displays, implementing Google Chromecast, an Otrum Enterprise information system and the cloud-based movie streaming app, Airtime.

Other deployed technologies include: • A mirror TV and bathroom TV were installed in the Bridal suite, providing a WOW factor for newly-wed guests.

•

A number of Samsung LFD signage displays were installed in function rooms, the bar and public areas – including 2 x 98-inch UHD Samsung QM-F Series signage displays in the Atrium’s lobby (the Atrium’s atrium to be precise!).

• 7 x Samsung DB Series signage tablets were installed outside each meeting room, designed to schedule meeting timetables.

• Otrum signage software, controlling the content scheduling of each signage display.

• 3 x Samsung “Flip” interactive digital whiteboards.

• A BOSE audio system and a network of speakers across the hotel’s public areas.

TV content supplied includes a number of international channels (catering for the hotel’s international clientele) BT Sports channels in the bedrooms and bar and Sky Sports in the bar & function areas.

The vast nature of the Atrium’s display network requires a quick and easy way to control television content to each screen. This is facilitated by Demopad technology, hosted on tablets and used to manage the sending of different channels to different screens this is especially useful in the 700-capacity assembly hall, a hub for hotel events.

“This is a fantastic showcase of Samsung Technology” said Samsung Corporate Account Manager Phil Edwardes, “it was a pleasure to work with both Airwave and the Atrium in the supply and design of a cutting-edge display system.”

HOLMES HOTEL

Comprised of four stunningly restored Georgian buildings in Maryleborne, the Holmes Hotel, London is inspired by nearby Baker Street’s most famous resident.

Sherlock Holmes is known for his logical reasoning, superhuman powers of observation and obsessive personality certainly not the sort of character that would tolerate a subpar in-room entertainment system. With this in mind, Airwave was tasked to provide the finishing touches to the Holmes Hotel’s refurbishment.

It doesn’t take a detective to realise that the Samsung 690 Series of SMART TVs was the perfect in-room hardware choice; Airwave installed 129 x 49-inch displays into the hotel’s bedrooms and suites.

10

www.airwave.tv

An Otrum Enterprise information system was implemented on each TV, offering a platform for guest information, SMART apps and Google Chromecast.

Complementing Otrum’s system, Airwave commissioned an Airtime movie-on-demand

service, giving guests access to ‘pay as you play’ HD movies. Airtime’s cloud-based streaming solution removes the need for on-site servers or set-top- boxes, eliminating associated costs and providing cutting-edge VOD content. Apart from a small activation fee, the Airtime service is provided free-tohotel, with no ongoing content fees.

Further enriching the hotel’s content offering, Airwave installed a Sky Select service in each room.

Sky Select is the new, simple way to deliver a tailored HD channel line-up from one centralised location - circumnavigating the need for sky equipment in the bedroom.

Hoteliers can choose a bespoke channel line-up to suit every type of guest.

0845 555 1212

APEX TEMPLE COURT

Apex Temple Court is situated a stone’s throw from London’s Fleet Street, within walking distance of Covent Garden and the capital’s theatre district. Built within London’s Inns of Court, the building is rich in history and offers a similarly rich experience for its guests.

Tasked to supply and deploy a display technology system into the hotel’s recent extension, Airwave duly obliged.

The project commenced with the design and installation of an IRS system, enabling the implementation of an HD Sky In-Room service, featuring Sky Sports and a wealth of channel options.

Airwave supplied and installed Samsung 49EE690 SMART TVs in the guest-rooms and 65-inch Samsung Frame TVs inside meeting rooms and a suite.

“Samsung’s Frame TV is a lovely bit of technology” said key account manager David Taylor “and perfect for an environment that needs a TV, but doesn’t want to spoil the room’s design.”

When switched on, Samsung’s Frame TV is a television, when switched off, it becomes a piece of art, displaying a chosen painting or design in UHD clarity. A customisable bezel (with a number of design options) further aids the hardware’s aesthetic.

DOUBLE TREE BY HILTON – TOWER OF LONDON

Situated in the heart of London, the Doubletree by Hilton, Tower of London enjoys easy access to a number of attractions, notably Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

Nestled in the centre of London’s financial district, the hotel caters mostly for business travellers, with this in mind, the provision of a ‘relaxing experience’ is key to the hotel’s service ethos. Of course, a central component to this being a top-quality television system.

Having previously supplied 55-inch Samsung SMART TVs and a Samsung Lynk Sinc system into Doubletree’s executive rooms and suites, Airwave again recommended Samsung, wall-mounting 472 x Samsung 49EE690 SMART TVs. Samsung’s EE690 Series offers centralised display management and personalised in-room service via an IP-based H.Browser; expanded connectivity is provided via bluetooth and ethernet compatibility, allowing guests to stream TV and audio content onto the TV.

ALOFT DUBLIN CITY

Aloft Dublin City is situated in The Liberties, one of the Irish capital’s most historic and rapidly developing neighbourhoods. Set across 8 floors and boasting panoramic views of the Dublin mountains and city centre, the newly designed hotel looks to cater for the next generation of travellers.

Today’s guests are becoming increasingly demanding, expecting both style, comfort and cutting-edge technology. Whilst Airwave is no expert in interior design or feng shui, we’re certainly top of our game in the provision of guest-room and public area technology.

With this in mind, Airwave was tasked to provide a premium display system.

Recommending Samsung’s HGEE690 Series, Airwave installed 202 x 49-inch displays into the guest-rooms and a further 55-inch screen in the hotel’s public area.

An Otrum Enterprise information system and hospitality certified Chromecast was implemented in each room, allowing guests to watch their own content via the in-room TV. “Recent innovation has changed the way guests watch TV” said head of hospitality sales Adam Jones “scheduled terrestrial TV won’t excite guests that want to watch their own content at the push of a button.”

Supporting the guest-room technology, Airwave installed a headend, an IPTV headend and a Chromecast proxy server.

Aloft’s second remit was the installation of WOW factor technology in the hotel’s public area. Airwave installed 8 x LG 47L35A video wall screens in two banks of 2x2 displays. Each 2 x 2 configuration was run by Otrum signage software and able to play 4k content via a raspberry pi media player, and television content via LG’s STB300.

www.airwave.tv

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CLUB

Located in Mayfair, the Royal Air Force Club offers a luxurious London base for serving and former officers of the RAF and Allied Air Forces.

2018 marks the club’s centenary year (an event celebrated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the club’s patron) and in line with an ongoing development and refurbishment plan, Airwave was commissioned to provide a guest-entertainment system for the property’s 100 bedrooms.

Recommending Samsung’s HGEE590 Series, Airwave installed 117 x 32-inch & 43-inch SMART displays, implementing an Otrum CTRL information system on each TV. Recognising a propensity for guests to stay at the club for a number of days, Airwave enhanced the club’s content offering, implementing a Sky Select service and cloud-based movie on demand app, Airtime.

info@airwave.tv

11

LET’S GET TECHNICAL AIRWAVE’S TECHNICAL RESOURCE

Hotel TV is evolving (and fundamentally changing) in line with internet-based technology advances. In turn, TV systems are becoming more complicated, needing to cater for technically savvy guests, armed with smart devices and expecting to watch their own content on the guest-room TV. This industry shift, of course, brings challenges. I’ve spent much of the last 2-3 years planning and implementing changes within Airwave’s technical department to support the greater complexity of systems we offer.

Over the course of 18-months, we’ve trebled the technical team’s head-count (from 4 to 12) and focussed on broadening and diversifying its skillset. Within these changes, we’ve introduced product champions, a detailed training & education plan and an ongoing “information share” initiative which looks to disseminate knowledge across the department. The end result is greater flexibility, agility and the ability to best serve our customer’s needs in this exciting, dynamic industry.

I’m immensely proud of this (mostly) young, passionate and talented team. They say that “knowledge is power,” if indeed this is the case, I lay claim to having the most “powerful” technical department in the industry. Read on to meet the team: Julian Arnold – Technical and Product Director

ALAN AMBROSE PROGRAMME MANAGER

Role Alan is in charge of the technical team’s resource allocation, analysing the skillsets needed for each project and deploying accordingly. He also manages the training and development programme of each technician.

Subrole Acting as an interface between departments, Alan ensures that each job (from a technical perspective) is completed cost efficiently and on time.

Training Alan is a project manager by trade and as a consequence, is constantly learning the basics of each product and system sold.

12

www.airwave.tv

RORY HAMMOND TECHNICAL MANAGER Role Rory oversees the day-to-day management of the technical department, deals with the highest-level technical escalations and works closely with the technical director in product and project sign-offs.

Subrole As a leading RF expert, Rory is often called upon to advise and assist with RF based installations.

Training Having spent most of his career in networking, Rory is relatively new to display technology and as such, has spent many hours with TV manufacturer technical teams, learning the ins and outs of screen-based technology.

TIM MITCHELL PRE-SALES TECHNICAL ENGINEER

Role Tim is the sales team’s technical consultant, providing equipment costing and acting as a conduit between the sales and technical department. Ultimately, Tim polices the sales team’s proposals to prevent the over-selling of systems and ensuring their long-term viability.

Subrole Tim is a RF expert and often assists in the design and build of RF based network infrastructure.

Training Tim’s role requires him to know “a little about everything,” his training plan has been developed accordingly.

0845 555 1212

JAMES ADAMS SYSTEMS & NETWORK INTEGRATION ENGINEER Role James is Airwave’s lead networking engineer, heading up all wireless and backhaul network installations and distribution of IPTV services. When systems need to be integrated, the proof of concept will typically run through James.

Subrole Third party network audits, network surveys and the configuration of servers takes up the remainder of James’ time. He is also involved in troubleshooting and technical escalation support.

SCOTT BAXTER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS ENGINEER Role Scott’s background in broadcast AV has led to him being Airwave’s technical “all-rounder.” His key involvements include the preparation of pre-installation documentation, network topologies, EPG harvesting and server configuration.

Subrole PMS integration, systems installation and the onboarding of technical projects keep Scott busy when not focussing on his key tasks.

Training James is currently entrenched in Sky Brightbox and Samsung REACH product training.

Training Scott’s key development objective sees him working closely with the network team to increase his knowledge of networks and the integration of systems.

IAN PARSONS ITC MANAGER

LIVIU PAVEL INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Role Ian is Airwave’s most experienced technician and an industryleading IPTV expert. As such, he oversees most IPTV based system infrastructure design and installation.

Role Liviu is a product champion of Sky’s Brightbox, IPTV, Otrum Enterprise, Samsung REACH and an expert in EPG and the installation of headends, servers and network equipment.

Subrole Acting as a final escalation trouble-shooter, Ian is at hand to fix the more complicated of issues – often working with manufacturers to report bugs and integration conflicts.

Subrole One of Airwave’s lead proof of concept technicians, Liviu spends much of his time looking at the integration of systems.

Training Ian is running out of things to learn about, but keeps himself busy studying programming.

www.airwave.tv

Training Liviu’s learning programme centres around risk analysis and the proactive monitoring of potential hardware and software conflicts. In order to do this, he needs to ensure he has encyclopaedic knowledge of Airwave’s portfolio of systems.

info@airwave.tv

13

HARRY WILLIAMS TECHNICAL SUPPORT ADVISOR

MICHAEL BRADBEER TECHNICAL SUPPORT ADVISOR

Role Harry is an MDM (mobile device management), Samsung REACH and Philips CMND product champion and provides second-line troubleshooting support.

Role Michael provides both internal and external first-line technical support.

Subrole Typically, Harry will spend a couple of days a week on maintenance & troubleshooting site visits and will occasionally assist with technical installations.

Subrole Assisting with office-based system installations and sales team product demonstration preparation, Michael is the lead internalbased support technician. He also provides support in the design and implementation of hotel information systems.

Training In an attempt to consolidate his MDM knowledge, Harry is currently studying HTML, CSS and Javascript. He also learns under the tutorship of the senior technicians on regular site visits.

Training Michael’s involvement in the design of information systems requires a training programme that covers a number of product areas including Otrum systems, Samsung REACH, Pro:Centric and AirMedia.

JON ARNOLD INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN

PETER ALLEN TECHNICAL SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR

Role Jon is Airwave’s lead information system designer, his week largely consists of the design and implementation of graphical user interfaces – he is the “face” of Airwave’s technical output.

Subrole Whilst Jon’s remit is predominantly design-based, the requirements of the role necessitate all-round expertise in the company’s portfolio of information systems Training Jon is currently learning Javascript to better comprehend the code that forms the basis of the programmes he designs.

14

www.airwave.tv

Role Peter is Airwave’s primary first-line support technician, managing to solve 90% of inbound customer queries.

Subrole Peter plays a key role in the management of Airwave’s ticketing system, logging all escalated technical issues.

Training As Airwave’s newest technician, Peter’s training is largely experience based – he is currently learning the basics of each system’s technology via “osmosis” and keen enthusiasm.

0845 555 1212

CHROMECAST FOR HOTELS A home-from-home experience in your hotel

Hospitality certified Chromecast enables guests to cast their own content onto a hotel TV, allowing them to watch what they want, when they want.

Guests can use a smart device to cast 1000+ apps (including an estimated 200,000 TV shows & movies and 30 million songs) simply and safely.

With 8 in 10 UK adults watching catch-up TV1 and using subscription services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, Chromecast is fast becoming a critical amenity.

GUEST BENEFITS • Provides a home-from-home experience.

• Alleviates the boredom associated with frequent hotel stays (ideal for business travellers).

• Unlike screen mirroring, the casting device can still be used whilst streaming content.

HOTEL BENEFITS

• Breathes new life into an existing TV system.

• Increases guest retention, satisfaction and loyalty.

• Can be integrated with an existing TV system and guest information interface.

CHROMECAST COMPATIBLE APPS INCLUDE: • Netflix • Amazon Prime • YouTube • BBC iPlayer • ITV Hub • All 4

• Now TV • BT Sport • Spotify • TuneInRadio • Google Play Music • Google Play Movies & TV

WHAT IS “HOSPITALITY CERTIFIED” CHROMECAST?

Hospitality certified Chromecast is designed specifically for use in a hotel environment.

The device is configured to prevent interference between rooms and housed in protective casing to reduce tampering and theft.

Chromecast can also be integrated into a TV information system, providing an intuitive point of access and returning the user to a branded GUI when casting has finished.

1

Ofcom Communications Market Report 2017

16

www.airwave.tv

0845 555 1212

With over 79,000 rooms across 785 hotels, Whitbread PLC’s Premier Inn chain is the largest hotel brand in the UK, accommodating value-driven guests from Truro to Fort William.

Airwave is proud to be official supplier of guest-room technology to Premier Inn’s estate, installing over 150,000 displays over a 12-year

period. A typical year sees the supply and installation of 10,000+ displays, including 4,000-5,000 TVs into new build properties.

As the Premier Inn brand evolves and expands (these pages feature some exciting developments), Airwave continue to work in collaboration with the much-loved chain and look forward to an exciting future.

ZIP BY PREMIER INN With the virgin site opening in Cardiff city centre in March 2019, Whitbread’s new no frills brand, “Zip by Premier Inn” is a new direction for the UK’s largest hotel chain.

Zip’s concept is to “do the essentials brilliantly, then take away everything else.” Customers get an 8.5M square room with a convertible bed, small windows or “light boxes”, a power shower, overhead storage and of course, a television system.

Airwave was tasked to provide a cost-effective, guest-room entertainment system with a low footprint, mirroring the aesthetics and reduced space of the bedrooms.

Airwave installed IP network infrastructure, (including switches, routers and network patching) to support an AirMedia IP interactive information system.

This is used as a central interface, hosting features such as hotel information, room extras and screen sharing functionalities. Of course, the provision of guest information on the room’s television removes the need for in-room literature unwanted clutter benefitting Zip’s minimalist concept.

18

www.airwave.tv

Further assisting spaceefficiency, Airwave used bespoke brackets to wallmount 138 x HG32EE690 Samsung SMART hospitality TVs. A 65” UHD Cello TV was also wall-mounted in Zip’s lounge area, showing Sky Sports and enabling guests to relax in the hotel’s communal space.

0845 555 1212

HEREWARD COLLEGE Having installed over 150,000 televisions into Premier Inn’s estate, Airwave is a true expert in the ins-and-outs of Whitbread’s leading brand.

With this in mind, a few quizzical eyebrows were raised when details of a three bedroom install in Coventry appeared in Airwave’s in-box.

A quick phone-call later and indeed, the request was not a typo - Hereward College Premier Inn, is set to become Whitbread’s smallest property.

The mini-hotel - an exact replica of a Premier Inn - is a fully-equipped hospitality training facility for adults with special needs.

Following in the footsteps of Premier Inn, Derwen College, Hereward champions the employment of under-represented groups and the 7.6 million working age disabled people in the UK. “It’s an honour to assist in the build of this fantastic facility” said operations director Toby Hart “we work with properties of all shapes and sizes but rarely install this number of TVs into such a large brand’s property. It was an interesting and enjoyable experience!”

WILLKOMMEN, PREMIER INN GERMANY Vorsprung durch Technik – progress through technology.

Particularly relevant in this instance as a £250M acquisition of new build properties and operational hotels creates a huge portfolio of Premier Inns in Germany. Of course, Airwave is delighted to be evolving the Premier Inn relationship via the supply of display and networking technology to Whitbread’s new presence on the continent.

Having installed Samsung hospitality TVs and Samsung Lynk

www.airwave.tv

Sinc into Premier Inn’s first German site in Frankfurt (ranked by TripAdvisor as the best hotel in the city), Airwave travelled north up the A7 and started work on Premier Inn’s first property in Hamburg.

Airwave installed a dual LNB satellite dish on the hotel’s roof and a satellite to DVB-C headend, delivering a portfolio of mixed European channels to the guest-rooms and public areas. A Samsung HG40EE590 was installed in each guest-room, running AirMedia IP in multilanguage, supporting German and English.

In the hotel’s public areas, Airwave installed Philips D-Line signage screens, including a 49BDL4050D in landscape and a 65BDL4050D in portrait format, run

by Otrum digital signage software and used to advertise hotel amenities such as restaurant menus and special offers.

A Samsung 32HGEE590 with HDMI and single gang faceplates was also installed in the hotel’s work area, enabling guests to share their content on the TV – ideal for presentations and business meetings.

Airwave and Premier Inn’s German roadmap is busy, with 31

sites across 15 cities to be opened over the next 18-24 months. The German market is approximately 35% bigger than that of the UK but currently, less dominated by branded hotel chains; Whitbread’s recent acquisition and growth plan

is likely to shift this emphasis by the end of 2020.

Next on the agenda? Hamburg, Munich, Essen, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Cologne, Nurnberg to name a few – it’s going to be a busy couple of years on German soil…

info@airwave.tv

19

FINANCE, RENTAL & LEASING

OLD TV SYSTEM AND A LACK OF CASH? IS LEASING THE ANSWER?

Why pay cash for your technology?

THE BENEFITS OF FINANCE £

£

£

£

KEEP CASH MOVING

Maintain a steady cash-flow profile without the burden of significant capital outlay, enabling cash to be used to greater effect in other areas of the business.

STAY FLEXIBLE, MOVE QUICKLY

Finance models expedite acquisition and enable companies to design a plan that fits their business needs and objectives.

BETTER TECHNOLOGY

A saving on significant capital expenditure enables the purchase of premium technology that otherwise may be unattainable.

TAX BENEFITS

Lease payments are considered an operating expense and are typically tax deductible.

Hospitality TV technology is evolving at too fast a rate to suit a hotel’s upgrade cycle. The result is speedily depreciating assets and TVs that look (and perform) like yesterday’s technology.

The lease rental of TV and signage packages will best serve the requirements of hotels looking to avoid technology obsolescence, providing guests with a cutting-edge TV system and creating that allimportant first impression.

HOW CAN AIRWAVE HELP?

Airwave provide a number of bespoke finance packages, enabling the acquisition of cutting-edge technology without the associated cash investment.

Part of the SCCI Group of companies, Airwave use in-house finance business, Switchsure, to offer a broad range of finance solutions at rates that match high-street lenders.

Working closely with customers to ascertain exact requirements, Airwave will tailor a finance solution that works. Leasing agreements include ongoing maintenance support and the option to add or refresh products and services during the contract period.

Based on a fixed monthly cost over the course of 2 - 5 years, Airwave’s leasing model provides flexibility, options and most importantly – a cutting-edge TV system to delight your guests.

TV packages from £4.59 per month

20

www.airwave.tv

0845 555 1212

KING OF THE CASTLES

STUDLEY CASTLE Part of the Warner Leisure portfolio of properties, Studley Castle is a Grade II listed building set in 28 acres of Warwickshire countryside.

Completed in 1836, the Castle served as a family home for 70 years, until spiralling costs and lavish living forced its sale. It’s since served as an agricultural college, army training camp, conference centre and latterly, a country house hotel.

When this closed in 2016, Warner was quick to purchase the castle, soon commencing a £50M renovation to restore the property to its original grandeur - thus creating Warner’s flagship hotel.

As official AV technology supplier to Warner parent company, Bourne Leisure, Airwave was tasked to supply a guest-entertainment and signage system: “Warner Leisure’s restoration programme looked to modernise this stunning gothic castle” said Airwave operations director, Toby Hart “we needed to undertake a significant infrastructure upgrade whilst being sensitive to the property’s aesthetics and history - it was a fascinating project.”

Airwave initiated proceedings with the provision of an aerial and satellite system, installing a cutting-edge GPON compatible headend, enabling the provision of Freeview and Sky TV across the castle.

192 x Samsung HG43EE690 SMART Hospitality TVs were wall-mounted in the castle’s bedrooms, each featuring an Otrum CTRL cloud-based interactive information system. CTRL provides an agile alternative to hardware-based equivalents, retaining most features - such as TV channel management, native TV apps (catch-up services, YouTube etc) and Google Chromecast integration.

8 x TV displays were installed in various public areas across the property, each screen showing Freeview, Sky TV and controllable via Demopad technology - enabling staff to operate the TV using an iPad. 8 x Samsung digital signage displays, running Otrum signage, were also deployed, positioned at strategic points throughout the property and used to advertise the castle’s key services.

“It’s been an honour to provide different technologies to this beautiful site” said Airwave head of projects Morné de Jager “and an enjoyable exercise of integrating new technology into a property, rich with life and history.”

www.airwave.tv

SKIBO CASTLE The magnificent Skibo Castle is home to one of the world’s most prestigious private clubs.

Set in sprawling parkland in the Scottish county of Sutherland, Skibo’s baronial architecture is almost ethereal in appearance.

Grand towers and gothic battlements hint at the majesty of the Edwardian interior as a lone, kilted bagpiper walks the castle, piping a medley of Scottish songs to greet each guest’s morning. Meanwhile, a falconer and his birds exercise on the castle’s front lawn.

The day’s timetable is rich and luxurious, catering for the every whim of Skibo’s 450 members. With all this in mind, surely the pinnacle of guest-room entertainment systems was on the agenda?

“Airwave’s remit was to provide a premium guest-room TV experience, however there was a twist” said project manager, Tom Chapman “Skibo’s evening programme is action-packed and as a consequence, there’s little desire for an all-singing, all-dancing system encouraging members to stay in the bedroom!”

“It was very much a case of less is more” said key account manager David Taylor “we were asked to provide a premium, yet simple system that ticked a few key boxes.”

Having upgraded the castle’s RF infrastructure to support a new system, Airwave installed Samsung HGEE690 SMART TVs, a Sky Select service and an Otrum CTRL information system; the latter was integrated with Skibo Castle’s website, giving guests basic scrolling functionality.

Airwave also supplied dishes and cabling into each of the castle’s lodges to support the TV system – and of course, enjoyed every second of the project amidst such incredible surroundings!

info@airwave.tv

21

IS IT TIME TO “CAST OFF” TRADITIONAL TV? Is content-casting technology superseding linear TV in the hotel room?

THE HISTORY:

SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Miracast was launched by the Wi-Fi alliance in 2012 and has fast become a mainstream technology option. It’s been described as “HDMI over Wi-Fi” creating a cable-less way of getting content from a device to a display. Its other guises include Airplay (Apple), Discovery and Launch, WiDi and Google Chromecast.

THE STATS:

So, before we look at what Miracast means for hotel operators, we need to understand what our guests are doing with this technology.

As its main use is moving content from a mobile device to a screen, let’s take this in the context of a hotel guest who owns a mobile phone or tablet.

In January 2019, AudienceProject surveyed 16,000 people in the UK, posing the question: Which streaming and downloading service do you use to watch TV series or movies?

Netflix came out on top with 70%, followed

by BBC iPlayer at 61% and Amazon Prime Video at 44%. YouTube was next with 43% then ITV player at 29%. Others included All4, Now TV and Sky Go - but in much smaller numbers.

Let’s stick with Netflix for some more stats and content: in 2018, the WARC Institute of Practitioners in Advertising stated that the 11.4 million UK Netflix users watched an average of 134 minutes’ worth of content a day. Netflix has over 3,600 movies and 1,400 TV show titles available on the platform.

A SVoD Tracker survey (2018) looking at Netflix usage discovered the top reason for watching is users wanting to watch at a time that suits them. 38% watch for the original

22

www.airwave.tv

The now very recognisable Google Chromecast icon.

content (Netflix is doing more and more of this) and 36% of respondents suggest the ability to watch multiple episodes in a row attracts them.

This has given us the expression “bingewatching.” I will personally admit to bingewatching Black Mirror season 5 in one sitting and every season of Narcos as soon as it came out!

A crazy number: Netflix takes up 15% of internet traffic every day (more than YouTube) and it can peak at 40% when people binge a new series.

The ability for people to watch content on demand on their own devices is where we are at. If we now translate that into “what does this mean for the hotelier?” two things come to mind: First, a good and solid internet connection - ideally 10MB per guest. They’ll be streaming the biggest bandwidth content there is.

Secondly, the ability for the guest to watch their own content on the hotel TV. Having a quick and easy way to sync a phone or tablet to the in-room TV needs to become a new hotel standard.

This must be done in a secure manner so only being able to sync to your own room device and not that of another room. I feel this is a must have standard for 5-star hotels and especially useful for hotels that concentrate on leisure, particularly those with families.

So, before upgrading or changing your hotel room TV, make sure the following question is on the checklist: Can my guests cast to the TV and if so, how does that work?

IAN MILLAR

Senior Lecturer & Manager of the Institute of Business Creativity.

The author of numerous hospitality technology articles, Ian Millar’s expertise in hospitality and information technology sets him at the forefront of the international hospitality industry.

The first European to have received Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) certification, Ian serves at an advisory level for various hospitality technology companies.

0845 555 1212

Evolving technology has revolutionised the way patients interact with entertainment systems; patients and residents now arrive at healthcare environments with smartphones, tablets and portable devices – all of which can access non-linear television and content services.

With this in mind, paid television systems are no longer a viable option for healthcare.

Allowing patients to use their own devices to access

content services is an affordable, progressive option, empowering the user.

Airwave Healthcare has added a “bring your own” solution to its portfolio of services, incorporating robust WIFI and commercially designed Google Chromecast.

If required, systems can be implemented with a branded hospital interface, information services, internet browsing, streaming apps and integration with hospital systems.

WEST SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

19HFL5014W - CHROMECAST INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE TV Designed for healthcare and built for patients, Philips’ 19-inch Heartline TV is powered by Android and combines intuitive functionality with medical-grade design.

The first healthcare display to feature integrated Chromecast functionality, the 19HFL5014W provides a home-from-home experience.

Key features include: ❚ Illuminated touch controls ❚ Reading light ❚ Easy to clean reinforced glass front ❚ Galvanically isolated headphone connection ❚ Medical-grade power supply ❚ Wall-arm compatible power cable (optional) ❚ Prison / high-security mode ❚ Activatable pay-to-view solution

24

www.airwave.tv

West Suffolk Hospital is a large district general hospital in Bury St Edmunds, managed by the West Suffolk NHS Foundation trust and providing accident & emergency, maternity, oncology and palliative care services.

Already boasting a purpose-built Macmillan unit, eye treatment centre, day surgery, 460 beds and 13 theatres, the WSFT constantly look to expand and improve the hospital’s facilities.

A recent £5.2 million build saw the conversion of a stores area to a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation and pacing suite. Having provided entertainment technology to the WSFT on two previous occasions, Airwave was approached to recommend a system for the hospital’s new ward.

“As typical of many new buildings” said head of healthcare sales Jes Redgard “there was no RF network to supply a TV signal to patient bedsides.”

Airwave circumnavigated the issue, providing a baluns (RF over data network, over a twisted pair cable) solution.

“Not only was this able to distribute a RF signal to bedside, it negated the need for an expensive IPTV headend and is a lower cost, more robust option than a distribution hub.”

A further problem was presented by the ward’s low suspended ceiling. This required a detailed survey of each bed position and the provision of a mixture of arm lengths (1.1m to 1.5m) and stopper positions to ensure arm movement was not affected.

Airwave supplied and installed Glamox Luxo medical wall arms, housing Philips 19HFL4010W healthcare TVs. The Philips “Heartline” range features a number of dedicated healthcare features such as anti-microbrial housing and a medical grade power supply.

Aiding the ward’s space management directive, Airwave wallmounted perspex RC holders, attaching each remote control to a curly cord, preventing loss and theft.

0845 555 1212

BARCHESTER HEALTHCARE Barchester Healthcare specialise in the delivery of care and assisted living to the elderly, dementia sufferers and adults with disabilities & mental health needs – operating over 200 care homes across the UK. Airwave is delighted to work in collaboration with McGoff Construction in the provision of technology to Barchester’s new build care properties. As the requirements (and budget) of each care home is different, a flexible technology offering is required: Spires Care Home, Lichfield Barchester’s £7M new build care home is located close to Lichfield’s city centre, offering 70 beds for dementia sufferers and the elderly.

“Due to budgetary requirements, we were asked to provide a domestic TV system” said head of healthcare sales, Jes Redgard, “this presented a difficult situation; we pride ourselves in listening to the customer and providing what’s asked for, but recommend against domestic TVs in a commercial environment.”

Due to the cost differential between commercial and domestic TVs, Airwave is occasionally asked to supply the latter. However, this presents a number of issues – most notably the invalidation of the TV’s warranty.

G4S CARE & JUSTICE However, on this occasion, Airwave’s relationship with Samsung enabled the purchase of hospitality TVs at a supported price. Further enhancing the value of the deal, the 70 x Samsung 32EE470 displays all featured a 3-year commercial warranty, including a fast response swap/repair service.

Queens Manor, Edinburgh The Queens Manor care home is located near Edinburgh Airport and offers residential care to older people, including individuals living with dementia.

With a careful focus on the stimulation of resident minds, Queens Manor offer sensory gardens and a “Memory Lane Community,” featuring “memory boxes” to stimulate residents’ memories.

“TV is sometimes perceived as an idle pleasure” said Airwave sales director Paul Chambers, “however on this occasion, we were mindful of the power of television content and its ability to stimulate the mind.”

With this in mind, Airwave recommended 43” LG SMART TVs with UHD, HDR technology, ultra-luminance displays and access to overthe-top content such as Netflix and catch-up TV services.

Further increasing the portfolio of content, Airwave implemented a Sky-InRoom service, offering hundreds of extra premium channels, including Sky Sports and Sky Entertainment.

Each TV was wallmounted, minimising the TV’s footprint and enhancing the resident’s safety.

A successful partnership Recent Barchester projects include the installation of several technologies – notable examples being 161 x Samsung hospitality displays, LG LFD displays, LG blu-ray players and Sonos audio equipment.

Denmead Grange Care Home in Denmead, Waterlooville is next on the agenda and due for an early 2020 opening.

BOURN HALL FERTILITY CLINIC In 1978, Louise Brown, the world’s first test tube baby was born following decades of pioneering by Bourn Clinic founders, Professor Robert Edwards and Dr Patrick Steptoe.

Following this historic breakthrough, the world’s first IVF clinic was set up – Bourn Hall Clinic near Cambridge.

Today, Bourn Hall operate 6 clinics across the east of England, providing fertility support to thousands of couples each year.

Recognising Airwave’s expertise in the supply of content, Bourn requested a suitable platform for the delivery of adult

www.airwave.tv

content – to be distributed from the Bourn head office, to sample rooms at individual sites.

Airwave implemented an Exterity IPTV headend with director software, allowing Bourn to control and deploy adult video on demand content over a wide area network (WAN) to each of its six sites.

G4S is the largest secure outsourcing company in the UK and Ireland, providing 10,000 customers with a safe and secure method to deliver their services. Airwave is delighted to partner with G4S in the supply and installation of institutional TVs across secure environments, catering for over 5,000 inmates.

Airwave supplied 22-inch Samsung and Philips institutional TVs to HMP Winson Green, HMP Oakwood, HMP Rye Hill, HMP Parc, HMP Altcourse and the secure training centre at Oakhill, Milton Keynes.

“Secure environments require a different type of television” said Jes Redgard, head of public sector sales “as a consequence, we proposed dedicated prison television hardware”.

Prison TVs are specifically manufactured for secure site environments and offer specific features such as: ❚ Transparent housing – prevents inmates hiding weapons and contraband inside the television. ❚ Prison mode – prevents unauthorised communication to, from and between inmates by allowing the control and locking of features such as Teletext, EPG, subtitles and USB ports. ❚ Advanced volume control – volume levels on the television can be limited to prevent noise disturbance.

Ahead of delivery to site, Airwave pre-programmed each television into secure mode, ensuring that the TVs were ready to be “plug-and-played” at site.

info@airwave.tv

25

Samsung Corporate Account Manager, Phil Edwardes talks about the latest Samsung technology.

CONNECT, SERVE AND ENTERTAIN GUESTS WITH SAMSUNG HOSPITALITY DISPLAYS

Today’s tech-savvy hotel guests expect cuttingedge in-room enhancements as part of their stay. These customers seek a differentiated experience that still provides a comfortable, at-home feel through access to a variety of professional and personal content, applications and programs.

Samsung hospitality displays offer new and exciting avenues for hotels to delight and engage guests whilst improving their own operational efficiency. An intuitive interface gives guests complete control of their in-room settings whilst unlocking unlimited opportunities to stay informed and entertained through a range of customised content.

Hotels likewise benefit from more efficient communication and personalised customer service delivery, without requiring significant infrastructure overhaul.

PRODUCT IN FOUCS – HJ690U

Samsung’s HJ690U series of hospitality displays offer hotel guests the vivid picture quality of home entertainment systems on their in-room screens. Through UHD upscaling technology, these refined displays showcase all content at UHD resolution (3,840 x 2,160) and with four times the pixels of the FHD standard.

Beyond consistent UHD quality, the HJ690U displays bring the power of High Dynamic Range (HDR10+) picture refinement to any hotel room. Using dynamic metadata that fine-tunes each frame within a given program, HDR10+

26

www.airwave.tv

technology delivers an optimal, detail-rich and memorable viewing experience. Backed by a powerful quad-core processor, Samsung’s HJ690U premium hospitality displays enable guests to access content faster. The quad-core processor reduces boot-up times to less than two seconds, and the display automatically updates itself even when powered off.

HOW SAMSUNG LED CAN WOW GUESTS AT CHECK-IN, AND BRIGHTEN EVENT SPACES

As hoteliers seek new strategies to enliven the indoor customer experience, high-resolution

LED content continues to emerge as a go-to upgrade. Samsung’s IF Series displays are the comprehensive solution for an improved LED experience. By streamlining installation, presentation and management, hoteliers can create and share powerful content with minimal hassle.

Samsung’s LED displays provide exceptional picture quality with unmatched colour consistency meaning hotels can present their branding with elevated clarity. Plus, Samsung’s HDR picture refinement technology maximises brightness and fine tunes overall picture presentation.

With LED displays becoming more affordable, there is greater potential for LED displays to be used within hotels. LED can be used to replace projection, and create a more immersive experience within conference rooms and auditoriums, as well as large meeting rooms or reception areas of hotels.

Samsung’s LED range also has a unique cinema offering, allowing hotel’s with screening rooms to wow their guests with a truly new and immersive cinema experience.

0845 555 1212

LIFE’S GOOD

WITH LG ELECTRONICS THE W LONDON LEICESTER SQUARE

The 5-star W London Leicester Square is situated in the pulsating heart of London’s West End, a stone’s throw from Chinatown and a short walk from Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. The W looks to juxtapose the energy of surrounding Soho and Leicester square with a relaxing “detox” experience inside the hotel.

Every square inch is designed with luxury and grandeur in mind - the W offers a unique experience for its guests.

Airwave was tasked to upgrade the W’s TV system, commencing the project with the installation of an IPTV headend, enabling the delivery of an improved channel line-up throughout the hotel.

Recommending LG’s UU761H Series, Airwave installed and wall-mounted 193 x 55-inch

UU761H hospitality displays. LG’s UU761H Series provides guests with an interactive smart solution with an ultra-high definition display. Other key features include: •

Pro:Centric Smart hotel management solution - offering customisable information templates and pages.

• Multi language support - 39 languages including Arabic, Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew.

• High Dynamic Range - offering better colour contrast and a more accurate, vivid picture.

• Voice recognition - enabling voice control of the TV. • Content sharing with SmartShare, Screenshare and Bluetooth Sound Sync.

Completing the project, Airwave installed a 65UH5C digital signage display in the W’s reception area.

GET LIVING

Get Living is the UK’s premier build-to-rent operator, managing over 3,000 homes across London and Manchester.

Best known for East Village, the former London 2012 Athletes’ Village in Stratford, Get Living has revolutionised the private rental sector, offering a simpler, more positive rental experience.

With thousands of residences in buildings scattered over four sites, Get Living recognised the need to increase the efficiency of their incumbent digital signage communication system.

Airwave was tasked to update Get Living’s signage infrastructure and recommended LG signage displays, installing a mixture of models and sizes, including: • 43-inch SM5KE Series • 55-inch SM5KE Series • 65-inch UH5E Series The SM5KE Series features a lowfootprint design and system-on-chip technology, negating the need for media players and extra hardware. Run by LG’s powerful webOS smart platform, LG’s CMS

28

www.airwave.tv

provides the user with a one-stop signage solution.

The UH5E Series enjoys similar features, but with added functionality – the most notable being an ultra-high definition display.

LG’s hardware provides a robust and reliable backbone to Get Living’s signage infrastructure, however the brains of the system is provided by Otrum’s signage software.

With ease of use as a founding principle, Otrum signage is a powerful content scheduler, offering multiple customisable templates, integration with web services, web portal management – all hosted on the cloud.

Airwave used LG’s SOC technology to implement Otrum signage on each of the newly installed displays and, using raspberry pi media players, retro-fitted Otrum on existing displays.

“We are extremely happy with Airwave’s solution” said Get Living Infrastructure Project Manager, Lucasz Mikita “the displays are on 24-7, yet they’ve remained problem free thus far.”

“It’s been an honour collaborating with Airwave to provide a system for Get Living” said LG Sales Manager Barrie O’Neill “the screens look very much in keeping with Get Living’s modern aesthetic!”

0845 555 1212