Hotel Business Supplement

The Big Picture for 2011 2010 brought to you by INTRODUCING THE NEW LH200H HOTEL TV FROM LG – JUST LIKE HOME ONLY BETTER! The LH200H LCD hotel TV provides everything a premium hotel needs from an invisible clock (front LED) to an outstanding level of in-room entertainment. Movies, shows and sports are enhanced by a fantastic dynamic contrast ratio.

Everything is taken into consideration from the hotelier’s needs to the guests’ expectations with LG’s Hotel TV solutions.

A New Dimension All you need to know about Sky 3D

Top Ten! Airwave celebrate ten of the best hotel AV installations

LH200H

A Different View Samsung explore the latest hotel technology

LG Hotel TV For more information www.lgcommercial.eu

Super Seven The benefits of the new Philips TV range

CONTENTS

WELCOME! 027

Airwave Europe is once again very pleased to bring you this supplement, to provide hoteliers with an overview of some of the latest products and services available.

Of course, we can never predict the future with complete confidence, but we are proud to offer the contributions of our partners, who are the leading players helping to shape tomorrows’ onscreen experience for all of us.

At Airwave, we fully understand the technology, our unique multibrand approach allows us to offer the best solution for both hoteliers and guests. We hope that this guide sparks up some great ideas for you – so please enjoy the Big Picture 2011.

Tim Worrall, MD Airwave Europe Limited

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Contents 4

Welcome to Airwave Airwave introduces the key issues to consider when it comes to hospitality TVs

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The Best Medicine Discover how the latest LG technology is making an impact

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A Different View Samsung explains how quality and added value are shaping the future

10 Food for Thought Airwave presents everything you need to know

13 The Fourth Dimension Sharp pushes the boundaries of LCD TV

14 Connectivity and Content Lausanne Hotel school in Switzerland's professor Ian Millar offers his perspective

15 Going 3D! Why 3D TV is worth a closer look

18 Ten of the Best Airwave gives a run-down of the top Hotel AV Installations in 2010

22 A Grand Introduction Philips launches a new range of dedicated hotel TVs

25 Splashing Down!

No bathroom is complete without the latest products from Tilevision

27 Flexibility and Choice TeleAdapt highlights the importance of in-room media connectivity

28 Exceeding Guest Expectations The story behind Exterity Building IPTV

30 The Future Of Hotel WiFi? TMB Systems asks this crucial question

24 Addressing Needs of Hoteliers How Philips' latest line up can benefit your business

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GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Infrastructure Debate Rages On Last year, we featured the debate about which infrastructure is most future proof and our approach proved to be the correct one, so we would like to once again reiterate our stance. Installing the right hotel TV or IP infrastructure is critical, but even so, some new projects fail to include either the right infrastructure or cabling of the correct quality type or quality, leading to extra expenses in the medium/long term. The most cost-effective network remains coaxial cable which, believe it or not, has the greatest bandwidth and the ability to deliver the most content.

However, it is key that the right specification double-screened cable is used to ensure that signals are carried with the minimal interference or loss of signal. Also of importance is the design of the network and specification of the amplifiers, distribution equipment and face plates.

Even the final fly lead to the TV has an impact when ensuring that high-quality digital signals are to be received without trouble for the next decade or so.

that a hotel has the future option to upgrade to a full Integrated Reception System (IRS), which enables the reception of the full Sky HD or 3DTV service in every room, as some hotels have discovered already this year.

There was a period when project specifiers declared the future would be CAT 5 and some locations were installed with just structured cabling and no coaxial. This means that the property is then always forced down an IPTV route which, whilst very flexible, is also normally a more costly option. Of course, IPTV systems do not run on their own and, once installed, there is always a need for an ongoing contract that covers maintenance. When IP systems are functioning well, they can, of course, offer incredibly flexible options going forward and are well positioned to bring new online services directly to the room TV as they become available in the future.

To cover all bases, we would recommend, if possible, installing both coaxial cabling and CAT 5/6, at least to the riser, as this provides the best of both worlds and ensures that the property is not relying on just one technology.

Demands on Bandwidth Will Only Grow

Coax Flexes its Muscle A single coaxial cable can, in fact, carry nearly 1,000 channels, including all Digital Freeview ones, FM Radio and DAB services, plus all Digital satellite channels. Coaxial networks can cope with carrying highquality HD and 3DTV channels and foreign language services, as well as interactive systems which are supplied by some of the hotel integrators. We now always recommend a home run to each riser, so

normally done so only in analogue format.

The good news is that the latest head-end technology enables the delivery of highquality foreign language satellite channels directly onto the screens of Freeview TVs in a pure digital format, without the need for any set-top boxes at all. With 2012 just around the corner, we believe there will be a great deal of activity as hotels upgrade their systems to cater for the demands of these international guests.

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

As I sit writing this article, my 14 year old son has been surfing the internet and our 47-inch living room screen is now showing his favourite football team live on a, probably illegal, feed from Australia. Of course, the quality is suboptimal, and the action occasionally stops as the buffer empties, but it is clear that the population is becoming increasingly bandwidth thirsty.

The demands in a hotel are even more acutely concentrated, as rooms are generally populated by the techno savvy and networks struggle to cope with demand for internet speed. Only the top hotels now have the ability to charge for internet access, as they see their guests as price insensitive but as there is a real cost for internet connectivity, we believe there will be a two-tier system in many cases where basic internet is free – low speed, normal browsing or email type – and high-speed access comes at a cost to enable large-file or live-video viewing.

Of course, we also need to consider the impact on the internal network within the hotel, where switches are increasingly being connected via fibre and the performance of wireless access points comes under more pressure. The rule of thumb, therefore, is to install at least the right cabling to be as future proof as possible.

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LG

Prescription Medicine Leading systems integrator Airwave is prescribing LG TVs and technology to update audio-visual technology at the Royal Society of Medicine’s hotel and conference venue

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hen you are fitting a large amount of audio-visual equipment into an historic house built in 1769, the technical and installation considerations extend way beyond those of a standard commercial project. The property in question – Chandos House and its neighbour 1 Wimpole Street – are both important listed buildings, creating the need for great technical and installation expertise if they were to incorporate the latest AV technology and not interfere with the buildings’ structural integrity.

This was a challenge facing Airwave – one of the UK’s leading suppliers, installers

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and integrators of digital TVs and audiovisual equipment – when tasked with installing 65 LG TVs and interactive IPTV services into the buildings earlier this year.

The two properties, located in central London just north of Oxford Circus, are leased and operated by the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) as part of its conference, training and accommodation facilities for members and delegates.

The RSM operates them as club facilities, giving its members who are doctors, consultants and various medical professionals, not only a venue for meetings but also the ability to stay in central London accommodation that is of a similar standard to a four-star hotel. Part of that was providing the quality and style of audio-visual equipment they might usually expect in such an establishment.

“We installed 65 LG TVs throughout the buiIding – ranging from 32- to 42-inches,” says Paul Chambers, sales and marketing director at Airwave. “Chandos House is a very old building with large rooms and they wanted the screens not to be dwarfed by the room size or placement of the TVs.” In the past, the RSM simply provided standard TVs plugged into aerial sockets in each of the guest rooms which offered the usual freeview channels. But they wished to upgrade the facilities to provide a more comprehensive and interactive service that would inform, assist and link the members and their various activities. Long-planned refurbishments finally provided the ideal

opportunity and the cabling was installed as part of that process, before deciding precisely what technology would best fit their needs.

“In addition to the TVs, we also installed an IPTV system that runs behind them. This basically delivers the channel line up digitally to the TVs, but also has the ability to provide guest information, showing the activities and events happening that day and any related information – when meeting rooms are free, details of what’s on that day’s menu, and so on. If there is a training course or symposium in progress, the system can deliver information relating to that event direct to each room. And, in addition to the programmed content, there are also 50 or 60 other TV channels at their disposal,” says Mr Chambers.

As an independent supplier and installer, Airwave has relationships with many suppliers, so why did it pick LG on this particular project?

“On this occasion, we had no hesitation in selecting LG solutions because they work very well as interactive TVs. The IPTV system that sits behind them is able to control them, switching on and off as required or selecting the relevant programming and information. They have integrated clocks and alarms which contribute to pleasing aesthetics, as well as improved functionality. They are also very good value and, therefore, LG TVs were best suited to the RSM’s needs.”

LG

Apex Hotel Group consolidate with LG TVs Leading systems integrator Airwave turns hotels into entertainment centres with the latest LG technology and four-star aesthetics

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pex Hotels is a small, privately-owned four-star hotel group known for its unique and stylish interiors. Perhaps best recognised for its Scottish venues – there are Apex hotels in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow and now in London – the properties are always in citycentre locations so guests are never far from the business district, shops and entertainment.

Not that visitors really need to leave their four-star Apex hotels in search of entertainment – so much is already provided in house via the LG hotel-ready TV facilities that deliver local and in-house information, as well as more than 60 TV channels.

The Apex Hotel Group has worked closely with leading audio-visual supplier, installer and integrator Airwave, and initially partnered with the company to source audio-visual solutions for the hotel group’s

European Hotel in Edinburgh as part of a major refurbishment project. This involved the supply, installation and configuration of 70 LG hotel system TVs, which were tuned to the available freeview TV and radio channels.

“Initially, we supplied the LG TVs to two of the Apex Edinburgh hotels but, having established a good relationship with them, went on to supply another order of 187 LG hotel ready 42-inch LCD TVs in Edinburgh’s newest four-star hotel, the Apex Waterloo Place,” says Airwave's commercial director, Julian Arnold.

The relationship has gone from strength to strength; Airwave has recently supplied custom-made brackets and upscaled DVD players that provide superior, near HD-quality playback and a single remote control for both TV and DVD. “To date, we have installed more than 400 TVs, all LG,

throughout the Apex group in Scotland and the UK,” comments Mr Arnold.

So, why did Airwave choose LG TVs on this particular project? “Initially, we recommended LG because Apex wanted large 42-inch screens and LG provided an excellent product in that range. We went through all the options looking at quality, price and value for money and LG came out best,” adds Mr Arnold.

“Since installation, Apex found that the LG product really fitted with the contemporary look and feel of its rooms and wider brand. Our client has been so happy with the product and wants to maintain the same stylish look across all its venues, so we have continued to supply the 37-inch and 42-inch LG products across the whole Apex portfolio,” he concludes.

Article by Kate Ironside

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SHARP

Sharp Adds A Fourth Dimension To Hotel TV S

harp, the inventor of the LCD television, is once again setting new standards in picture quality and natural colour reproduction with its Quattron range. After introducing the world’s first LED backlit Hotel TV, the company is now bringing the next stage of development to this market, with a new pixel technology for LCD TVs by supplementing the conventional threecolour structure (RGB) of the pixels with a fourth subpixel colour, yellow (RGBY).

This technology offers the clearest and most vivid picture currently available in the rapidly-growing market for energy-saving LED backlit models. “The sustained high demand for LCD TVs is essentially driven by innovation. Consumers want not only reasonable pricing for their TV, but also, and especially, the best possible picture and latest technology,” says Hiroshi Sasaoka, CEO of Sharp Electronics Europe.

“With our new RGBY pixel technology, we are revolutionising television and offering consumers the best picture quality currently available from an LCD TV. We are therefore positioning ourselves clearly as a trendsetter and innovative force in that market, aiming for a two-digit market share in the particularly high-growth segment of LED backlit LCD TVs,” he continues.

with golds and yellows that are more true to life.

Over the last year, the company has set new standards in picture quality and energy efficiency with the introduction of full-array LED backlighting and the new X-Gen panels from Sakai, the most modern LCD factory in the world.

With RGBY technology and the new line-up of Sharp AQUOS LCD TVs, Sharp is offering products and technologies that are so unique that the competition has to simply copy them. “With the first ever 10th generation LCD factory in Sakai, we are the only company in the world able to

produce the large-format highdefinition LCD panels required to meet the increasing consumer demand for state-of-the-art LCD TVs. With a production capacity of 72,000 mother glasses per month, in theory one in eight LCD TVs sold worldwide this year will come from Sakai production,” continues Mr Sasaoka.

Airwave is pleased to announce that it will be distributing Sharp’s new hotelready Quattron LED Backlit televisions with three range levels, including 40-, 46- and 60-inch screen sizes and 3D capability on some models.

The new Sharp technology upgrades the pixel structure of LCD TVs from the previous three primary colours to four. In addition to red, green and blue (RGB), the technology is now adding yellow (Y) to every single pixel. The result is even more detailed and accurate skin tones, together

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3D TV

The 3D Whirlwind – How Not To Get Sucked In

Going 3D!

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D is already here and since April 2010 Airwave has delivered over 2,400 large screen 47-inch LG 3D LCDs to pubs and clubs across the UK and Ireland.

The feedback from these sites has been excellent as they have reported a quantum leap in attendance and drink sales. Over a million sports fans have already marvelled at a range of sports broadcast live in 3D. Games covered to date include football, cricket, rugby union, rugby league and darts, with more and more fixtures now being covered each month. Golf has been the latest sport to be added and the coverage at the Ryder Cup really demonstrated how powerful the new medium can be. Camera views from the tee and on the greens showed the true contours and dimensions of the course.

Going forward, Sky 3D will bring viewers an average of three live sports events every week including: • Live Barclays Premier League: matches include key clashes between Manchester City v's Arsenal on Sunday 24th October and Liverpool v's Chelsea on Sunday 7th November.

• Rugby Union’s Autumn Internationals: England take on New Zealand, Australia and World Champions South Africa at

Twickenham over three successive weekends in November in the world’s first 3D Rugby Union internationals.

• The World Heavyweight title fight: current WBA world champion David Haye and former Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrision go head to head in the world’s first live 3D-title fight on Sky Box Office during Saturday 13th November.

It is clear that Sky’s passion for delivering the most exceptional live sport from around the world is unrivalled. And with more sporting events being screened in 3D, there has never been a better time to take Sky 3D and create an exciting new dimension for your customers’ experience.

Hoteliers have two propositions: one is to install Sky 3D in the bars and lounges in order to benefit from increased F&B revenues, the other is to include Sky+ HD boxes in hotel rooms and even upgrade those high-end suites to 3D by featuring a new 3D TV. One thing is clear; the film industry has seen an explosion in 3D and, with an increasing number of live broadcasts now available, it is only a matter of time before the experience becomes mainstream.

Five Things to Know About 3D: Passive 3D technology has been championed by LG (although it also supports active technology) and is best suited for public area viewing and hotel rooms where the low cost of glasses make it accessible to all.

Active 3D technology is being promoted by many manufacturers and is most suitable for domestic or gaming environments.

3D glasses vary widely in price. Passive ones cost between 60p and £5 for designer ones and some can also be used as normal sunglasses – these are normally interchangeable with the ones available at cinemas. Active glasses currently start at £50 and go up to more than £120. These require batteries, which can be rechargeable and tend to be slightly heavier than their passive counterparts.

All Sky+ HD boxes are 3D ready and just require a subscription and, of course, a new 3D TV. When you invest in a 3D TV, you are going for the latest technology, which naturally includes HD capability as standard.

So we have convinced you to upgrade your bar TV to 3D, haven’t we? Well, we couldn’t just let you buy any TV without providing some guidance and recommendations, so here is what we have come up with.

At the time of writing, Airwave has supplied more 3D TV to bars, pubs and clubs than any other company in the UK, so we have some experience when it comes to ensuring that customers get what they expect from this new media and technology.

One thing that is for sure is that most 3D TVs on the market today are not suitable for public area viewing and there is one main reason for this: the glasses. The lowest price we have seen for a pair of active system ones is £45, excluding batteries, and many manufacturers are asking for more than £100 per pair. So, it would not be practical for a hotel, pub, bar, etc. to invest in say 50 to 100 pairs of them only to have some go missing, or to start changing the batteries from time to time.

The other issue with active varieties is that they have to be suited to a specific TV, so if you have multiple 3D TVs in a bar, the user would have to keep syncing their glasses as they moved around, and, to compound this, versions from one manufacturer may not work with another’s TV. So, where does that leave you? Well, it actually simplifies your choice of TV and/or projection system dramatically, as only one major manufacturer appears to have recognised the need for public area viewing and has released a range of products specifically with this sector in mind.

LG launched a 47-inch Passive 3D TV in March 2010 and within the first month of its release Airwave supplied over 1000 of these high-quality TVs to SKY Business customers who wanted to take advantage of the new 3D broadcast offering via SKY HD – the first of its kind in Europe.

SKY’s 3D TV launch was very well received by pub goers and the LG TV performed as expected. Much of the success was down to the passive 3D technology employed and the fact that the glasses used were both low cost – less than £2 per pair – and very comfortable to wear.

Many spectators even forgot they were wearing them and continued to wear the glasses after the 3D event had finished.”

LG has since launched an updated version of its 47-inch 3D TV, known as the 47LD950, to ensure that users can take advantage of external devices such as Playstation3 or XBOX 360, both of which have 3D games available, as well as new 3D Bluray or media players. It has also recently released a 3D Projector that is capable of rendering 3D TV on large, highly-reflective screens of up to 160 inches, whilst still providing excellent depth of colour and, that all important, 3D effect.

If you are looking to upgrade to 3D, call the experts at Airwave on 0845 555 1212

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TOP TEN

Ten of the Best Hotel AV Installations in 2010 At Airwave, we believe that every hotel or brand is different and we need to assemble the right combination of products and services in order to deliver the most appropriate long-term AV solution.

We have installed more than one in ten of all UK hotel rooms, so can now speak with some degree of experience. 2010 was an exciting year for Airwave and we would like to celebrate it by highlighting some of the establishments we have had the pleasure to serve.

Premier Inn, UK and Ireland Premier Inn is the UK’s largest hotel group, with over 590 properties and nearly 45,000 rooms. Over the last three years, Airwave has upgraded the entire base to digital television, providing brand consistency and ensuring that Premier stays ahead of the market by providing guests with a wide choice of TV and radio channels in crystal clear digital quality. Tim Worrall, MD at Airwave explains, “Premier Inn has a great concept being clear market leaders in their sector. We are delighted to be a part of their success by delivering a great choice of TV channels and superb quality pictures to their guests throughout the length and breadth of Britain.”

Center Parcs – Leading Holiday Villages For the last three years, Airwave has been very pleased to be the main supplier of AV equipment to Center Parcs Villages throughout the UK, in conjunction with Philips.

Many villas are also equipped with connectivity wall sockets enabling guests to hook up their media devices, such as cameras and iPods, through their TV screens. Also, many bathrooms are fitted with marine-quality speakers allowing guests to relax in a hot bath whilst still listening to the TV. Airwave is now further extending the service and also supplying a range of Philips small domestic appliances including toasters, kettles, irons, blenders and coffee makers.

Paul Kent, commercial director of Centre Parcs comments, “Centre Parcs is proud to be associated with Airwave, who have offered a professional service and quality products over the past three years. Centre Parcs values partnerships with quality suppliers and the relationship between Philips, Airwave and Centre Parcs is another good example of this.”

Rockcliffe Hall – Conde Nast Johannsens Recommended 2010 Rockcliffe Hall was refurbished in 2010 and opened with a state-of-the-art spa, world-class golf course, three topquality restaurants and 93 hospitality Samsung and Loewe Opta LCD TVs supplied by Airwave. The hotel has also invested in the latest IPTV system, with the movie content once again coming from Airwave’s extensive library of topquality Hollywood films.

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TOP TEN

The Arch Hotel, London

Holiday Inn Express, Zurich Airport The new Holiday Inn Express in Zurich wanted to simply deliver the home-from-home experience and engaged Airwave to install the latest Stream TV system. This delivers 53 TV and radio channels in crystal-clear digital quality over coaxial cable, including BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, BBC News 24, CBBC, CBeebies, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, C4, Five, Sky News, as well as many German, French and Italian channels.

The 163-room hotel also benefits from installation of the latest 26-inch Philips Professional LCDs with information channel on start up. “The guests in this hotel get more choice of UK TV channels, with a better picture quality than many hotels in the UK,” comments Robert Stapleton-Thomas, group IT manager of Eclipse Hotels.

When London’s latest five-star hotel, The Arch, opened its door for business it knew it had the edge on competitors when it changed the rules of the game and offered guests the full Sky HD package in all its 82 luxurious bedrooms. Sky HD is probably the most successful digital HD platform in the world, with over 300 TV channels (50 in HD) and 95 radio stations. In addition, Airwave has installed the new Stream TV technology which delivers selected foreign language channels in digital across the hotel to match the needs of international guests.

Rooms are also equipped with Blu-ray or DVD players and guests can soak up the bubbles and enjoy the entertainment on the waterproof bathroom LCDs. Next to the beds are internet radios delivering stations from all corners of the globe, as well as the now mandatory iPod docking station.

Alon Bejerano, who master-minded the AV concept, comments, “We were looking for something different, new and that would provide guests with a complimentary highquality audio visual experience in the rooms.

With the help of Airwave, we achieved this and the feedback from guests has been great.” After being open for less than one year, the hotel is now rated as the seventh best hotel in London on TripAdvisor.

Holiday Inn, Reading H10, London Waterloo When the dynamic and growing Spanish Chain H10 opened its first UK hotel right in the centre of London by Waterloo station, it turned to Airwave to take care of its AV requirements. The brief was to supply choice with a simple interface. The solution was installation of the latest range of Samsung hotel TVs, as well as Airwave’s unique Stream TV product, which provides international guests with the foreign language channels they need in crystal-clear digital quality.

Each room also benefits from the connectivity solution from TeleAdapt allowing guests to easily hook up their media to the TV screen. Of course, the hotel is a very vibrant and happening place, so the large screen TVs are supplied with the full Sky HD signal to provide the best quality picture possible in both the bar and gymnasium.

The Holiday Inn Hotel Reading is the first in a new generation that is redefining standards and service, offering full leisure facilities including a 19-metre pool, Life Fitness Gym, spa treatments and extensive indoor/outdoor dining options.

Each of its 174 luxuriously appointed spacious bedrooms is adorned with 32-inch flatscreen TVs, mini bars, luxury bedding and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. To complete the branding exercise, the establishment has installed the Airsign hotel information channel to keep guests updated with the current offers, as well as the latest news and traffic information.

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TOP TEN Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth When the owners of The Cumberland Hotel in Bournemouth were looking to upgrade its analogue system to digital, they turned to the team at Airwave for advice. The first hurdle was to upgrade the existing TV infrastructure in Bournemouth’s only purpose built Art Deco hotel to accommodate the new digital signals, which was completed at a much lower cost than originally expected. As the establishment has undergone a major refurbishment programme in the last year, the TVs were an important element to complete the update.

The property now boasts 127 of the latest Sharp hotel-mode LCD screens, some even with built in DVD. These have been specially selected as they are modular and therefore easy to replace without necessarily removing the screen – important as DVDs can suffer a higher failure rate than TV screens. To complete the solution, Airwave has also installed the new Airsign hotel information channel, which highlights the hotels many services and facilities.

The Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington Airwave has again worked closely with London’s famous landmark, The Royal Garden Hotel, as it continues its ongoing refurbishment programme throughout its 400 five-star rooms. During this year's phase, Airwave has supplied, installed and commissioned interactive hotel LCDs from Samsung, along with high definition, Bluetooth-ready connectivity panels from TeleAdapt, and Bluray/DVD players. The installation also includes bespoke floor-to-ceiling TV mounts, allowing guests to view the screen from both bed and living areas. “Once again, Airwave has undertaken the installation with a high standard of professionalism and we are delighted with the results,” comments Jonathan Lowery, deputy general manager.

Best Western Kinloch Hotel, Isle of Arran There are some areas of the UK which do not benefit from Freeview reception, such as the Highlands of Scotland and some of the Scottish Isles. Of course, after a long day hiking or fishing in the wilds, their guests still demand the same quality of TV when they put their feet up in the hotel room. This was a challenge, but not the end of the world, as Robert McNeice of Kinloch Hotel explains, “We presented Airwave with a problem unique to areas of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is uncertainty about the quality of Freeview signal, if any, we will get when the digital switchover happens in our specific geographical location. We had consultants look into what our best options would be, but it was Airwave which had the knowledge and experience to present a plausible solution.

“The company rose to the challenge and installed a bespoke head-end that receives a FreeSat signal then converts it to 20 digital channels on our existing network. This signal is distributed to 50 wall-mounted LG 22-inch hotel system LCD TVs in our bedrooms and seven LG 37-inch hotel system LCD TVs desk-mounted in our self-catering suites. Choosing Airwave was a simple decision based on its industry experience. Our remote location has not proved a barrier to their engineers and we can confidently recommend them to anyone.”

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Home from home.

If you want to give your guests what they really want, look no further than Sky+HD*.

With over 600 TV and Radio Channels (up to 50 in HD), they will be spoilt for choice, as are the guests at The Arch London.

At Airwave, we fully understand technology, and our flexible multi-brand approach allows us to offer the best solutions for both hoteliers and their guests.

To provide that “home from home” experience, and for friendly professional advice, call 0845 555 1212 www.airwave.tv *Terms and conditions apply

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7 ways to make your guest feel special A brand new 'Super Seven' range from the undisputed leader in hotel TV LED screens in all sizes and the most energy efficient TVs. Two simple examples of where we stand out. In fact, we give you 'Super Seven' reasons to choose our TVs. Our sets really do offer something truly unique.

Contact us at hoteltv@philips.com for more information.

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25-08-10 16:50

PHILIPS

Philips’ New TV Range Addresses Needs of Hoteliers P

hilips has recently introduced a new line of TVs to the hospitality industry, bringing the in-home cinematic viewing experience to business and leisure travellers alike. The new offering has been realigned to take into account the varying needs of budget through to premium properties. Not only are there new benefits for hoteliers, but the range also includes improved features for guests.

These latest propositions comprise the EasySuite, PrimeSuite and Signature ranges.

With this series of TVs, Philips delivers groundbreaking features and includes the world’s first Full HD 3D TV for hotels.

Additionally, the line up offers a variety of benefits, known as the Super Seven, ranging from advancements in sustainability to full-service packages that include extended warranties and rental offerings.

The three complete product ranges for all market segments, from low-end standalone to high-end interactive, are linked with the Super Seven benefits to offer either reduced operating costs for the hotelier or an improved experience for guests. These benefits include: • Sustainability; by offering marketleading energy performance • Simplicity; through recurring revenues enabled via MyChoice on non-system TVs, improved customer experience with an integrated connectivity panel and easy-to-use channel selection via ThemeTV • Smart Technology; the widest range of LED TVs on the hotel market and compatible with your preferred contentenabling system • Signature range for establishments that would really like to offer something out of the ordinary • Services; with an extended warranty and rental offering • Security; for safely showing premium (HD) content enabled through content protection with VSecure

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Herman van Driel, UK sales manager at the company, explains, “Managing the tight rope of investing in product during the current economic climate remains a touch challenge for hotels today. Philips is addressing this by reducing the total cost of ownership – or the true cost in owning and maintaining it over its operational life.

“Philips has cemented its market leader position in low-energy LED lighting by currently offering the widest selection of LED TVs available for the hotel industry today in all screen sizes. Don’t just take our word for it; the company has recently been awarded the sector leadership on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the years 2010-2011.”

Mr van Driel continues, “This, coupled with enhanced guest benefits, such as smart technology which enables plug and play customer enjoyment of, for example, iPods and Smartphones through the integrated connectivity panel, means Philips is looking after the needs of both visitor and hotelier.”

Tim Worrall of Airwave is aware of the tough conditions businesses are currently facing and the wide range of technology choices available to them. Airwave has taken an entrepreneurial approach and combined the unrivalled portfolio Philips offers in packaging deals to hoteliers which include hospitality TVs, LED lamps

and even small domestic appliances such as kettles, irons and coffee machines.

The Center Parcs project has been a key example where both Airwave and Philips have joined forces on such a scale. The former has been able to bring the various Philips portfolios together offering the hotelier a number of the Super Seven benefits of simplicity, sustainability and services packaged in a one-stop offering of products and solutions. In addition, the Signature range includes unique models, such as the Aurea, that only Philips offers.

These TVs truly offer an edge in a betterthan-home immersive experience that has been difficult to achieve since the dawn of flat TV technology has become prevalent in the home. “We at Philips aim to create a unique guest experience while reducing the running cost and ease of maintaining your asset investment,” comments Mr van Driel.

Additional recent projects include the Arch in London, which is famous for its modern yet guest-friendly high-technology.

Mr Worrall is clear on the reasons: “The Arch required advanced technology which was easy to use for their customers as well.

With Sky HD in all rooms, the latest Philips offer matched their needs exactly. We continue to work very closely with the company in producing unique cost-effective solutions for hoteliers, which are based on simplicity and usability for the guest.”

TMB SYSTEMS

The Future Of Hotel WiFi?

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e contacted our WiFi partners, TMB Systems, to ask what advice they are giving to customers regarding their guest internet services. The major themes for these systems in the coming year include:

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Hotels are considering offering WiFi for Free

Many establishments are now providing WiFi for free, but have found that the usage has increased tenfold (as a minimum) as guests connect not only their laptops for business use, but also their smartphones to watch online content from BBC iPlayer and YouTube. This requires a significant increase in bandwidth to maintain the same level of service and satisfaction as when the WiFi service required payment.

In most cases, multiple broadband lines have to be installed to cope with the increased demand, requiring additional hardware to bond the lines together, leading to additional costs for the installation and monthly fees for these extra lines. Thus, free system expenses will be considerably higher than a paid one to maintain the same level of guest service.

Some providers also enforce a ‘bandwidth cap’ on any broadband lines, only allowing a certain volume of data per month (i.e. 80 Gigabytes) before they intentionally slow down the throughput of the lines and/or impose additional ‘over bandwidth’ charges. Again, a free system is very likely to breach these caps which will further degrade the WiFi service offering and increasing costs.

To avoid these issues, TMB Systems recommend offering a tiered WiFi service: a) Free Limited access; i.e. a certain number of download megabytes (TMB Systems recommend 300MB per night) and/or blocking access to applications, such as Skype, for guests to use for email and simple web browsing.

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b) Paid business class access, unlimited bandwidth and access to all applications.

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Leased lines to replace broadband internet connections at hotels

As demand for both paid and free guest internet access accelerates, so does the need for fast internet access by employees for remotely-hosted applications, such as property management and back office systems. In combination, these requirements are significantly driving up the overall hotel bandwidth requirements.

Many properties are thus replacing their multiple broadband lines with a dedicated internet leased line to their internet service provider, which is segmented to separate the hotel and guest traffic. This invariably leads to vastly improved performance for both visitors and operations. The segmentation will ensure that there is no possibility of customers being able to access any hotel systems; i.e. maintains the data security including PCI compliance.

A broadband line is a shared service with other customers of your internet service provider, so the performance will be influenced by their usage as well as yours; i.e. your broadband may significantly slow in the evenings due to home users just when your guest demand is at its peak. A dedicated leased line is not shared and thus gives consistent high speed performance 24-hours a day.

Hotels with extensive conference facilities where such events are sold and are including internet access as part of the package should especially consider the installation of an internet leased line.

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Hotels required to comply with the Digital Economy Act 2010

The aim of this act is to safeguard copyrighted content, such as the latest blockbuster movies, which are now

available within hours of theatrical release for illegal download using file sharing technology. Although primarily aimed at the home user, it is also applicable to hotels that provide internet access for their guests.

At present, establishments may receive letters from their internet service provider advising them that a copyright infringement has been notified to them by a copyright holder (often a Hollywood-based studio) requesting the property take action to avoid a repeat. This has been traced using an IP address associated with the hotel’s internet connection to the service provider, which uniquely identifies the source of the illegal file sharing.

The guest that infringed the copyright is very likely to be no longer in residence as these letters refer to infringements at least a month previously. Businesses may also receive legal letters demanding payment (in the region of £500) for similar copyright infringement for adult content rather than Hollywood releases.

The legality of such letters demanding payment for illegal downloaded adult content is however being challenged, with considerable recent publicity regarding one legal firm ACS:Law who has sent out many such demands.

If it is determined that hotels will be required to block all copyrighted content, they will need to install additional hardware and software to perform a ‘deep packet inspection’ on any data being transferred by a guest and block any illegal file-sharing activity.

TMB Systems now offer a ‘deep packet inspection’ system for all new installations and as a retrofit for all existing ones.

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Hotels to provide access to additional content from WiFi login page

The WiFi login page can also act as a portal to allow guests free access via links to relevant content including: a) Local news b) Local weather c) Local travel d) Local attractions (i.e. theme parks and cinemas bookings) e) View and download bill f) Checkout g) Onward reservations h) Order room service i) Order wake up calls j) Complete guest satisfaction survey Many TMB Systems customers are already using this facility on their systems to improve guest satisfaction and drive revenue. The login page can also be used to capture guest details such as email addresses for future marketing purposes.

TMB Systems are a leading UK-based supplier of WiFi systems to over 100 hotels and 10,000 guest rooms, including The fivestar London Landmark and sister property K-West, the newly-opened Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park and a variety of independent hotels, as well as major brand franchisees including Holiday Inn, Park Inn, Hampton Inns and Holiday Inn Express.

For more details please contact TMB Systems on 0800 091 0232 or visit www.tmbonline.co.uk

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