Airwave at Work

that Airwave’s partnership with this brilliant software developer o ers the best guestroom entertainment & digital signage technology in the industry. Our complementary skillsets are responsible for growth that has well exceeded expectations, and we are resolute in our ambition to maintain this.

What better time to catch up with Otrum’s Executive Vice President, Nigel Bateson? - see page 20 for insight into the world of a display tech software developer.

AIRWAVE EUROPE (EUROPE)

All those that know Airwave well, understand the strategic importance of our long-standing relationship with Whitbread’s Premier Inn chain. The e cient servicing of this 800+ estate of hotels necessitates operational infrastructure, that essentially underpins our business.

Infrastructure implemented to service Premier Inn properties from the southwest of England to the north-eastern corner of Scotland, allows us to o er quick response service and technical support to every postcode on the UK’s mainland.

The rapid expansion of Premier Inn’s portfolio in Germany presents a compelling parallel, strengthening our business scope and facilitating the delivery of hotel TV systems throughout the European continent (to fi nd out more, see pages 18 & 19).

A BIG YEAR

I’m delighted to report that 2022 was Airwave’s busiest ever year. Driven by the relentless force of evolving technology, we installed over 30,000 displays and hundreds of TV systems across a 12-month period.

I’m resolute in my belief that Airwave’s technology and services o ering is peerless in our industry, and with the complementary skillsets of the SCCI Group of companies on the table, our future seems very bright. Here’s to the next fi ve years, I can’t wait...

David

COURTYARD EXETER SANDY PARK Following a £30M build, the Courtyard Exeter Sandy Park sits within Exeter’s Sandy Park complex - home to Premiership Rugby club, Exeter Chiefs.

The 8-storey property features 250 bedrooms, a glut of amenities, and a stunning glazed bridge, connecting the site to the Exeter Chiefs stadium.

In keeping with the state-of-the-art facility, Airwave implemented an Otrum Enterprise GRE, featuring a series of Marriott branded pages, smart APPs, Google Chromecast, and VOD APP, Airtime.

Airwave implemented an IPTV headend, enabling the delivery of Freeview, international channels and BT Sports, and fl at-to-wall mounted 262 x 55inch Samsung ET690U Series displays.

Further displays were installed in the hotel’s public areas, meeting rooms and rugby club academy – and used to play a variety of sport (with an emphasis on rugby, of course) from BT Sports channels.

Airwave was delighted to work with Wi-Fi partner, Mikenopa, in the deployment of a Wi-Fi 5 system, providing guests with super-fast Wi-Fi, in both the guestrooms and public areas. THE CITY OF LONDON CLUB Founded in 1832, The City of London Club (COLC) sits amidst the skyscrapers of London’s city centre. The building’s Edwardian stone frontage juxtaposes its modern surroundings, but stands proud, exuding 200 years of history and tradition.

COLC’s TV system remit was simple: easy to use (catering for the club’s elderly demographic) and low footprint, sensitive to the aesthetics of the guestroom.

Having installed RF infrastructure, Airwave implemented an Otrum Mirage GRE, featuring information pages, catch-up TV services, Airtime, and Chromecast.

The latter features connection instructions and a QR code, allowing a simple ‘scan’ to initiate casting.

Airwave wall mounted 32-inch Samsung ET690 series TVs. The average size of a 2022 hotel TV display is 43-inches, however 32-inches is the perfect compromise - not dominating a room, yet providing a comfortable viewing experience.

A further technique to maintain a room’s aesthetic, is to implement a mirror overlay, turning the TV into a mirror when turned o . Airwave did just this on 75-inch displays in the Prince Philip Suite and the Churchill bar. MOXY MANCHESTER Occupying the site of a former hat factory, Moxy Manchester City provides a heady experience for guests, in the centre of Manchester’s trendy Spinningfi elds district.

The hotel’s 146 bedrooms are situated over 8 fl oors, o ering modern tech, fast Wi-Fi, and a state-of-the-art TV entertainment system.

Airwave implemented reception equipment and an IPTV headend, supporting technology installed into guestrooms, and public areas.

Samsung ET690U Series hospitality TVs were fl at-to-wall mounted, maintaining the property’s space conscious aesthetic, and an Otrum Enterprise GRE was deployed, featuring Google Chromecast.

Incorporating Otrum’s signage software as a platform, Airwave installed a 2 x 2 video wall display, using Philips X Line BDL3005 displays, and used to play terrestrial TV, premium channels (such as Sky and BT sport) and branded Moxy content.

A further 2 x 50-inch Samsung ET690U Series TVs were mounted in the work-space/meeting rooms.