Guest Wifi Design: What you need to know

Guest wifi design:

What you need to know

Your guest wifi supplier should be the expert in their fi eld. They should also be guiding you and proposing a guest wifi system that is set up according to your sites requirements.

But what if you don’t know what your site’s guest wifi set up requirements are?

A lot of accommodation managers don’t and there’s nothing wrong with that. You don’t have to be an expert in guest wifi to make an educated decision about the end outcome.

However, there are a few key points to be aware of which may help you decide which supplier to engage and procure their guest wifi system and services. There are two main system set up confi gurations to be aware of: • Multiple SSIDs: Where every unit or room has their own secure network name, if you have 20 units, there will be 20 unique network names. • Single SSID: Where the complex has one signal and one password for the whole site.

SSID stands for Service Set Identifi er and is your networks name. If you open the list of wifi networks on your laptop or phone, you will see a list of SSIDs. We get asked this a lot and thought we would clarify it for you. Below is a list of pros and cons for both guest wifi system set ups:

Multiple SSID pros

 Secure network within the unit or room: Each unit and room has its own unique password, like what you have at home.  Foxtel iQ is easy to setup and install.  Secure casting to televisions: Easy to plug in a Chromecast and have them work immediately so people can watch their own subscriptions without having to enter their login details onto the television.

 Easy and seamless connectivity of all wireless devices: Any wifi device can connect easily, as they do at home.  Guests can bring Smart displays and speakers eg., Google Home and connect them easily.  No need for expensive casting solutions as normal Google Chromecast and televisions with built in casting devices work out of the box.

 Wireless printers can be used on the network.

 File sharing on the network between devices.

Judy Senn

Managing Director, Time Out Internet

Multiple SSID cons

 Not a roaming system: The signal connectivity is contained to the unit and nearby areas.  Initial confi guration is more time consuming and more complex to set up by the supplier, so may cost more.  A separate signal and password for common areas is required.

Single SSID pros

 Easier for the supplier to confi gure and setup (may be a cheaper price).  Foxtel iQ easy to setup and install.  Roaming signal across the complex.  One password for all units or rooms.

Single SSID cons

 Guests can’t bring Smart displays and speakers eg., Google Home. The isolation requirements for this type of network makes the setup fail.  Built in casting devices in Smart TVs do not work on these networks.

 Requires expensive subscriptions to casting solutions to work around this system setup.  Can’t network in the unit with others due to isolation of devices.

 Unable to bring wireless printers and use them on the network.

 Unable to fi le share through the wifi network.  One password for everyone: Easy for it to be handed to external people. Your guests want a seamless guest wifi journey and they also want to be secure and know that what they do at home, they can do at your site. Choosing a guest wifi system can be stressful and something you will have for numerous years. I hope that the above has helped outline a few key areas to help make your decision easier.

© stock.adobe.com

Guesty announces the acquisition of hospitality soft ware companies Kigo and HiRUM

The merger follows Guesty’s latest funding round and expands its presence in strategic regional markets to further its mission of becoming the premier global provider of property management and hospitality solutions

Guesty, the leading property management platform for the shortterm rental and hospitality industry, today announced the acquisition of Spainbased vacation rental soft ware company, Kigo, and Australian property management soft ware company, HiRUM.

Guesty will welcome Kigo’s and HiRUM’s existing teams into the Guesty family, expanding its global reach, increasing R&D resources and product advancement for customers of all three platforms. The mergers continue Guesty’s long-term growth vision, extending further into new markets and off ering an end-to-end solution to manage the complex needs of property managers and hospitality professionals in all category segments, wherever they operate. Kigo and HiRUM bring thousands of customers to the Guesty family of product solutions, representing short-term rentals, vacation villas, and hospitality listings within Europe and Australia’s thriving tourism sector. United in the same mission, all three companies are working to standardize and advance the best-in-class soft ware experience for simplifying property management and operations for property management companies (PMCs) and hospitality operators of all sizes. Together with Kigo and HiRUM, Guesty expands its capabilities for fl exible inventory management, allowing operators to handle traditional hotel listings, aparthotels, holiday homes and short-term rentals from one dashboard.

“Guesty, Kigo and HiRUM view consolidation as the path forward in such a dynamic space and fragmented industry,” said Guesty Co-Founder & CEO, Amiad Soto. “The continued advancement of property management solutions, technology and service requires substantial resources and fi nancial investment that can only be achieved by merging the industry’s best teams and regional leaders under one entity.” HiRUM Soft ware Solutions is a household name in Australia’s tourism sector, with its headquarters on the Gold Coast of Queensland. The company powers small and large hospitality operators and counts prestigious brands as its loyal customers, including Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Ramada by Wyndham and Grand Mercure Hotels & Resorts.

“For more than two decades we’ve helped Australia’s leading hospitality brands streamline their operational processes, maximize revenues and grow the local tourism sector,” said Sylvia & Philip Johnston, co-Founders and co-CEOs of HiRUM Soft ware Solutions. “We are excited to join forces with Guesty and work in tandem to power the next generation of hospitality and property management technology. We will continue to stay on in our roles with HiRUM to ensure our customers receive the best-in-class service.”

"The merging of Guesty and HiRUM marks a major milestone in Australian hospitality and a new era of technological advancement," says Yoav Tourel, Guesty's APAC Managing Director. "HiRUM's legacy, experience and knowledgeable roots in the local market pair perfectly with Guesty's global outlook. Together we will push forward the next era of property management solutions, covering the full ecosystem, from traditional hotels to vacation villas and short-term rentals. The timing could not be bett er, with Australia's tourism market booming in full recovery mode." The acquisitions follow Guesty’s latest funding round of $170 million last month, from top-tier investors Apax Digital Funds, MSD Partners and Sixth Street Growth, with existing investors Viola Growth and Flashpoint also participating. With a current global employee base of more than 600 and growing, Guesty now welcomes the Kigo and HiRUM teams within the United States, Spain, the Philippines and Australia. As one entity, Guesty increases its regional market share, expands its technological capabilities and services, and further cements its leadership position in its category.