Hotel Tech Unwrapped

Hotel Tech Unwrapped

By IMS connect by ASK4Technology
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Hotel Tech Unwrapped episodes

  • Choosing hotel internet - Hotel Tech Unwrapped Ep #4

    Join our CEO Denis Ahern and Business Development Manager Helena O' Brien on Ep #4 of the IMS Hotel Tech Unwrapped podcast series, where we unravel the pivotal role of technology in hospitality.

    In this episode, Denis and Helena discuss the importance of connectivity in the hospitality industry. They explain the difference between broadband and leased line services, highlighting the benefits of a leased line for data security compliance. Overall, the episode emphasises the importance of reliable and high-quality connectivity in the hospitality industry.

    Watch video here.

    Key takeaways:

    • Leased line services offer more reliability and security compared to broadband services.
    • Having a primary and secondary connection ensures operational efficiency and minimizes downtime.
    • The recommended speed for a hotel is around 5 megabits per room.
    • Connectivity plays a crucial role in improving the guest experience and enhancing guest services.
    • Leased line connections provide operational efficiency and a competitive advantage in the hospitality industry.


      • Chapters

      00:00 Difference between Broadband and Leased Line

      08:44 LAN and WAN IP Addresses

      11:06 Benefits of Leased Line for Data Security Compliance

      15:49 Primary and Secondary Connection for Operational Efficiency

      21:45 How Connectivity Improves Guest Experience and Enhances Guest Services

      32:02 Operational Efficiency and Competitive Advantage of Leased Line Connection

      32 min
    • Part 2 - Importance of great Wi-Fi in hotels - Hotel Tech Unwrapped Ep #3

      Join our CEO Denis Ahern and Business Development Manager Helena O' Brien on Ep #3 Part1 of the IMS Hotel Tech Unwrapped podcast series, where we unravel the pivotal role of technology in hospitality.

      In this episode, Denis and Helena discuss practical deployment examples and typical scenarios for hotel Wi-Fi, including the challenges of providing seamless connectivity in separate hotel and conference wings. They also explore the impact of refurbishments on Wi-Fi performance and the importance of conducting wireless surveys. Additionally, they highlight how a well-designed Wi-Fi network can support hoteliers in achieving their sustainability objectives, such as reducing energy consumption.

      Watch video here.


      Key takeaways:

      • Understand your hotel's specific Wi-Fi needs and communicate them to potential partners.
      • Wi-Fi networks are dynamic and can be impacted by refurbishments and changes in the environment.
      • A well-designed Wi-Fi network can support sustainability objectives by reducing energy consumption.
      • Broadband is a critical component of hotel connectivity and will be discussed in the next episode.

        • Chapters

        00:00 - Introduction

        00:19 - Recap of Part 1

        01:00 - Deployment Examples and Typical Scenarios

        06:05 - Impact of Refurbishments on Wi-Fi

        09:59 - Wi-Fi and Sustainability

        23:53 - Key Takeaways

        28 min
      • Part 1 - Importance of great Wi-Fi in hotels - Hotel Tech Unwrapped Ep #3

        Join our CEO Denis Ahern and Business Development Manager Helena O' Brien on Ep #3 Part1 of the IMS Hotel Tech Unwrapped podcast series, where we unravel the pivotal role of technology in hospitality.

        In this episode, the hosts highlight how Wi-Fi can impact guest reviews and online reputation, and introduce five principles of great Wi-Fi.

        They emphasise the importance of working with experienced partners in the hospitality sector and conclude with a discussion on the importance of Wi-Fi for hotel operations and the benefits of well-designed switch networks.


        Takeaways:

        • Great Wi-Fi is crucial for guest satisfaction and online reputation.
        • The five principles of great Wi-Fi include choosing the right product, creating a strong cable and switch network, putting as much as possible on cable, having a single site-wide managed network, and broadcasting the minimum number of wireless networks.
        • Working with experienced partners in the hospitality sector is important for successful Wi-Fi implementation.
        • Wi-Fi is not only important for guest experience but also for hotel operations, including staff efficiency and the integration of IoT devices.
        • Well-designed switch networks can reduce costs, improve power consumption, and provide resilience.


          • Watch video here.


          Chapters:

          00:00 Introduction

          01:20 The Importance of Great Wi-Fi

          02:17 Principles of Great Wi-Fi

          03:34 Working with Experienced Partners

          04:32 Feedback from Previous Episodes

          05:15 Introduction (Take 2)

          06:58 Feedback from Previous Episodes (Take 2)

          10:03 The Importance of Wi-Fi for Guest Experience

          11:39 The Importance of Wi-Fi for Online Reputation

          13:12 Principle 1: Choose the Right Product

          16:11 Principle 2: Create a Strong Cable and Switch Network

          18:16 Principle 3: Put as Much as Possible on Cable

          19:24 Principle 4: Have a Single Site Wide Managed Network

          20:18 Principle 5: Broadcast the Minimum Number of Wireless Networks

          22:11 The Importance of Wi-Fi for Hotel Operations


          Resoures:

          • Why Wi-Fi is Keeping Hotels From Receiving 5 Star Reviews: https://www.revinate.com/blog/why-wi-fi-is-keeping-hotels-from-receiving-5-star-reviews/
            • 25 min
          • Navigating the tech ecosystem - Hotel Tech Unwrapped Ep #2

            Join our CEO Denis Ahern and Business Development Manager Helena O' Brien on Ep #2 of the IMS Hotel Tech Unwrapped podcast series, where we unravel the pivotal role of technology in hospitality.

            In this episode, the hosts discuss the evolution of hospitality technology and the importance of cloud-based systems and APIs. They explore integration examples and the role of AI in the industry. They also provide insights on driving direct bookings and offer key takeaways for decision makers in the hospitality sector.
            Takeaways

            • Work with partners who deliver cloud-based platforms and have an open API.
            • Find partners who are advancing on the AI journey to gain a competitive advantage.
            • Focus on driving direct bookings by capturing first-party data and offering personalized experiences.

              • 00:00 - Introduction

              03:25 - The Evolution of Hospitality Technology
              04:52 - The Importance of Cloud-Based Systems
              07:26 - Understanding APIs
              08:44 - Integration Examples
              17:59 - The Role of AI in Hospitality Technology
              22:15 - Driving Direct Bookings
              27:35 - Key Takeaways
              29:31 - Closing Remarks


              Resources:

              • Hospitality Technology Ecosystem by Ira Vouk: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4118850.html
              • Hospitalitynet Tech Opinion pieces by Max Starkov: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/author/148001045/starkov.html
                • Hotel Tech Report: 75+ Hospitality Statistics You Should Know (2024) - https://hoteltechreport.com/news/hospitality-statistics
                  • Europe’s Independent Hotels Lag U.S. Brands on Google Hotels: New Skift Research: https://skift.com/2023/11/15/europes-independent-hotels-lag-u-s-brands-on-google-hotels-new-skift-research/ 
                    • 30 min
                  • Why online reputation matters - Hotel Tech Unwrapped Ep #1

                    Join our CEO Denis Ahern and Business Development Manager Helena O' Brien on our inaugural episode of the IMS Hotel Tech Unwrapped podcast series, where we unravel the pivotal role of technology in hospitality.

                    Tune in for key takeaways on finding the right tech ally, tailoring guest feedback, and leveraging data for smart investment decisions.


                    Watch video here.

                    00:00 - Introduction to the podcast

                    02:15 - Partnership with a hotel group to improve online reputation

                    03:19 - The importance of guest feedback and online reputation

                    04:46 - Analysing the Wi-Fi score and other technology categories

                    06:42 - Lessons learned from the partnership

                    07:18 - The impact of guest reviews on bookings

                    08:12 - Investing in TV solutions to increase rankings#

                    09:09 - Simplifying technology and the guest digital journey

                    11:33 - The value of technology for operators and guests

                    12:11 - The challenges of integrating new technology

                    13:38 - The cost of technology and making informed investment decisions

                    15:30 - Key takeaways and conclusion

                    Resources:

                    • Cornell relating to online reputation and impact on occupancy, ADR, RevPAR: https://sha.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/rohit-verma-online-reviews.pdf
                    • Cornell relating to technology that guests want / use: https://ecommons.cornell.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/283233a4-cf62-4766-86a2-36f4c6ae909e/content
                    • Expedia study re Guest Scores v Brand or Price - https://resources.trustyou.com/c/bl-review-ratings-expedia?x=nsbbfd&cn=bl-review-ratings-expedia&ct=Blog%20Post  
                      • 21 min
                    • Suicide Prevention Day - Creating Hope Through Action at IMS

                      September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day 2023, and at IMS, we are committed to creating hope through action every day.
                      Our dedication to prioritising people is at the core of everything we do. On this important occasion, we are honoured to present a podcast between Jean Lyons - Virtual Events Lead, Pat Madigan - Project Manager and Michelle Meaney - Secretary of the Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention (Our Charity Partner)


                      Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention

                      Phone: 085 784 5347

                      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treatysuicideprevention/

                      If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately.

                      Where to get help:

                      https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/nosp/help/

                      A GP

                      A GP can offer support for anyone in crisis. If possible, ask someone to come along with you. Find a service near you:

                      • GP or health centre
                      • Out of hours GP service


                        • HSE Mental Health Services

                        If you are being supported by a mental health team, or have been in the past, contact the service for support in a crisis.


                        Samaritans

                        Samaritans services are available 24 hours a day, for confidential, non-judgmental support.

                        • Freephone 116 123
                        • Visit www.samaritans.ie for more information


                          • Pieta

                          Pieta provide a range of suicide and self-harm prevention services.

                          • Freephone 1800 247 247 anytime day or night
                          • Text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply)
                          • Visit www.pieta.ie for more information


                            • Text About It

                            Text About It is a free, anonymous, 24/7 messaging service providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for our mental health and emotional wellbeing.

                            • Text HELLO to 50808, anytime day or night
                            • Visit www.textaboutit.ie for more information


                              • Childline

                              A free 24/7 support service for children and young people up to and including those age 18 years of age.

                              • Freephone 1800 66 66 66
                              • Text 50101 
                              • Live chat at www.childline.ie


                                • Hospital and emergency services

                                If you, or someone you know is at immediate risk of harm, go to or call the emergency department of your local general hospital. You can also contact emergency services on 112 or 999 anytime, day or night. 

                                Visit www.yourmentalhealth.ie for information on how to mind your mental health, support others, or to find a support service in your area. You can also call the Your Mental Health Information Line on 1800 111 888, anytime day or night, for information on mental health services in your area.


                                27 min
                              • Special Webinar - Virtual Event Production

                                As part of our best practices for using Zoom, IMS is delighted to host a webinar on Virtual Event Production.  We have special guest Mr Paul Richards who is the Chief Streaming Officer at StreamGeeks.  Paul is a Live Streaming and Cloud-Based Video Collaboration Expert with over 10 years in the audio-visual industry. He is experienced in implementing affordable & effective unified communications for video broadcasting and collaboration.  This free event will show how to deliver Edutainment for amateur and professional live video productions. Paul will also be discussing his upcoming Presence Summit and what is going on behind the scenes as they prepare to kick off their event on July 15th.

                                1 hr 27 min
                              • Special webinar - Zoom Webinar best practices

                                Are you preparing to speak at or host an online event? Zoom Video Webinars make it easy to host and attend events from anywhere. As a presenter, it is important that you look and sound your best on video so your attendees can focus on the content. We’ve compiled our best practices/tips for the optimum setup for hosts and panelists using Zoom. Join Jason Mobley - UC Guru, Joshua A. Jones - The WebiNerd, Eric de Jager - TechSonic and Shane Hartigan - IMS on how to get the best out of your online events.

                                1 hr 17 min
                              • Special webinar - Re-imagining your business in a pandemic world

                                COVID-19 is creating unprecedented challenges for our businesses today. Companies need to react at speed and get creative to deal with the disruption due to the pandemic. This is especially evident within manufacturing. As infections spread around the world different countries, health systems and industries have redirected substantial resources to COVID-19 response efforts. Some extraordinary measures are underway to rapidly deal with the issue. The crisis has forced industry to quickly recalibrate across the value chain from suppliers to customer needs.   

                                Our webinar, chaired by Cathal Reilly (CEIA, Chairman) with have a panel of Industry members led by Sean Gayer, VP Operations Boston Scientific, and to include Sean Sheehan CEO Wisetek and Jerry Sweeney CEO CloudCIX. They will discuss and share with you how each of their business are:  

                                • Re-aligning business Priorities 

                                • Re-structuring their Organisation capabilities 

                                • Workforce planning incorporating Corona Virus safety planning guidelines 

                                • Ramp strategy plan 

                                • How their teams are dealing with the new norm

                                1 hr 20 min

                              About Hotel Tech Unwrapped

                              From the publisher's feed

                              Bringing you the latest from the world of hospitality tech.