Winter can be a tough time for hotel managers. If your property is somewhere that people actually go for the winter, it’s great. But, for many hotels, winter is the slow time. There’s less travel and it’s hard to know what to do about that. It may seem like the last time of year you’d want to spend money, but that’s where you have to think differently. This is the time of year when you can make big changes to your infrastructure. It’s time to beef up your internet and entertainment options. The great news here is that there are ways to do it with very little upfront cost and winter’s the perfect time to make these changes.
We call it “Hospitality for Hospitality.”
It’s a pretty simple idea, really. We take care of you so you can take care of others. We help you do all the upgrades you need in order to give your guests a great experience, and we make it easy. Without that stress, you’re free to focus on your guests. That way, everyone wins.
One of the ways we do that is simple: you get one Signal Connect representative who will help you with everything. They’re your personal concierge. It doesn’t matter what kind of upgrade you need. We can handle internet, phone, entertainment, and everything that connects those things. You won’t have to worry about multiple contractors pointing fingers at each other. We make it easy. Here are some of the upgrades you might want to consider this year:
DIRECTV Advanced Entertainment Platform
The days when simply putting a sign out that said “FREE COLOR TV” are long behind us. Today’s consumer wants a lot more out of their television experience. But, often times you’ll find that customer needs will strain your internet infrastructure. Everyone wants to stream at the same time and that can mean no one gets what they want.
The DIRECTV Advanced Entertainment Platform solves this problem. At its heart is reliable DIRECTV satellite television. This highly customizable program lets you add the channels your guests really want and give them a perfect TV experience that’s even better than the one they get at home. But, that’s just the beginning.
The Advanced Entertainment Platform (AEP) automatically downloads over 1,000 on-demand programs when your internet isn’t needed for other tasks. Guests can choose the programs they want to watch and there’s no impact to your internet. All these on-demand programs are stored on a server in your hotel so they can be delivered without any buffering.
AEP works without impacting your PMS system so there’s no expensive integration or long downtimes. And, it’s easy to customize, giving guests a TV experience that includes your branding and custom messages. You may not be paying for a major franchise, but your TV will make you look just as sophisticated as those big names.
Speaking of internet…
Chances are your internet isn’t keeping up with demand. It’s no longer just business travelers who want it either. When people are in the room they’re going to want to stream. You’ll be able to offload quite a bit of that demand using DIRECTV AEP, but there will come a time when you will simply need more internet capacity.
Luckily the folks at Signal Connect have formed partnerships with virtually all the major commercial internet providers. We can help you find the right company for your needs, and then we’ll offer their internet at a price that usually undercuts their offers! We do it by working on a national level to be able to offer individual hotel owners the same prices as large hotel chains and businesses. We can help you upgrade, streamline your billing, and make sure that internet speed just isn’t a problem as you move forward.
Solve internet problems by providing better cell service
Here’s a simple question. Given the choice, do you think your guests would even use your Wi-Fi if they didn’t have to? More and more people have unlimited cell plans and the only reason they even think about connecting to your Wi-Fi is that they just don’t get good cell service in the room.
Bad cell service in hotels is extremely common. Cinder blocks, energy-efficient windows, and metal conduit all block cell signals very efficiently. The result is the average person just doesn’t get good reception. That means they can’t stream using their phones, so they connect to your Wi-Fi.
There’s a simple, cost-effective solution. Cellular signal booster technology uses an antenna mounted on the roof of the building and blasts strong cell signal throughout the inside of the building. Guests will get the same reception inside that they get outside… sometimes even better! Cell boosters have an upfront cost for equipment and installation, but after that, the only cost is a small amount of electricity.
When customers get great cell service, they don’t overload your internet. Everyone wins.
Get backup internet for your PMS when problems arise
We tend to forget an inconvenient fact about our modern world. Your hotel’s entire communication system — phones, PMS, internet, everything — travels through a strand of glass about as thick as a human hair. If that strand breaks, your internet goes down. And with severe weather comes the risk that it’s going to happen. When it does, you could be stuck for days without the ability to run credit cards.
The solution is a cellular router like the Revgen IQMC multi-carrier router you see above. This device will use cell service to give you a lifeline. It may not be enough to satisfy every guest room need, but it will let you connect your property management system and run credit cards. It may also be able to help you run your phone system depending on what sort of system you have.
When you combine a cellular router with a cell phone booster system, you get strong internet that will get you past whatever crisis is happening and keep you in business. That’s the bottom line, and what else is there to say?
You have customers to take care of
It’s hard enough running a hotel without worrying about the problems of modern technology. That’s why we say, “you have customers to take care of. Let us take care of our customer… YOU!” Our enterprise division, headed by Rob Young, specializes in helping businesses like yours navigate the challenging entertainment landscape. We’re here to make sure that you get what you need, at the right price, without worrying about confusing details.
Interested? Call the experts now! The number is 888-233-7563. We’re here during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, just fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
