In-Room Technologies
Chapter 6
"The good news is that the PMS market has seldom
seen such a variety of different approaches to solving
your property's automation needs. The further good
news is that the systems available have never been
better for what is still the key system, the hub around
which all other property systems revolve and in which
you collect a huge amount of highly valuable guest data.
“
Jon Inge, Hotel Systems Consultant

•
Today
IT is part of the business now…
Let’s have a look at the systems
Lodging-Centric Technologies
TRAVEL
AGENTS
GLOBAL
RESERVATION
SYSTEM
FORECASTING
&
SCHEDULING
TIME &
ATTENDANCE
CORPORATE
GUEST
HISTORY
PMS
CORPORATE
ACCOUNTING
SYSTEM
PURCHASING
&
INVENTORY
Internet/
Intranet
CORPORATE
RESERVATION
SYSTEM
MAID
DIAL-IN
YIELD
MANAGEMENT
CALL
ACCOUNTING
SYSTEM
(CAS)
FOOD &
BEVERAGE
INVENTORY
SYSTEM
SYSTEMS OFF PREMISE
ELECTRONIC
LOCK &
SECURITY
SYSTEM
BOH FOH
E-MAIL, MIS, DSS, EIS
INTERFACE WITH
DIRECTION OF
DATA FLOW
PAY PER
VIEW /
CHECK OUT
MINI
BAR
ELECTRONIC
BAR
DISPENSER
SYSTEMS INHOUSE
RESTAURANT
MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
(POS)
LD
REMOTE
SALES
MARKETING
CREDIT CARD
AUTHORIZATION
& EFT
PBX
(SWITCH
SALES &
CATERING
SYSTEM
INROOM
ENERGY
CONTROL
MAINTENANCE
ENERGY
FIRE &
LIFE SAFETY
VOICEMAIL
MESSAGE
HANDLING
WAKE-UP
SYSTEM
Hotel information system
Advantages of Technology in Hotels
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Improved labor productivity and organization
efficiency
Enhanced decision-making capability in less time
Reduced operating costs
Increased information accuracy
Increased revenues
Greater guest satisfaction and loyalty
Improved controls
Ease of use
Disadvantages of Technology in
Hotels
1.
2.
3.
4.
Security
Ergonomics
Cost
Upgrades and maintenance
In-Room Technologies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Electronic Locking System
Energy Management & Climate Control Systems
Fire Alarm & Security Systems
In-room Minibars
In-room safe boxes
Guestroom Phone System
Voice-mail/Wake-up Systems
In-room Entertainment Systems
Guestroom control panels
Self check-in/out systems
Electronic Locking Systems
Electronic Locking Systems (ELS)
 Majority of the hotels use electronic locking systems
(ELS)
 Hotel Key System Evolution
 Mechanical Keys
 Punched-hole codedplastic room key card
 Optical Cards
 Electronic Key Card
Mechanical Keys



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

Cheaper than electronic locking systems
Heavier to carry
Inconvenient
Once lost, the cost of replacement is high
Not traceable
Duplicable
Electronic Locking Systems (ELS)
 About 85 percent of lodging establishments in the
United States have electronic locking systems
installed
 Types:
 Hard-wired ELS
 Micro-processor based
 One-way communication ELS
 Two-way communication ELS
Hard-wired ELS
 Hard-wired system is an example to a first generation
ELS
 They operate through a centralized master code
console interfaced to every single key lock
 Very Expensive to wire each door
 Great security
Micro-processor based ELS
 One-way communication
 This system uses a microcomputer (keycard console)
with an electronic key encoder, a device used to
encode new lock combinations on guest keycards at
check-in
One-way e-locks
 Electronic key encoder: device to encode
new lock combinations
Check-in: Front Desk Agent
encodes the key for room 101
Guest enters
the e-key
into lock 101
The lock erases the
Previous code. Now this door can be
opened with this card now
Until the next new card comes in
Advantages of ELS over Mechanical
Keys










Unique keys
Light plastic, magnetic stripe keys:
Security
Replaceable
The cost of a new key is low
Recyclable
The cost of rekeying is non-existent.
Access control
Audit-trail capability
Privacy Feature
Disadvantages of one-way ELS
 One key can not be used in multiple locks.
 If the guest decided to change rooms, he/she has to
go to front desk to recode the key.
 If a wrong key is inserted into a lock, it does not alert
security staff.
Two-way communication ELS
 Two-way communication keys are more expensive to
install; however, they offer several security and
convenience features.
 In the two-way communication locks, a central
database communicates to locks wirelessly.
 One key can be used in multiple places (i.e. pool,
health club, concierge floor)
Keycards- Magnetic Stripe Cards
Keycards- Memory Card
 A memory card is equipped with a memory chip to
store lock access codes and records.
 They can store data from 2 kilobyte (KB) (it can carry
25 different key lock codes), 8 KB (it can carry up to
125 different key lock codes), or 64 KB (it can carry up
to 1350 different key lock codes).
 These are great for staff members or managers who
have access to multiple locks.
 The cost of a memory card can be from $2.00 per card
to $4.00 per card. Cards
Keycards- Memory Card
Keycards- Smart Cards
 A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit(s) card
(ICC), is defined as any pocket-sized card with
embedded integrated circuits which can process
information.
 Smart cards can store more data than the memory
cards.
 Smart cards can also process data, allowing it to serve
as an electronic purse or ID.
Keycards- Smart Cards
Keycards-Biometric
 The first generation of biometric ELS was seen in
2004.
 Saflok was one of the first companies to introduce
the biometric locks
 The guest registers his/her fingerprint or iris scan or
other biometric metric (i.e. hand scan, palm scan) at
the time of check-in.
Keycards- RFID
 Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic
identification method, relying on storing and
remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID
tags or transponders.
 There are two main components of a RFID ELS:
 RFID Lock: This is the key lock that looks for a RFID tag to
grant access.
 RFID tags (keys): These are the identification codes for key
locks. They can be in the shape of a plastic keycard, or can be
stored in different devices, such as a wristband.
Videos*

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
Mechanical Key
Electronic Key as a Security Device
Code-based Key
Biometric Lock
RFID Based Lock
Smart Lock
* (password: videos)
Energy Management Systems & Climate
Control Systems
InnCom Systems
Energy Management & Climate
Control Systems
 After labor, energy is the second-largest operating
expense for a hotel
 Guestroom energy consumption typically accounts
for 40 percent to 80 percent of a hotel’s total energy
costs
EMS-Digital Thermostat
 humidity control
 outside temperature
display
EMS Types
1) centrally controlled systems
2) individually controlled systems
3) network controlled systems
EMS Devices
1.
Electronic key-card based energy management
systems
This system employs a wall mounted unit that controls
the electrical devices and Heating Ventilation and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) devices with the help of a
magnetic stripe key card
EMS Devices
2. Body-motion detector based energy management
systems
A body-motion detector is installed inside the
guestroom and in some cases in the corridors. When
the body-motion unit does not detect a motion,
indicating that there is not a guest or an animal in the
room or in the corridor, it controls the lights and
HVAC equipment.
Video
 Body Motion Sensor to control Hallway lights (Royal Hotel,
Lyon, France)
EMS Devices
3. Body-heat detector based energy management
system
Similar to body-motion detector based systems, this
system detects body-heat of a human or an animal.
This system is more reliable than the body-motion
detector. When the system does not detect body
hear, it assumes that it is non-occupy mode, and sets
HVAC equipment back to preset temperatures
EMS-Wireless Light Switch
 replaces the standard hardwired line-voltage light
switch
 Lighting can be pre-set to
save energy costs
 By enabling the front desk
to remotely turn lights on
and off in the guestroom
when a guest checks in or
out, infrared switch
provides the next level of
energy and utility
management.
EMS-Lamp Control Mode
 It converts any
standard lamp into a
remotely controllable
lamp with full dimming
capability. (infrared)
Guestroom Status
 The guest may choose either
the DND or MUR functions
without needing to open the
guestroom door.
 If DND is pressed, a lettered,
backlit "Do-Not-Disturb"
indicator is displayed on the
external door plate
 If MUR is selected, a discreet
LED indicator, readable only
by hotel staff, is displayed on
the external plate.
Guestroom Status: External Door Plate
 installed on the wall
outside the guestroom
 DND or MUR
 indicate current room
occupancy status
EMS Control Levels
 Network controlled energy management systems
have four levels of temperature set-backs:
1. Sold
2. Unsold
3. Sold Occupied
4. Sold Unoccupied
Fire Alarm and Security Systems
 Networked Fire Alarm System: In this system, smokedetectors are networked to a central management
system wirelessly
In-Room Minibars
 There are three different type of minibar systems.
These are:
1.
2.
3.
Traditional minibars (non-automated),
Semi-automated minibars
Automated minibars (micro-processor based).
Traditional Minibars
 Traditional minibars are based on manual checking
and/or honor system.
 After minibar staff members fill out the minibar
initially, they have to check every occupied room
every day to see of anything has been consumed.
Semi-automatic Minibars
 Semi-Automated minibar Systems are equipped with
a door alert system that reports directly to the
minibar central computer system via existing
telephone wiring each time the bar door is opened.
 This way, minibar staff members know which rooms
need refilling and which rooms do not. This decreases
the restocking time and guest disturbances are
significantly reduced.
Automated Minibar Systems
 Automated Minibar Systems (Micro-processor based)
are capable of monitoring and posting sales
transactions, determining refill quantities, reminding
the expiration dates of products offered, and
enhancing profitability.
 The automated minibar has infrared sensors that
sense when a product is removed from the tray.
In-Room Safes
 Traditionally, hotels used to offer safe boxes in the front
desk. However, in today’s hotels, most rooms are
equipped with modern, small, individual size safes.
 Mechanical key safes
 Electronic in-room safes




Key card safes
Code-based electronic in-room safes
Smart-card based safes
Biometric safes
Guestroom Phone Systems
 Hotel Billing Information System (HOBIC)
 Call Accounting System (CAS) Features

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
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Call Automatic identification of outward dialing
Automatic route selection
Least cost routing
Call rating program
 PBX
Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
 CAS works with PBX
 PBX phone systems are created to form a private
network of users to share selected external
telephone lines.
 It is more cost efficient to share a few external lines
than to allow every user their own external lines.
 Within a PBX phone system it is easier to reach
someone because it is only a three or four digit
extension.
High Speed Internet Access
 Dial-up access- First generation
 High Speed Internet Access- Wired
 High Speed Internet Access-Wireless




802.11b- 11 Mbps
802.11g- 54 Mbps
802.11a- 54 Mbps
802.11n- 100 Mbps
 Hybrid
Future of Hotel Telephone Systems
 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Bundle Offerings– Phone + Internet Access
In-Room Voice Mail Systems
 Most of the hotels that have telephone in the guestroom
offer voice mail service.
 A hotel using voice mail assigns a voice mailbox to each
guest upon check-in.
 If the voice mail system is interfaced with PMS, the voice
mail talks to the guest in the guest’s language (i.e. English,
German, Spanish).
 The guests have the option to set-up the voice mail or
leave it as default message. Guests can record their
greeting recording or set a unique PIN code to access the
voice messages
Wake Up Systems
 Manual wake-up system
 Semi-automated wake-up system
 Full-automated wake-up
system
 Interactive TV System Wake up
system
 Alarm clock in the room
In-Room Entertainment Systems
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Personalized welcome message upon check-in
Video on demand (pay per view)
High speed Internet access
Wake-up call
Order room service
Live feedback
Different languages
Internet Protocol based Radio
View Bill/Self- Check out System
Parental Controls
Other In-Room Systems
Guestroom Control Panels
Clocky
Anyfill Battery Charger
Flame Free Candles
DND/MUR Card
Digital Frame
Emergency Light System
Wii
Digital Door Viewer
Video
 eXperimental Guestroom
End of Chapter 6