The strategic benefits of a converged managed LAN for hotels

Sarah Battoue (UK)
16 Sep 2024
In today’s hospitality landscape, seamless connectivity and efficient data management are essential to delivering an outstanding guest experience. To stay competitive, hotels must continually evolve their technology. That’s where Wifirst steps in, offering a unified network that centralises and optimises the management of all hotel IP services. Let’s explore the key benefits this approach brings to hoteliers!


Converging infrastructures is, above all, about minimising risks

Hotel environments are inherently complex, often spanning multiple floors with a diverse range of spaces—guest rooms, lobbies, bars and restaurants, meeting rooms, and fitness centres. Compounding this complexity is the array of network and radio infrastructures required for essential services like reservation systems, WiFi, electronic locks, and room automation.

Illustration hotel - mille-feuille infra chambre UK

This diversity of systems can lead to higher costs, increased risk of interference, and greater maintenance challenges. For instance, who takes responsibility if a WiFi issue disrupts the functionality of electronic locks? Or if a network failure affects the tablets staff rely on to manage guest requests?

By adopting a unified infrastructure—a single network that handles WiFi, TVs, telephones, connected locks, and home automation—hotels can significantly lower costs and simplify technical management. Romain Delguste, Manager Opening & Onboarding – Accor Tech ENA specifies:

Choosing Wifirst's is first of all a simplification of the entire operational aspect: we work with a single supplier who is entirely responsible for the infrastructure. 

Lan managé convergé 2021 UK

Wifirst has developed sophisticated tools for anomaly detection and problem resolution, allowing for rapid identification and correction of potential issues. This reduces service interruptions, ensuring a seamless experience for both guests and staff. With this streamlined approach, hotel teams can focus on enhancing the guest experience, while essential services run smoothly in the background.

A UNIFIED NETWORK AT SO/ PARIS

 

Mutualisation is also a smart choice for cutting costs

The largest cost factor when deploying a hotel’s connectivity infrastructure often stems from equipment installation. By consolidating the deployment into a single process, installation costs can be cut in half, while maintenance expenses are reduced by 30%. The elimination of radio interference also reduces the need for technical support, and when issues arise, a single intervention is enough to restore all services.
Consolidating infrastructure becomes especially advantageous for newly constructed hotels. Marc Dorel, Key Account Manager for the Accor Group, explains :
During a redeployment, Wifirst accounts for all constraints to prepare the local network for the integration of the converged radio infrastructure. Our teams conduct a thorough audit of the existing network and collaborate with IT teams to optimise the configuration, ensuring the network is fully prepared for the new infrastructure and tailored to the hotel’s specific needs. For properties already equipped with automation systems or connected locks, installation savings alone exceed 30%.
This operational agility allows hotels to remain competitive in an ever-changing environment and quickly adapt to evolving guest and market expectations.

ACCOR X WIFIRST : 10 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP

 

Why Wifirst is the right choice for a competitive and sustainable LAN at scale

Wifirst’s managed LAN solution offers a significant advantage for the hotel industry by centralizing data management, whether across a single property or an entire hotel group. With centralized tools, CIOs can oversee every aspect of network performance, security, and compliance from one platform. This not only simplifies day-to-day operations but also reduces administrative costs and allows for more strategic, data-driven decisions to evolve the network over time.

The power of centralised data goes beyond operational efficiency. It enables hotels to gain deeper insights into guest behaviour, streamline operations, and boost revenue through personalised marketing initiatives, such as exclusive offers for loyal customers or tailored recommendations based on preferences.

The crucial role of a managed LAN in enhancing connectivity and data management in the hotel industry is well established, as is Wifirst’s position as a trusted partner to support you!