Benefits of High Speed Internet Access in a Hotel.

For the Hotel

• Increased Guest Satisfaction
• More repeat visits
• Keep current with standard amenities
• Many Franchise requirements now mandate HSIA in 2004
• HSIA frees up your telephone trunks for voice calls
• Each dialup user blocks out phone line provisions for 10+ rooms

For the Guest.

• Fast and simple connection without dialup hassle
• No need to locate a local access phone number
• Downloading email takes seconds with HSIA or many minutes with dialup
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Should We Install a Wired or Wireless(WiFi) System In Our Hotel?

That really depends on your properties’ needs and the type of guests that normally stay at your hotel.

Wireless (WiFi)

• Wireless solutions appeal to high tech people carrying the latest equipment.
• Guests can roam around their rooms without being tied to the network cable.
• Wireless in public area can provide access in the lobby,  bars, lounges, restaurants, and even your pool area.

Problems with Wireless

• Few of your guests will actually have a wireless adapter needed for a WiFi installation.
• Wireless standards are still evolving so there is no guarantee that what you install today will be useful in future years
• Since your guests are limited to the bandwidth of your internet connection, any local speeds over that are wasted.
• Wireless solutions are not as reliable since radio waves carry the signal and there can be problems with interference and weak signals that will frustrate your guests.
• Installing a WiFi network DOES require you to run new Ethernet cables from your communication closet to each of the Wireless Access Points (WAP).
• A WAP is the antenna units that actually link up your guests’ computers.
• WAP’s generally must be placed within 150-200 feet of your guest for them to get a decent connection.
• WAP specs of a 300ft radius only applies to clear unobstructed paths and since most hotels are built with walls, steel and concrete, the viable range goes down quickly in a hotel environment.
• Weak signal areas reduce bandwidth
• Certain wireless adapters may reduce bandwidth for nearby guests
• Connecting to the WiFi network more likely to require technical help.
• Guest's may experience varying degrees of quality and satisfaction.

Wired (MDU Ethernet)

• Wired solutions can allow nearly anyone traveling with a computer to connect to the internet.
• Ethernet is a generic standard that will be usefull for many years to come
• Most portable computers do have a LAN port.
• Wired solutions are plug-and-play, real simple and work well with little effort.
• Switched technology secures your connections
• Wired connections are reliable and and provide full rated bandwidth.

Our Recommendation

At Network Information Services we recommend Ethernet wired solutions for your guest rooms. If your meeting rooms have telephone jacks they should also be wired as well. Since the whole point of offering High Speed Internet Access is to allow your guests to connect, why not make it available to the widest range of guests?

Should you desire wireless (WiFi) network, we can of course install that for you and the Expresso Subscriber Management System can manage guest configurations and authenticate your wireless guests as well.

Why Use Tut Systems Expresso MDU for Your Guest's Internet Access?

For the Hotel

• Simple installation can have you running in a few days
• No need to install new cabling to your guest rooms
• Uses your existing phone wires
• No interruption to your room inventory
• NIS Support frees front desk staff from technical questions
• Multiple billing options are available if you elect to charge for access
• PMS
• Credit card
• Pre-Paid card
• Manual
• Secure system isolates each room from each other
• Hotel Web page on startup can provide access to guest services
• Tut Systems is the leading provider of broadband connectivity for multi-dwelling units (MDU) such as hotels, apartments, and student housing
• More than 435,000 ports world-wide are active with Tut Systems equipment
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For the Guest.

• 1MB Ethernet connection is just a plug away
• Guest computers are configured automatically to use the system
• Expresso's secure switches protect your guests from other guests.
• Expresso can be used by more of your guests than wireless.
• 24x7 support from NIS available in case they should have a problem
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Do Revenue Sharing Deals Really Work?

NO!

These were actively promoted in the early days of hotel internet solutions. The provider would install all the equipment at no charge to the hotel and take all (or 90%) of the revenue. The problem with this model is the providers projected a 20% uptake and when that failed to materialize they ran out of money. Now those firms are out of business or only selling the equipment directly.

The main problem with these deals is that selling the service was up to the hotel staff and there was no real incentive for them to do so. As hotels began offering the service for free, hotels tied to thee revenue-share deals could not compete.

The best financial model for adding high speed internet service to a hotel is for the hotel to purchase the equipment. It is then up to the hotel to provide the internet access for free or market the service and charge guests a daily fee with the hotel keeping all the revenue. Most hotels are moving to the free service model and increasing all the room rates by 50 cents or a dollar. Financial models we have prepared show that to generate the same annual revenue as charging $9.95 per day for those that actually use the service.

If you have a revenue share you lose your ability to effectively compete against other hotels. Owning your equipment also gives you the ability to retain all revenue generated.