Bangkok's Internet-protocol hotel

Le Meridien Hotel, Bangkok

Messages will be automatically delivered to them through a wireless communication network operating throughout the hotel.

The new hotel, which opened in December last year, has a Bt200-million IT infrastructure. Its main feature is an Internet-protocol (IP) telephone system provided by Cisco Systems (Thailand), which the hotel says improves the quality of its management and allows it to provide better-quality guest services.

Sales and marketing director Jee Hoong Tan said the phone system aimed to differentiate the hotel's services from those of competitors and to enhance the experience and satisfaction of guests, eventually increasing the hotel's repeat-stay rate.

"For around six months since opening, we have had a repeat rate of about 20 per cent, from our total occupancy rate of 35 per cent," Tan said.

The hotel has installed 282 fixed IP phones in guest rooms and has 77 wireless IP phones. Of these, 36 units are provided for guests in the hotel's suites and the rest are used by staff, with the aim of improving internal communications and maintaining contact with guests.

The IP phones, offering communication in five languages, provide a single service button as a rapid 'one-stop' hotel service call.

"If guests order one more towel, they just press the 'service' button, then press housekeeping and order a towel," Tan said.

Not only do the IP phones provide quick access to the hotel's information and services, but also to information such as weather forecasts and flight schedules, as well as offering easy communication with friends and family.

"In spite of carrying walky-talkies like staff in other hotels, our staff carry a handy IP phone. The devices offer far more features than voice conversation," Tan said.

In six to eight months, Le Meridien hopes to add SMS services to its IP phone system, enabling users to send short messages to local and international numbers, as well as Web radio and TelePresence meeting solutions.

"The majority of our guests are business persons and most stay not too long, but they need communications facilities. Most of them are from Japan, the US and Europe. As well as IP phones, we also provide free wireless Internet access throughout the hotel's pubic areas, allowing our guests to enjoy seamless wireless communication wherever they are in the hotel," he said.