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Shangri-La Hotels Improve Internet Connectivity
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has 65 deluxe hotels and resorts in key cities in Asia and the Middle East. New properties are under development in Europe and North America. Opened in 2008, the Shangri-La Vancouver is a 119-room luxury hotel occupying the first 15 floors of a 61-storey landmark building.
Background
Most business and luxury hotels now offer extensive wireless and wired connectivity, with coverage throughout the entire property. Guests and customers using meeting or convention facilities expect secure, high speed, seamless service. Hotel Operations groups are also increasingly using VoIP telephones to improve guest services and reduce costs. The expansion of Internet Protocol standards for key systems now demands a high level of internet expertise that traditional hospitality IT departments can’t readily supply.
Challenge
The Shangri-La Vancouver needed a proven Internet Services supplier to manage its guest internet services in a turnkey fashion. With an increasing percentage of their operations moving to an IP platform, the hotel also wanted a partner to help integrate systems, including providing engineering support for the complex wireless network and assistance optimising the wireless VoIP service.
Solution
The Shangri-La chose Colony for wireless and Internet Protocol expertise. Colony’s Network as a Service platform manages free and premium Internet connectivity and support. The hosted service provides the guest with a custom Shangri-La-branded experience. Guest support is delivered through Colony’s toll free support service.
Colony’s professional services division became the outsourced IT services department for the hotel for an interim period. Our experts integrated a number of hotel systems, re-engineered the wireless VoIP network for optimum coverage and performance and provided IT support for the entire property.
Results
Shangri-La guests have reliable wired and wireless networks, and operations has high performance VoIP services:
- Highly flexible guest wired and wireless internet service
- Custom branded log-in experience
- Ability to offer a paid and free hybrid service
- Wireless network optimization for VoIP services
- Systems integration services