First six-star hotel to offer in-room multimedia experience

MANILA, Philippines - Avaya, a global leader in enterprise communications systems, software and services, today announced that Maxims Hotel at Resorts World Manila, the first six-star deluxe casino hotel in Philippines, will use the Avaya Guest Media Hub in all its 170 suites when it opens in November. The solution is the single largest deployment of the Avaya Guest Media Hub in Asia Pacific and will help Maxims ensure high guest satisfaction and staff productivity while generating revenue opportunities and cost savings.

Designed specifically for the hospitality industry, the sleek and avant-garde Avaya Guest Media Hub gives guests access to hotel services using an interface with all the ease of navigation of the latest smart phone or media player. From the time of check-in, a guest’s name can be displayed on the Avaya Guest Media Hub assigned in his or her room. Each guest can simply tap the butler button on the touch-screen interface to connect to a designated butler and click to order, view useful information on hotel facilities, local weather forecasts, tourist places of interest, location maps and local promotions.

“Avaya’s hospitality and mobile solutions complement the needs of a six-class hotel such as Maxims,” said Christopher McGonnell, vice president of Hotel Operations of Resorts World Manila. “In any hospitality business, service is of premium importance, and we wanted something that would deliver the utmost efficiency.

“We want our guests to have an unparalleled experience, which is why we want to install something unique, that is not available presently in any other hotels in the country,” McGonnell added.

Increased staff productivity is a key benefit for Maxims as it creates the six-star experience. Each room is assigned a butler who will personally attend to guest needs and requests. Mini-bar inventories and room-status updates are available in real time, staff can move throughout the hotel and still be able to access, update and track the status of their tasks, target information content or promotions to a specific room or answer inquiries from guests instantly.

The Avaya solution provides an easy entry point for cooperative marketing with local venues, with easy-to-update features and icons. Maxims is able to promote not only the venues within the property, but also inform guests of restaurant and shopping alternatives throughout the Resorts World complex.

“The Avaya Guest Media Hub represents a revolutionary step in providing excellent service to guests and improving employee productivity,” said Ed Doctolero, senior country director, Avaya Philippines. “Guests can now communicate effortlessly with hotel staff and facilities — and with the outside world — all in true Web 2.0 fashion. Personal service at the touch of a button has never been more elegantly delivered.”

The Avaya Guest Media Hub is helping hospitality customers create a bespoke service experience. It moves non-value-added transactions to the device and away from human interaction, freeing up resources to cater to guests’ individual needs more effectively. It supports full-motion video streaming, adding video concierge and property tour capabilities. Its intuitive, user-friendly design encourages use. The device enables hoteliers to ensure room controls for temperature and lighting meet environmental norms. And by virtually eliminating the need for paper-based materials, such as the guest compendium and directory, doorknob placards, in-room menus, and dry-cleaning order forms, the “green” savings alone can amount to some US$1.29 per available room night, or up to $80,000 annually for a property like Maxims.