IOT: THE SOLUTION FOR DATA PROTECTION IN HOTELS

30 Aug 2023

The hotel industry – understood as the basis of any accommodation for both national and international tourism – is one of the most importance in the world. This is partly the reason why technological innovation generally leans towards the Hospitality sector, and more specifically, towards the hotel industry. The main goal is more than evident: offering the best possible guest experience.

Still, implementing technological advances or even IoT technologies goes much further and is beneficial in terms of management, efficiency, safety and sustainability. In the Internet era we are now living in where every device, IT and electronic system is interconnected, information security has become critical.

Benefits brought by IoT to the hotel industry

IoT nodes – physical devices connected to the network with the aim of sharing a high-value data set – are the first step in the installation and implementation of advanced technology allowing for a comprehensive communication system in buildings such as a hotels.

An IoT node is the core element of the development of connected hotels. Users will connect to the Internet by means of these electronic devices, regardless of whether they do it directly or indirectly. This equipment will be in charge of collecting information, which will be shared online, and then will generate a response or action – depending on each case.

Once the installation is complete and the hotel is fully connected, every functioning aspect of the building will operate with IoT solutions. Below you will find some of the most remarkable examples:

Comfort for guests

Comfort far exceeds any traditional accommodation, among other reasons, due to the wide range of services available for guests and linked to customized monitoring. Possibilities are potentially endless: you can manage air conditioning and check the weather forecast on the interactive mirror of your bathroom or even access TV and OTT advanced personalized services from your hotel room.

Optimizing maintenance and repairs

By installing real-time monitoring sensors, every system in the hotel can be thoroughly monitored. You can, therefore, receive notifications on any room requiring technical assistance or on systems that are about to malfunction and may require maintenance services.

Enhanced security

Security reaches a new level thanks to IoT solutions implemented in hotels. There is a great deal of security systems that can be applied to hotel projects, from electronic sensors to surveillance cameras.

It is also worth mentioning the investment in cybersecurity made by companies seeking to keep their guests’ personal and financial information safe.

Security also applies to the room itself, as guests can use intelligent locks to reduce the risk of intrusion and also to check if it is empty or if someone has got in at some point.

Further services

Thanks to the new features brought by the IoT technology to hotels, service provision spreads out to any type of leisure and well-being alternatives. For instance, interactive services from the TV screen, including our ArantiaCast service for guests to cast contents of OTT platforms from their cellphone to the room TV in a safe and anonymous way.

Having a Wi-Fi connection at the hotel is a technological breakthrough that is essential today. New IoT solutions enhance this experience and are used to regulate the Wi-Fi power levels reaching each room – always high-speed connection and minimal to no latency.

An aspect that gets the new visitors’ attention is digital signage, which consists on screens or totems installed in strategic spots across the hotel, so guests can see external ads, announcements about activities or other actions, as well as internal notifications.

Enhanced building and room management

All in all, this technology provides hotel managers with much more efficient and sustainable management possibilities in the whole building and, in particular, in every room.

Protecting hotel information with IoT

Security – and more specifically data protection – is one of the greatest concerns when implementing IoT solutions in hotels.

Connecting all the devices in the hotel with personal devices to make the most of their potential poses the challenge of keeping the guests’ data safe without compromising the experience of a global connection.

Hotels require extremely solid cybersecurity to protect their guests’ information and, of course, their own company’s.

Funnily enough, technology itself favors the development of security innovations. Implementing this kind of solutions requires high-level authentication and access protocols that strengthen the protection of digital information.

Innovative advances such as double authentication, digital certificates or biometric scanners intensify such security, especially when it comes to accesses.

It goes without saying that continuous investment is paramount to consolidate the security solutions in these infrastructures and also the advanced services that may arise in the future.

Implementing Televes IoT solutions for hotels

A growing number of hotels benefits from the IoT solutions developed by Televes, mainly for connectivity and leisure purposes.

Some of the most important services offered by such digital solutions are as follows:

Interactive services

Thanks to interactive services, guests can have access to a whole lot of digital contents from their room TV – be it with IPTV, video on demand or nPVR solutions, TV on demand, etc. – through a fully customizable interface matching the corporate image of the hotel. Televes, as an approved company providing in-room entertaining services for Marriott, makes available a solution that is fully adapted to the standards of this worldwide leading hotel chain.

Wi-Fi services

With the MyNet Wi-Fi solution by Televes, the Internet coverage in each room can be fully customized.

The FTTR (Fiber to the Room) solution is also remarkable: it is a comprehensive fiber-optic communication infrastructure capable of distributing all the services over a single cable, which implies considerable savings, lower energy consumption and little maintenance.

FTTR infrastructure can be, actually, scalable depending on the needs that may arise in any hotel where it is installed.

Streaming Experience

The streaming experience of Hospitality solutions by Televes is based on ArantiaCast, a professional system designed for this kind of areas. Guests can, thus, access any type of personalized contents while being assured that their privacy will be protected from other guests and the hotel.

Digital signage

Digital signage is also a great technological breakthrough for hotel promotion, from digital screens based on ArantiaDS system to corporate channels distributed through TVs across the hotel.

Expand TV

With this technology, guests can watch live linear TV on any of their mobile devices while they are in the hotel facilities.

Phone services

Through these services, rooms can be fully digitized by using the old analog phones or by deploying a VoIP solution.

IoT solutions have become so advantageous that the number of services offered to the industry can be increased while improving guest experience – security and comfort will be always prioritized during the guests’ stay. Apart from that, the management resources of all the installations are accessible to the company while more and more tailored solutions can be offered to their clients.

Guillermo Fernández

Product Manager, Hospitality

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