February 2014 – More than just a pretty interface ….. McLaren Technologies teams with Chic Hotel Hotel Canberra and proves it’s politically ‘connect’ as Australia’s first live ICE site.
As the curtains part on Australia’s newest luxe design project, Hotel Hotel in Canberra, a new technology era has dawned for the accommodation industry with the address revealing itself as the nation’s first live Intelity ICE site.
As Asia Pacific’s leading hotel technology group, McLaren Technologies was commissioned last year to install a new guest service experience system and, “dissolve boundaries between nature, technology and the built environment” at the hotel.
Matthew White, Managing Director for McLaren Technologies, said he is honoured that his company had the opportunity to install Australia’s first live Intelity ICE site at the avant-garde Hotel Hotel, along with premium product HotSOS by Newmarket International,Inc (“Newmarket”).
“We are very excited to have launched the first live ICE site in Australia in association with Molonglo Group and Hotel Hotel in Canberra,” said Mr White.
“Working to install and advise on hotel technology is fairly customary, however collaborating with Hotel Hotel Canberra’s developer Molonglo was like working with a curator to realise a higher artistic vision. They were meticulous and definitely the right clients to embrace all that ICE and HotSOS have to offer.”
McLaren recommended a combination of ICE, the leading guest service experience management system, installed in all guest rooms as part of a comprehensive room technology upgrade along with HotSOS, the leading preventative maintenance, task management and service optimisation system used by the hotel industry worldwide.
Favoured by modern hoteliers for turning information into communication, HotSOS, developed by global solutions providers Newmarket, empowers hotels with the technology to anticipate guest needs and respond swiftly and at the same time simplifies guest tracking behind the scenes via digital task management for staff. Intelity ICE has been chosen by the world’s leading luxury and lifestyle brands to provide the 21st century luxury guest service experience that blends high tech with high service levels to provide guests with the ultimate in convenience and control before, during, and after their stay.
Hotel Hotel Canberra’s General Manager Tracy Atherton said McLaren was part of a small group of likeminded designers and consultants brought on board to deliver the design and service vision for the boutique NewActon hotel.
“No two rooms, which are built around the Nishi Building’s central atrium and have views across Lake Burley Griffin, are alike,” said Ms Atherton. “Similarly we want our guest experience to be that special. Tailored, bespoke yet natural. The idea is to deliver comfort and style in an organic and engaging way, with minimum fuss, and we want that to extend to service and technology too.”
“The HotSOS and ICE technology we’ve implemented with McLaren will certainly help our guests achieve that sense of autonomy, and literally place the power of service and experience in their hands via iPad.”
Hotel Hotel Canberra’s iPads go far beyond just letting guests browse the web. Thanks to Intelity’s ICE, the hotel has its own iPad apps which allow guests to request and organise their stay in a multitude of ways, from simply calling housekeeping to making a reservation at one of the adjacent restaurants, cafes, bar and the Palace Electric Cinema complex.
The 99 room Hotel Hotel (www.hotel-hotel.com.au) is one of a select group of hotel addresses around the world that have embraced ICE to complement its thought-provoking design, individual aesthetic and passion for service-driven experiences. Created by one of Canberra’s largest private developers, the progressive Molonglo Group, it is part of the Design Hotels™ curated collection of more than 260 independent hotels in over 50 countries across the globe.
Photo: Ross Honeysett