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Multi-Company Effort Creates New Solution to Guest Room Remote Control Challenges

Group of Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) Members Publish
New Standard for a Single Remote Supporting Multiple Devices


CHICAGO (July 26, 2012) – Entertainment system products used in hotel rooms are now easier to integrate, thanks to a recently completed effort by members of the trade association Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG).  The group has published a new standard to enable a single remote control to support multiple devices, without expensive custom integration.  HTNG members recently held a live demonstration with equipment using the specification with a television from Samsung, an entertainment system from Swisscom, and connectivity panels from C2G, guestLINK and TeleAdapt.  Several global hotel companies have started requesting implementation of this standard from their suppliers.

Unlike home users, hotels must often choose entertainment system components from different suppliers for televisions, set-top boxes, connectivity panels and other components.  Differences among vendors in implementation of certain HDMI remote control commands, however, have often led to the need for custom integration and extra cabling in order to control all devices from a single remote control.  The new HTNG specification addresses this issue by requiring consistent implementation of the HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) commands that are needed in a hotel environment.

The live demonstration at the trade association’s North American Conference in Chicago showed the commitment of several leading vendors to implement the new standard.  “This effort creates a better guest experience while reducing costs for hoteliers and technology vendors alike, and will have a great impact on guest room entertainment systems,” said HTNG CEO Douglas Rice, “We are seeing strong interest and deployment plans from a large number of manufacturers of televisions, DVD and Blu-ray players, set top boxes, auxiliary panels and many more.  Hotels are particularly excited that devices using this functionality are simple to connect and completely transparent to the guest – the remote control just works.”

Samsung has committed to implement the specification across their entire new hospitality television line.  “We have embedded this profile in our 2012 hospitality TV line and are committed to maintaining this multi-device interoperability going forward” said Fred Crespo, Director of Technology & Business Development-Hospitality for Samsung Electronics America, Inc.  Swisscom has also reiterated its commitment to the HTNG profile.  “Our experience as a hotel system integrator allows us to merge the equipment from qualified third parties into one unified set-up.  We strongly supported this effort and have deployed this functionality in our set-top boxes,” stated Thomas Di Giacomo, Vice President of Global Service Development for Swisscom Hospitality.

The specification is the result of a global HTNG working group effort of hotel companies, consultants and technology suppliers.  Requirements were identified by hotel companies and consultants, including Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, JHM Hotels, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Sunstone Hotels and The Conceptual Group.  Technology companies who were involved in the profile development were C2G, Deuromedia Technologies Ltd., Enseo, guestLINK, iBAHN, LodgeNet Interactive Corporation, Media Communications S.A., Philips, Saflok, Samsung Electronics Co., Schneider Electric, Swisscom and TeleAdapt.

For more information, including links to the publicly available specification, visit this page: http://bit.ly/htng-edc

About Hotel Technology Next Generation

The premier technology solutions association in the hospitality industry, HTNG is a self-funded, non-profit organization with members from hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, and other industry members including consultants, media and academic experts.  HTNG’s members participate in focused workgroups to bring to market open solution sets addressing specific business problems.  HTNG fosters the selection and adoption of existing open standards.  Where necessary, it also develops new open standards to meet the needs of the global hospitality industry.

Membership in HTNG is open to hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, consultants, academics, press and others.  Currently more than 400 corporate and individual members from across this spectrum, including most of the world’s leading hotel companies and technology vendors, are active HTNG participants.  HTNG’s Board of Governors, consisting of 17 top IT leaders from hotel companies around the world, itself has responsibility for about 2.8 million guest rooms.  Workgroup proceedings, drafts, and specifications are published for all HTNG members as soon as they are created, encouraging rapid and broad adoption.  Specifications are released to the public domain as they are ratified by the workgroups.  For more information, visit www.htng.org.


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Contact:

Hotel Technology Next Generation
Brian Larson
Director of Marketing
+1 847 303 5560
[email protected]

www.htng.org


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