August 29, 2001 - Since we�ve heard so often
that Internet access is a basic amenity in hotels, it�s bewildering that
the average take rate is only just creeping along at 1-3%. These
disappointing statistics are usually reasoned away by �poor promotion�
or �laptop incapability� or even that the guest is not savvy enough. And
yet the Dan Hotel chain of Israel is the refreshing exception to the rule,
with Internet take-rates regularly hitting double-digits. The secret to
their success: a true plug and play, laptop compatible, affordable solution
in every room.
| Dan Hotels is Israel�s premier luxury
hotel chain, and includes the famous King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
About two years ago the chain recognized that Internet access was a necessary
amenity for their business clientele, and chose GlobaLoop�s patented on-site
Internet access solution to meet the demand. GlobaLoop�s G.Hotel
was installed in the hotel�s basement next to, but independent of, the
PBX. There was no new wiring, nor in-room equipment installed.
A standard copper wire pair, terminating with an RJ11 jack in the guest
room, is directed into the G.Hotel unit in the basement, entirely bypassing
the PBX system. The guest plugs the laptop into the �Internet jack�
and invokes their dialer just as |
|
The Dan Hotel Chain
 The
Dan Hotel Chain is the largest and oldest Israeli luxury hotel chain in
the country. The history of the chain dates back to June 1947, when two
brothers, Yekutiel and Shmuel Federmann, purchased a 21-room guest house
called the Kaete Dan on the Tel- Aviv sea shore. Today the chain owns and
manages 12 deluxe hotels, a luxury apartment hotel, a shopping mall, an
international convention center, a hotel training school and more.
The Dan Hotels Corporation Ltd. is registered on the stock
exchange (since 1982), with %88 of its shares controlled by the Federmann
family. Founders of the company - The brothers Yekutiel and Shmuel Federmann.
Chairman of the Board of Directors - Michael (Mickey) Federmann. Deputy
chairman of the company - Ami Federmann. President of the Company
- Ami Hirschstein. |
|
they do back home or in the office. G.Hotel initiates the modem �hand-shake�,
regardless of the phone number that appears in the laptop�s dialer, and
logs on to the Internet with complete e-mail service and surfing abilities.
There are no new numbers to type into the dialer, and no roaming charges.
The guest enjoys a true plug and play experience. As one grateful
guest testifies:
| �Visiting Haifa (from Scotland) and staying at the Dan Carmel Hotel,
I had the chance to experience the GlobaLoop Internet connection system
yesterday, for the first time.
What a fabulous system, quite fantastic, it was simplicity itself
and above all cheap. I cannot tell you the number of hotels where I have
spent mega bucks, just going online for a few minutes to check/send my
email.�
Graham Sanderson
Senior Regional Director
The Drambuie Liqueur Co. Ltd.
Edinburgh, Scotland
|
The Dan Hotels enjoys consistent success with G.Hotel. The fact
is that 100% of laptops are equipped with a dial-up modem, so 100% of laptop-carrying
business guests can access the Internet with no reconfiguration or roaming
hassles. Since the PBX is bypassed, the guest benefits from
a flat 56kb accelerated access speed that is often superior to what they
experience at home.
That doesn�t mean that the Dan Hotels is oblivious to broadband demands.
The same physical unit can be expanded to support high-speed ADSL, in addition
to accelerated 56kb access, for smooth migration to ADSL broadband.
In high-speed rooms, a standard ADSL modem is installed, and the guest
plugs in with an RJ45 network cable. As before, no laptop reconfiguration
is necessary. The Hotel has complete control over the billing model,
and can charge according to the access speed delivered, or the room profile.
In this way, conference rooms and private rooms can be charged independently. |
