| .October 2007 – With its sparkling
new facilities, skyline views, waterfront locale and direct access to the
recently opened Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, it is no wonder
The Westin Boston Waterfront bills itself as being at the center of this
booming, New England business city. But it takes more than “location,
location, location” to reap the lion’s share of Boston’s 12 million annual
visitors, especially in a market blanketed by more than 15,000 rooms.
For hotels in Boston, the weather at Logan International and other airports
nationwide often plays a role in guest travel plans. General Manager David
Connor was seeking travel-related technology innovations that would help
his guests be better informed so they could plan their airport departure
arrangements with greater confidence. The threat of severe winter
weather, he says, spurred his search for a property-based airline information
service. “It’s very important in winter to know what’s going on outside,”
said Connor. “Our business is mostly convention and business people
who are locked up inside all day and when they get out of their meetings
to head to the airport, the last thing they need is to waste precious time
sitting in a crowded terminal waiting for a flight that is weather delayed.”
That is why Connor chose to install the FlyteBoard airline
information display system in the lobby of The Westin Boston Waterfront.
Providing Vital, Real-Time Flight Information
FlyteBoard, developed by Chicago-based Flyte
Systems, is a wall-mounted high-definition, flat panel screen designed
for use in hotel lobbies, conference centers, restaurants, bars and other
public areas, that displays airline
flight information for one, or more, airports. What sets it apart
from other PC-based systems is its ability to post accurate real-time airline
flight arrival and departure information, not FAA-regulated scheduled departure
times that do not list delays caused by:
-
Air Traffic Control
-
Aircraft maintenance
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Crew availability
-
Weather
According to Connor, the property’s FlyteBoard panel is fully integrated
with real-time information from Logan International Airport and all flight
times are updated minute by minute via high-speed Internet connection.
The Westin Boston Waterfront decided to show only departure times so it
was able to use larger font sizes for easier, faster viewing – a convenience
valued by clock-watching travelers. “Pages renew automatically as
airline departure times change,” Connor noted. “Our bell staff tells us
that many guests look at the Board and thank them for offering a great
service. It is a real convenience for our guests and sets our hotel
apart.” The FlyteBoard display lists flights with airline logos just
like the screens at the terminals, and Flyte Systems also provides boarding
pass printing and other capabilities.
Large Digital Displays Installed Quickly
According to Connor, FlyteBoard’s “glance-and-go” viewing, with revolving
displays is equivalent to ten airport TV monitors. Best of all, he
says, the installation was extremely easy, pairing a hotel electrician
with the Flyte Systems team. “It took less than two weeks to implement
the system after we decided on the size of flat panel equipment we wanted
to use. The real benefit to our guests is that do not have to needlessly
run to the airport; they can choose to stay at the property if they see
their flight is delayed.”
About Flyte Systems
 The
Flyte Systems Division
of Industrial Television Services (ITS), based in Chicago, Illinois, is
the leading provider of airport flight information displays for the hospitality
and convention center industries and related businesses. It delivers
accurate, instant, airport-centric updates of flight information – not
FAA-regulated scheduled departure times that may omit last minute changes.
Properties are able to differentiate their products and boost customer
loyalty and repeat business with ’glance-and-go’ content critical to a
traveler’s day.
Flyte Systems’ product suite builds upon ITS’ 47-year history as the
leading provider of live flight information to airports, airlines, government
agencies, port authorities and other travel based businesses. Flyte
Systems was formed in 2007 to offer new Web-based travel technology and
product lines. Customers include Marriott, Days Inn, Hilton, DoubleTree,
Hotel Sofitel, and Crown Plaza hotels, independent properties and municipal
aiports.
About The Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel
The new AAA Four Diamond Westin Boston Waterfront is less than three
miles from Logan International Airport, and a short cab, water taxi, or
T train ride away from Back Bay and the Financial District. The hotel
is connected to the newly opened Boston Convention & Exhibition Center,
which boasts 516,000 square feet of space. The Westin Boston Waterfront
is an ideal location for any business function. The hotel itself offers
a total of 72,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 15,000-square
foot Grand Ballroom ,4,000-square foot Commonwealth Ballroom, and as of
March 1, 2008 the 8,600 square foot Harbor Ballroom. An additional 14 meeting
breakout rooms can accommodate groups of five to 150. Parking is available
onsite for 400 cars. |