TECHNOLOGY
SMART TECHNOLOGY
IN-ROOM AUTOMATION ISN ’ T JUST A MONEY-SAVER FOR HOTELS — GUESTS LIKE THE EXPERIENCE , TOO .
By DAVID EISEN
A
guest walks into a hotel room ... it sounds like what could be the start of a corny joke , but it ’ s no tease for hotel owners .
Smart technology , which allows for things like energy automation , not only improves the guest experience , but can save hotels thousands of dollars a year . Energy is the second-highest operating expense for a hotel outside labor . And that ’ s the bottom line .
By integrating smart technology into hotel rooms , properties can streamline operations , enhance guest satisfaction and reduce costs — all while creating a modern , convenient environment .
There are a handful of companies that provide the technology needed to turn a hotel room from a money pit into a taut cost-saving space that leaves a hotel owner with more money in their pocket at the end of the month .
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➊ Honeywell
Headquarters : Charlotte , N . C .
By the 1900s , Honeywell was manufacturing thermostats and automatic controls for heating systems . The Honeywell brand is synonymous with indoor comfort . In 2012 , it acquired INNCOM , a manufacturer of software-based energy management solutions and in-room controls for multiple industries , including hospitality . Today , its INNCOM Energy
Neha Jaitpal , global GM , Honeywell Hospitality
Management System is designed to manage , control and deliver data tied to HVAC energy use . And with many hotel rooms going empty at any given time , the technology is designed to control and automate smarter guestroom HVAC energy use . In fact , while a traditional thermostat delivers 0 % energy savings , a networked EMS , Honeywell notes , can produce savings
Website : honeywell . com
as high as 40 %. Neha Jaitpal , global GM of Honeywell Hospitality , calls it the boiler room to the guestroom vision , which begins with guests and extends to owners and operators — its value proposition inclusive of all cohorts . “ We understand the basics that are required to automate a building and that has become even more critical post-pandemic ,” she said .
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68 hotelsmag . com Jan / Feb 2025