Recognising that each project is unique, Airwave will recommend a series of options based on the individual project. Whether it be a small installation of digital TVs or an industry-leading network of IPTVs, Airwave will help deliver your vision.

For smaller, budget conscious establishments, Airwave have partnered with UK based Cello Electronics to manufacture a range of hospitality certified TVs at a hard-to-beat price.  These Airwave exclusive displays are fully HD and feature built-in Chromecast, enabling guests to cast their own content. Click here to find out more.

Interactive TV systems turn a hospitality TV into a powerful information and marketing tool.  Fully customisable and remotely managed, well-designed systems elevate the guest experience and enhance a hotel’s operational efficiency.  

As technology advances, so does the list of embedded functionalities.  IP based solutions offer extra features such as catch-up TV services and smart apps, and PMS software automates hotel operations, integrates IT systems and enables two-way communication between the guest and hotel.

Systems come in all shapes and sizes and cater just as well for a small boutique property as a global chain of hotels.

To find out more about the full potential of a guest interface system, click here.

To see a full feature checklist, click here.

What makes a good interface?

Each individual system will depend on the user’s requirements – and can be very basic (featuring one branded welcome screen) or powerful. However, each system must share the same common characteristics and be intuitive and quick to operate.

It may seem obvious, but a user should be able to turn a television on and watch TV with a simple button click – avoiding unnecessary navigation, menus and ‘hanging.’ All other features should be easily accessible and again, able to navigate back to the channel with a click of a button.

Live interface examples

 Click the links to have a quick flick through some currently operational user interface designs, but please note - these are not fully operational examples.

Cuillins Hill Hotel - A conventional design, featuring a row of icons, positioned at the bottom of the display, and a dynamic date and weather feed (able to display centigrade do a tenth of a degree).

Malmaison York - A simple, but commonly requested GUI, featuring two options: terrestrial TV channels, VOD movies, and Chromecast.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge - Installed in 1,650 rooms, this Otrum Enterprise system is one of the largest in the UK. It includes  hotel information pages, a welcome video, Airtime (the hotel movie streaming service), room service functionality, smart apps, Chromecast and catch-up TV & radio services.

Pan Pacific, London - Features an image slideshow and a large number of user options, reflecting the size and scope of the hotel.

Radisson Red, Gatwick Airport - Designed for maximum visual impact, incorporating a two image scrolling splash page, and user options requiring a click into the system.

Leven Manchester - A simple, but carefully designed GUI, in accordance with the Leven's design-led aesthetic. User options are heavily content focussed, to reflect the hotel's younger, more technically savvy guest demographic.

Whittington Lodge Farm - A simple, but striking design featuring a slideshow of local area imagery. Set-up for guests who wish to cast their own content, featuring a "connect your device" option and a direct pathway to Netflix.

How can Airwave help?

Airwave’s team of content engineers are experts in the design and deployment of all leading guest entertainment systems including: Otrum Enterprise, Otrum CTRL, AirMedia, Samsung REACH, Philips CMND and LG Pro:Centric. Equally proficient in RF, IP and DOCSIS systems, all the bases are covered!

For demonstrations of Samsung REACH, Philips CMND or LG Pro:Centric interfaces, get in touch: info@airwave.tv or 01403 783 483

A service level agreement (SLA) is a written contract between a service provider and its customer; it should clearly define agreed levels of service and the consequences of non-compliance (from both a customer and vendor's perspective).

The growth of IOT and system interoperability has significantly increased the complexity of hotel TV systems and as a result, the SLA has become a critical component in the customer-vendor relationship.

With this in mind, Airwave offer eight tiers of SLA, ranging from telephone support to a nationwide rapid response service. Each tier operates specific service objectives but can be bespoked to cater for for individual requirements.

What's in an SLA?

 Each SLA will clearly define the following:

• The scope of services covered.
• The service provider's responsibilities.
• The customer's responsibilities.
• Agreed performance metrics.
• Penalties for breach of contract or failure to adhere to metrics.
• Metric monitoring and communication process.

In the hotel TV industry, an SLA must minimise a hotel room's downtime and is often underpinned by fault response time metrics - how quickly must an Airwave technician remedy a fault from time of reporting to a fix?

Why do I need an SLA?

An SLA sets clear and measurable guidelines that form the basis of a customer-vendor relationship, protecting both parties and providing recourse for unfulfilled obligations. As mentioned above, this is especially important in today's technological environment of system interoperability and the IOT - (as is the nature with all technology) the complexity of today's systems can cause occasional issues.

Other noteworthy points:

• Prevents conflict that can arise from ambiguous or verbally agreed service obligations
• Ensures the maximum efficiency of (typically) expensive AV equipment
• Extends a product/system's life via the timely upgrading of software and firmware - this can typically be implemented remotely, with little to no disruption to the guest-room..
• Protects against potential infrastructure conflicts caused buy third party technologies.
• Minimises/prevents system errors that might lead to a hotel room being unrentable.
• Gives a hotel's management team peace of mind.

What can go wrong?

Issues tend to fall into four main categories:

• Manufacturer updates - manufacturers will often release patches, software and firmware updates that add functionalities to and/or improve their products but may compromise the efficient workings of a third party system or a network infrastructure.
• External provider issues (especially ethernet/wifi) - similarly, the integrity of a system often relies on a stable internet or wifi connection. The absence of this can cause a multitude of issues.
• Guest misuse - although steps are taken to lock down guest-room hardware, no technology is completely "guest-proof"  (or even "staff-proof") and problems can arise from guest interference (pulling wires out, changing HDMI sources etc).
• Channel frequency changes - Freeview TV channels can periodically change frequencies (the most obvious example being the 700 MHZ clearance project) . At the simplest level, this requires the re-tuning of a portfolio of TVs but more onerous, the repositioning of a bespoke channel line up or channel "categories."

To discuss in more detail, get in touch for friendly, professional advice: info@airwave.tv or 0845 555 1212