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What do I need when buying a Motel Phone System?

In today’s competitive business environment, your success depends on first class service. You need an effective communication solution that enhances the efficiency of your operations and improves the level of customer service you provide your guests.

Of all the equipment that you operate at your Motel, nothing is more important than your phone system & service. It is therefore very important that you choose your Hospitality PABX Phone System carefully. Both Alcatel and Samsung offer a range of advanced hospitality solution PABX Telephone Systems suitable for Hotels, Hospitals, Nursing Homes or Halls of Residence. Review these systems and download product brochures at http://www.telaustralia.com.au

PABX stands for Private Automated Branch Exchange. The older PBX Phone System models were manually operated and usually required an operator. Modern PABX systems now use software to do the work of the operator.

Getting a price for a Phone Systems is easy. But will it really have the functions and features you require. To get an accurate price estimate you need to carefully plan your current & future network and determine the required PABX functions and features you need. Review systems functions and request a quotation at http://www.telaustralia.com.au/phone_systems/hotel_and_motel_phone_systems

The first thing you need to plan out is how many lines you have in, are the lines PSTN (standard analogue or POTS Plain Old telephone Service) or ISDN & how many handsets do you need. If your lines are ISDN lines do you have ISDN 2 or ISDN 102030 On Ramp? Do you have an Indial Number range? This is all important when requesting a quotation for a PABX Telephone System. If Starting afresh we recommend you have ISDN 2 or ISDN 10/20/30 Installed. Review your options at http://www.telaustralia.com.au/fixed_line/new_business_phones

 Then think about growth. Will you need more lines coming in and are you likely to require additional handsets? Providing this information when getting a quotation will allow your supplier to provide an appropriate sized PABX System that will have adequate Space and cards for your future needs.

Will you require any of the following Voice Features:-



Voice Mail

Auto Attendant – press 1 for front desk, 2 for restaurant, 3 for housekeeping etc.

Music or message on hold?

What level of Handset do you require? Most Hotels have 1- 4 higher end digital handsets at the front desk.



Will you require Digital Display handsets for the rooms or will non-display models suffice. Most hotels don’t have display handsets in the rooms.

Then you need to think about the functions and features you will need from your PABX.  Current models from Alcatel and Samsung allow the operator to simply & quickly perform many of the following features :



Book & Check In Rooms & Determine Room Status

Fax & Email Confirmation letters

Automatic Invoicing eliminating manual accounting

Take & Store Guest details & preferences for frequent visitors

Guest Database/Contact Management

Distribute Calls to Housekeeping, Room Service & Front Desk

Guest Messaging Services

Direct In Dial Calls to rooms

Room Call Accounting with customisable call tariffs

Phone Restrictions while guest is out of room

Security features



Many of the larger PABX Manufacturers have models that have a wide range of integrated functions that can assist in the day to day running of a motel without the need for a PC. These functions are operated directly from the front desk phone handset. This system will usually suffice for a motel/hotel up to around 20 rooms.

Of course if you are running a larger Motel/Hotel with 20 plus rooms and you require the full range of Management & Guest Functions then the PABX Phone System Software provided can be integrated with your PC network.

If you are starting out from scratch you will need to arrange your phones lines. We suggest mid size hotels go with an ISDN Phone services. ISDN lines provide for crisper voice quality and allow for Indial Number Ranges.  Commonly accepted line ratios for a Motel/Hotel are 1:5 not including front desk and management requirements.

This means with 1 X ISDN 2 for every 10 Rooms and a multiple of an ISDN 10/20/30 once you go over 50 rooms. Of course if you think your usage will be low it can be cheaper to go with a higher ratio and then add lines in later if usage patterns & line availability dictate more lines.

Another line option to consider is an In Dial Number range or Direct In dial Range. Direct In dial provides more numbers than lines and means that a caller can call directly to the room with out the intervention of a Receptionist or Operator.

 If you need advice there are a number of Phone companies in Australia that specialise in providing advice on Hospitality Phone Lines & Hotel PABX Phone Systems. Telaustralias contact number is 1300 783 528.

 

 

Today, being online ‘having a website’ is vital for every hotel as most people planning a trip use the internet to research their trip and so all bookings from air and bus ticket to hotel rooms. Given the importance of the online medium, most hoteliers already have launched or are in the process of launching their hotel inventory online. If you are new to the online travel market, you may not be aware of the many dangers and pitfalls that await you. This lack of awareness may cause you to unknowingly make mistakes that puts off rather than attracts guests. To prevent such a situation, here are some mistakes you should to avoid making as they can result in lower room occupancy rates and lower profit margins.

1. Don’t start promoting before everything in place. Before you begin marketing and promoting your hotel website, you need to make sure that everything is in place. You do not want visitors to arrive on your hotel website and find under construction signs or dead links as it will put them off. This can be disastrous, as people almost never return to such a website. So, make sure that all critical work on your website is completed and inventory is uploaded before you begin marketing it.

2. Don’t forget to popularize your hotel’s URL in traditional media. In midst of setting up and/or running your hotel, many hoteliers forget to include their hotel website URL to all their advertising and marketing communication. Popularizing your hotel’s URL in traditional media is an extremely important business opportunity as it creates awareness amongst potential guests that you have a convenient online reservation option. Remember, if your potential guests don’t know that you have an online registration facility then they will not visit and they will not book. This could mean that you receive a far lower number of reservations than estimated as most people expect the convenience of online hotel reservations. So, make sure that all communication – brochures, ads, business cards etc. prominently displays your hotel’s URL.

3. Don’t forget about using search engines to build awareness. Search engines are an important part of your online marketing strategy. Every person uses search engines to locate information. To ensure quality results, submit your hotel website to few popular search engines and post your banners on websites potential guests are known to visit rather than indiscriminately submitting your website to every search engine and posting banners on all possible websites. This will ensure you receive quality traffic, which is better than quantity.

4. Don’t fall for tricksters. No. 1 ranking on search engines ensures that your hotel gets maximum views from interested parties. However, do not fall for tricksters touting ‘instant number 1 ranking on search engines’ propaganda. Search Engines are aware of the existence of such individuals and work hard to block them. If they suspect foul play, you will find your website blocked. Do it the right way even if it is a longer process.

5. Do not forget to ‘Analyze and Measure’. Knowing where majority of your hotel website’s traffic arrives from, which banner lead to the highest conversion rate and more, will give you insights about your guests and will help you to fine tune your online marketing campaigns to achieve better results. So, always track, analyze and measure traffic on your website.

These ‘don’t’ are just some of the more commonly ones made by hoteliers new to the online market. We hope by making you aware of these mistakes, your transition from offline to online is smoother.

Roscoe is a 130 lb Rottie/hound mix and Ziggy is an 80 lb purebred Tibetan Chow Chow (larger than the Chinese Chow). Hotel For Dogs Games On Nick Both of my babies give the Holiday Inn chain a four-paw rating.

Intercontinental Hotels offers a “trip advisor” feature on the individual web sites of their various properties where you can find which hotels welcome pets. Type in the city and state where you will be staying and give the dates of your trip. Another screen will pop up where you can “refine search results.” I always check indoor pool and pets allowed and then see what I get. The chain includes the Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn and Suites, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites.

We four humans along with our canine babies have escaped sweat and grit of Gotham, spending several long weekends at the Staybridge Inn in Mt. Laurel, NJ. It’s a great place to unwind, while still being plugged in if you wish. The property is a short drive from Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, and Six Flags Great Adventure. There is a $75 pet fee for stays of one to six days and a $150 fee for stays with pets for over seven days. There is also a refundable $150 pet deposit, provided your animal doesn’t damage. The suites are in excellent condition. The pool, enclosed in a garden area, is heated, and is beautiful. There is a computer center, a gym room, a basketball court, a small reading room, and a laundry room. A full complementary buffet breakfast is served daily, as well as an afternoon snack. There are numerous restaurants in the area, a bowling alley, and a mall complex with a cinema. Across the street is a Barnes & Noble in a smaller mall. This is important to me, since I can’t go too long without a good murder mystery.

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Not long ago, we spent a little over a week in Alexandria, VA with both dogs. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites-Historic District. There is a $50 pet fee per animal. We left our dogs in our room without incident. I notice the policy has changed. Now dogs left in rooms must be caged. Despite that, I highly recommend this hotel. Every morning we walked our dogs in Old Town, and then returned to the spacious lobby where we sat in push-upholstered chairs and drank a cup of complementary coffee with our dogs at our feet. After coffee, we brought the dogs up to our room and came down for breakfast. When we swam in their very nice indoor/outdoor pool, we were allowed to tie our dogs nearby on the patio adjacent to the pool where we could see them and they could see us. I have no idea if this is standard policy. We’re blessed with extremely well mannered animals, so we often have no problem with them in various situations, in spite of their great size. The hotel has a restaurant, fitness room, an unstaffed business center, and a laundry room. A full buffet breakfast in included in the room rate. Alexandria is charming. We took our dogs for a long walk down historic streets to the Potomac River. Along with our furry friends, we window shopped on the streets surrounding the grounds of the Torpedo Factory Art Center on Union Street. Our preteen daughters sat with our dogs at tables in the Torpedo Factory Outdoor Pavilion. My husband and I went in and ordered lunch from a variety of ethnic food vendors and brought it back out. Of course, we got delish tidbits for Ziggy and Roscoe. On another evening, we returned sans the dogs and had a fabulous seafood dinner in the Union Street Public House.

If you are driving from the northeast to Florida with your canine buddies, I recommend a mid-point overnight at the Holiday Inn I-95 South, in Fayetteville, NC. We were a late arrival — like the wee hours of the morning. We marched into their lovely lobby with our 130 lb brute on a leash, followed by our 80 lb scoundrel only to learn dogs are not allowed in the lobby. They were sweet as apple pie about it. Southern hospitality at its best, they showed us to our room which was in on the ground floor in a wing reserved as “pet rooms.” Next to us was an elderly couple with two cats. The hotel has an indoor heated pool and a family style restaurant with a bar area. On Sundays, their chef makes omelets to order. We stayed a few days in Fayetteville and discovered several out-of-this-world family owned BBQ places. The official convention and visitors bureau website will tell you about eleven themed driving trails in and around the city. Put Fido in the car and take off with your camera. There are also numerous trails for hiking. During the summer months, be sure to take water with you and do NOT take your dog or you may have to carry your pooch back downed with heat stroke. Do take your dogs to any of the public parks along the Cape Fear River. Most of them have picnic areas and play grounds with pavilions and grills. Go to the Ft. Bragg website to find out about the various military museums and events at the post.

The key to successful travel with dogs, is to have polite animals. Although it’s difficult to pack cages, put yourself in the position of the hotel maid who has to enter your room to clean it. We always leave a “do not disturb” sign on the room when our animals are inside. But in one Holiday Inn one time, our younger daughter Delayne removed the sign by accident. The maid opened the door and was faced with two monster sized dogs looking up at her. She told us the next day how surprised she was neither dog got up to approach her. Still, she quickly closed the door. We apologized profusely. Needless to say, we added to our tip to, putting some credence into our apology. That brings me to another point — tipping. Travelers who bring along their pets should be prepared to tip hotel staff for all privleges and courtesies extended them.

We have also stayed at Holiday Inns without our dogs and although the amenities are fine, we find we missed our furry babies.

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