If you’re of a certain age, you may remember that hotels had a landline in every room. (Some still do.) Hotels were unique in their telephony needs: a large hotel could have a thousand or more landline phones, most of which are supported by technology that hasn’t changed very much since the early twentieth century. Landlines require an extensive infrastructure of wiring and exchange hardware that is expensive to purchase and install. (Ever wonder why hotels used to charge so much so much for telephone calls?)
While most hotel guests rely on their mobile devices to make and take phone calls, hotels still have unique needs when it comes to telephony. Increasingly, hotels are turning to voice over IP (VoIP) for these needs, according to a recent article in Hotel Management.
“Many hotels have recently decided to switch phone systems—from traditional landline phones to Voice over Internet Protocol phone systems—for myriad reasons: significant cost savings, ability to work from anywhere while still using your office phone number, [and] the numerous features VoIP offers.”
Hotels choose VoIP systems because they allow the phone system to grow as needed without the addition of expensive infrastructure. In the past, land line technology meant that if a hotel expanded, more wiring and additional lines needed to be installed. Additionally, VoIP allows hotels to easily add the kind of features that guests expect, such as conferencing, multi-line calls and messaging: services the hotel can charge for. Finally, a unified phone system can help properties and employees remain connected for better business continuity.
Experts recommend that hotels looking for a voice over IP system choose a vendor with hospitality experience. Systems that aren’t optimized for hospitality can create problems, slow-downs and a poor user experience for guests and workers. Additionally, it’s important to choose a provider that can handle sudden surges in demand, such as when the hotel is full for a conference or other special event. Don’t get sidetracked by features you don’t need (simply because they are cool), and remember that the lowest-cost bidder might not be a great choice: consider your hotel phone system an investment that will pay dividends in a guest experience.