1. Video Surveillance in Marriott hotels: The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center has 400 Hawha cameras
   • CCTV systems were lacking in all of the hotels
   • Upgrade stopped someone from attempted false claim
2. Access Control at Hilton hotels: Salto digital keys on smartphone with ‘Hilton Honors’ guest app
   • Business travellers can choose their room and digitally check-in
   • Saving countless staff hours per week
3. Intrusion Detection at The Londoner hotels: Optex Red­scan RLS-2020 laser sensor in the ceiling at each of the seven bars
   • Detect a specific size of object either at distance or close up
   • Laser sensors integrate with wider security operation at the hotel
4. Hotel Fire Detection in Brazil luxury resorts: 900 Zeos AS-S smoke detectors from Global Fire Equipment (GFE) installed
   • Fire protection system supplier, Ekiper Fire, appointed
   • 45 days installation process at Vila Galé Resort Touros in Rio Grande do Norte, a 5-star all-inclusive resort

Hotel security is necessary, because guests and staff should be safe and in control of their situation in case of emergency. The compounds of security and safety reach from surveillance through identification at the door over fire safety and getting alarmed during intrusion.

Video surveillance at Marriott hotels: upgraded cameras and new video management

The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is the largest Marriott property in the world. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Gaylord Opryland offers visitors the chance to experience Music City under a single roof. The Resort has a hotel with over 3000 suites and rooms and a smaller adjacent hotel with more than 300. Now, they have upgraded their video surveillance system with cameras from Hanwha Techwin.

Property specifics of Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center

• Resort with hotel
• 3000 suites and rooms
• Smaller adjacent hotel
• more than 300 rooms

CCTV systems were lacking in all of the hotels

Greg Pezzo, the Director for Safety and Security at the Resort says: “Our older security camera images are grainy or black and white, which means we could not get the level of detail we needed. But, with Hanwha cameras, we are able to capture high-quality images that show us, for example, how a guest fell. Whether there was an obstruction, water on the floor, or an indentation or whether the guest simply tripped.”

Ryman Hospitality, the organization that owns Gaylord Brand Hotels, decided to embark on a risk assessment of their properties in 2017. The third-party assessors discovered that CCTV systems were lacking in all of the hotels, including at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. According to Pezzo, “the system consisted of old operating systems and cameras that didn’t all work. The security team could not get consistent playback from all of their cameras, and they were not able to store data for more than a few weeks at a time.”

Upgrade stopped someone from attempted false claim

Working with integrator Herring Technology, Ryman Hospitality designed a solution that features a new video management system (VMS) from Milestone Systems and 400 state-of-the-art cameras from Hanwha Techwin. The Resort purchased a variety of Hanwha cameras, including 145 full HD cameras with video analytics, 182 Q series indoor and outdoor dome cameras with IR, and more than 20 multi-directional cameras.

Deciding where to place their cameras was a relatively simple process. Pezzo explains, “We added cameras where we had high volume, where we had experienced problems in the past, and where we didn’t previously have cameras at all.” They also looked at their own data relating to theft and other incidents to help determine camera location.

For the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, the upgrade had an immediate impact. According to Pezzo, “On the first day after installing the new cameras, someone attempted a false claim, but we were easily able to prove that it was not our fault.” For 2021, the Resort has planned to invest in more new cameras every few months as the budget becomes available.

Marriott's video security

• 400 state-of-the-art cameras from Hanwha Techwin
• 145 full HD cameras with video analytics
• 182 Q series indoor and outdoor dome cameras with IR
• More than 20 multi-directional cameras
• Video management system (VMS) from Milestone Systems

Access Control at Hilton hotels: In-app purchase rate goes up $140 per room per year

Access control solutions with a Digital Key feature, such as Salto’s Justin Mobile or Salto Keys as a Service, can be implemented as a standalone app. However, national, and international hotel groups choose to embed the functionality into a branded guest mobile app, which is integrated with the hotel’s Property Management System (PMS). Research shows that when guests can find their key within the hotel app, download rates increase, and the in-app purchase rate goes up to an estimated average of $140 per room per year. A Digital Key is stored in the hotel guest app on the guests’ mobile device. When presented to a lock, it uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to open the lock. With Digital Keys the hotel administrator can grant designated access to guests, employees, or even delivery services whenever it’s appropriate for them to enter. The convenience of being able to open doors with Digital Keys is undeniable.

Business travellers can choose their room and digitally check-in

“Many of our loyal ‘Honors’ members are business travellers who are incredibly tech-savvy. We are thrilled our hotel is able to offer them this cutting-edge Digital Key technology and give them an easier, more convenient stay.” said Rupert Hallam, General Manager, Hilton Adelaide. Hilton Adelaide in Australia partnered up with Salto Systems and implemented the solution to their system. This gave the hotel the ability to integrate Digital Keys into their ‘Hilton Honors’ guest app. Within 24 hours of arrival, Hilton Honors members who book direct through Hilton’s channels can digitally check-in, choose their exact room from a digital floor plan and request a Digital Key through the Honors app. Hilton Adelaide will notify guests through the app as soon as their room is ready.

Saving countless staff hours per week

Honors members with previous stay history can then head straight to their room when they arrive, pressing the virtual “unlock” button on the app when they’re within five feet of their door. Improve safety for guests, visitors, staff and property meeting hospitality’s unique security challenges is Salto’s approach. Their solutions combine robust 24/7 security with seamless, convenient, and safe digital access from the guest room to the back-of-house, saving countless staff hours per week. “With the app, Hilton Honors members can take advantage of a seamless and contactless experience. Digital Check-in and Digital Key allow guests to go straight to their selected room, bypassing the reception”, says Hallam.

Hilton’s Access Security

• Digital Keys: Salto’s Justin Mobile
• Digital Check-in and keys

Intrusion Detection at The Londoner hotels: ‘virtual’ wall or plane that cannot be seen by the naked eye

Optex has specified and installed its compact and intelligent Redscan RLS-2020 LiDAR laser sensors at the new luxury five-star Londoner hotel in Leicester Square. Part of the Edwardian Hotels London group, The Londoner, which opened in September 2021, is billed as the world’s first super boutique hotel. It has 350 rooms across 16 storeys including six basement levels, featuring six concept eateries, a private members club, a cinema, a wealth of meeting and event space and an entire floor dedicated to health and wellness equipped with a gym, pool and spa. The hotel has six restaurant and bar areas in total with expensive whiskeys, wines and other drinks on display 24/7 with no shutters or coverings. Given the cumulative value of the drinks behind each bar, the hotel needed to find a security solution to keep its valuable stocks protected. The solution needed to be accurate and reliable, and capable of integrating with the hotel’s existing security system, as well as being aesthetically discrete.

Property specifics of The Londoner

• super boutique hotel
• 350 rooms across 16 storeys
• six basement levels
• six concept eateries

Detect a specific size of object either at distance or close up

Optex specified and installed its Red­scan RLS-2020 laser sensor in the ceiling at each of the seven bars. The RLS-2020 sensors provide a customisable ‘virtual’ wall or plane that cannot be seen by the naked eye with a 95-degree detection area of 20x20m or 30m radius detection range. The laser technology works by analysing the speed, size and distance of the objects detected, meaning they track the objects within the detection area and understand the ratio size/distance of the object. This provides the ability to accurately detect a specific size of object either at distance or close up. In the event of any movement being detected, a security alarm is raised, and alerts are immediately sent to the 24-hour on-site security control room.

Laser sensors integrate with wider security operation at the hotel

Darren Carter, Group Director of Safety, Security and Sustainability at Edwardian Hotels London, says Optex has provided the ideal solution: “We’ve worked with Optex for a number of years, and installed their technologies at a number of our other hotels in the group. For this new and hugely exciting project, there was nothing else on the market that met our brief. The Optex laser sensors are a simple, yet highly effective solution, providing the very highest level of detection that easily integrate with our wider security operation at the hotel.”

Intrusion Detection at The Londoner

• Red­scan RLS-2020 laser sensor in the ceiling at each of the seven bars
• 95-degree detection area of 20x20m or 30m radius detection range

Hotel Fire Detection in Brazil luxury resorts: 1,500 square meters including leisure areas, water sports, spa facilities, three bars and five restaurants

Fire detection solutions from Global Fire Equipment (GFE) have been installed at two luxury holiday resorts in Brazil that are owned and operated by the Vila Galé hotel chain. Portuguese-based Vila Galé is the second largest hotel group in Portugal and ranks among the top hotel groups in the world. GFE equipment has recently been installed as part of an upgrade to the fire detection system at Vila Galé Eco Resort Angra and during the construction of the brand-new Vila Galé Resort Touros. GFE’s distributor for both these projects was JVT Equipamentos who also acted as Vila Galé’s technical advisors on the projects. Vila Galé was already familiar with GFE’s fire detection solutions as prior to these latest installations, JVT Equipamentos had advised Vila Galé on the purchase of GFE equipment for two of its hotels in Brazil. Vila Galé Eco Resort Angra is a 5-star all-inclusive eco resort located in Brazil’s Atlantic forest. The hotel has 319 air-conditioned rooms, all of which have balconies with views of the sea, mountains or the pool. The resort spans 1,500 square meters and includes leisure areas, water sports, spa facilities, three bars and five restaurants.

Property specifics of Vila Galé Eco Resort Angra

• 5-star all-inclusive eco resort
• 319 air-conditioned rooms
• 1,500 square meters

Fire protection system supplier was Ekiper Fire

When Vila Galé was looking to replace the existing E3S fire detection system at Eco Resort Angra, it approached JVT Equipamentos to design and supply a new system, with fire protection system supplier, Ekiper Fire, appointed to install and commission the system. The chosen 20-loop system comprises fire alarm control panels from GFE’s Octo+, Gekko and Node Plus ranges, along with approximately 900 Zeos AS-S smoke detectors and six Zeos AS-H heat detectors. As part of the contract, Ekiper Fire will provide ongoing maintenance support for the hotel’s fire detection system.

Marco Vieira, Commercial Director at JVT Equipamentos, comments: “The installation process at Eco Resort Angra ran smoothly and the hotel was able to remain open to guests throughout the installation works. One of the challenges Ekiper Fire’s installation engineers faced was with the length of the existing cables used throughout the hotel. To avoid having to change the existing infrastructure, we advised the project engineers to cut the cable loops in half, reducing their individual length and to create a data network for use with GFE’s Chameleon Networking System (the first in Brazil), in order to meet Vila Galé’s requirements.”

Fire Safety System at Vila Galé Eco Resort Angra

•  20-loop system with fire alarm control panels from GFE’s Octo+, Gekko and Node Plus ranges
• Ca. 900 Zeos AS-S smoke detectors
• Six Zeos AS-H heat detectors

Installation in 45 days at Vila Galé Resort Touros in Rio Grande do Norte

Fire detection equipment from GFE has also been installed at the hotel chain’s brand-new 514-room Vila Galé Resort Touros in Rio Grande do Norte, a 5-star all-inclusive resort which incorporates accommodation with a restaurant, water park, kids’ club, outdoor swimming pool and bar. JVT Equipamentos was appointed to design and supply the fire detection system, with specialist fire systems installer, TecneTecnologia, undertaking the installation. The installation process went smoothly and took 45 days in total, with all work completed prior to the hotel opening to guests. The 18-loop GFE system supplied by JVT Equipamentos comprises Node Sub Panels, Juno Net and Junior Mini-Rep panels, along with more than 1,000 Zeos AS-S smoke detectors and 43 AS-H heat detectors. Jose Antonio Bastos, Vila Galé’s Operational Director for Brazil, comments: “Our Eco Resort Angra and Resort Touros are the third and fourth of our Brazilbased hotels to benefit from GFE’s fire detection systems, and construction work is already underway on two more hotels in Brazil where we have also chosen to install GFE equipment. The systems are both highly reliable and very competitively priced.”

Property specifics of Vila Galé Resort Touros

• 5-star all-inclusive resort
• 514 rooms
• accommodation with a restaurant
• water park
• kids’ club
• outdoor swimming pool and bar

Fire Safety System at Vila Galé Resort Touros

• 18-loop GFE system supplied by JVT Equipamentos
• Node Sub Panels, Juno Net and Junior Mini-Rep panels
• Ca. 1,000 Zeos AS-S smoke detectors
• 43 AS-H heat detectors