The Hobbs Parker Blogs

It has to be a sure bet. Arena Leisure, owners of seven racecourses nationwide, have undertaken a unique partnership with Marriott Hotels at Lingfield Park Racecourse to open the country’s first-ever hotel, conference centre, golf, spa, leisure and racecourse venue. Doors open for business in May 2010.

As you can imagine from such a high-end partnership, the Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club looks set to be a glittering and highly successful enterprise. The mission statement for their guests is ‘At Your Service’ and in order to fulfil this ambition, Arena Leisure and Marriott have contracted a Kent based company, Hobbs Parker Telecom, to fit the resort with the ultimate telecommunications package.

These days you expect WiFi connection as standard in top hotels, but Hobbs Parker Telecom are due to install a super-system allowing connectivity in all key public areas as well as both wireless and cabled access in every one of the luxurious 116 bedrooms.

But meeting the benchmark standards of Marriott’s ‘At Your Service’ promise presented an even more exacting challenge.

‘At Your Service’ promises the best possible customer care and attention for each and every hotel guest, meaning you are never more than one button touch away from a member of the team. Delivery on such a promise requires a truly state-of-the-art system and Hobbs Parker Telecom will install an on-site private mobile network (PMN) for the exclusive use of the hotel and its employees – one of only eight such networks in the country.

Key members of the team will each carry a designated mobile phone and the network will be linked to the hotel’s security and alarm system. By having their own private network, hotel communications are secure and will, most importantly, remain operational in case of emergency. A guest with a problem or in difficulty can be assured that an urgent response is guaranteed – no more phones ringing at empty desks (research shows only 30 per cent of workers are based at their desk for the bulk of their working day – 70 per cent are moving around.)*

The country’s first PMN was created for Manchester United Football Club. Now if there is a major incident at a match, the emergency services can guarantee communications will work, instead of jamming every time a goal is scored and tens of thousands of fans immediately phone or text their mates!

Private mobile networks are now leading the way for creating greater on site connectivity. The flexibility of keeping in contact with staff on large-scale sites is infinite, with schools, university campuses, hospitals, manufacturing plants and even prisons all likely to benefit.

As Robert Woods, MD of Hobbs Parker Telecom comments: ‘Private Mobile Networks are a very exciting development with much to offer for private or public enterprise. We’re proud to be at the forefront of this advancement in business communications and to play a part in the launch of Lingfield Park’s Marriott Hotel.’

Posted by Sally Randall