Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC Debuts Integrated In-Room Infotainment and Digital Signage Solution

Exterity, a provider of IP video, digital signage and guest experience technologies, announced that the Crowne Plaza Muscat Oman Exhibition and Convention Hotel, a member of IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has deployed an extensive, integrated in-room entertainment and digital signage solution throughout the hotel and conference facilities, that also includes streaming of TV channels to mobile devices. 

The hotel is managed on behalf of the Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) and as part of its development process, the Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC IT team worked closely with OMRAN to develop an integrated in-room infotainment and digital signage solution to serve guests across the resort. OMRAN previously had positive experiences with an Exterity IPTV system that has been successfully deployed at Muscat International Airport, as well several high-profile hotels in Dubai that have also deployed Exterity technology.

Based on these experiences, OMRAN recommended the Exterity IP video system as its preferred choice for Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC, even though other systems were deployed in the regional IHG chain. Mr. Meslum AlKindi, Area Information Technology Director, IHG Oman, and his team met with Exterity and local integration partner, VIT, to explore its requirements and to test the IPTV solution

“Our previous IPTV system was very old fashioned. What we wanted for the new hotel was a modern interface that would really grab the attention of the guest,” says Mr. Meslum AlKindi. “But with that old system, making changes was very difficult and it did not give us all the features we wanted. With Exterity’s system, we have been able to design a new guest room TV interface from scratch that makes guests feel welcome and special.”

The full deployment covers 295 guest rooms and 7 conference rooms, along with digital signage points across the facility, including full integration with Amadeus Delphi to provide meeting room functionality. The Exterity IPTV system provides 70 satellite TV channels and YouTube channels with full HD capability. With BYOD support a key requirement hotel guests, the solution is also integrated into the resort-wide Wi-Fi network to allow streaming of TV shows onto mobile devices. In total, the hotel deployed over 332 SmartTV screens with a mix of TV and digital signage.

“Regardless of whether they’re travelling for business or leisure, today’s modern travellers are looking for hoteliers to provide a cutting-edge in-room experience that’s equal or superior to what they have at home,”  said Walid Tabet, Regional Director, Middle East at Exterity. “The Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC is a great example of a hotel offering a better-than-home experience by using a fully customisable portal that seamlessly delivers live TV and VoD services. The quality of Exterity’s IPTV system is exemplified by the fact that our technologies are theCrowne Plaza Muscat OCEC’s preferred choice for future projects.”