Robert Treat Hotel Eases Travelers' Flight Woes
The Robert Treat Hotel in Newark is like most major business hotels. The majority of the guests at this downtown, three-star property are corporate travelers on the move to and from three of the country's busiest airports. With so many guests focused on catching flights, and especially due to the influx of airport delays and cancellations as of late, the property's front desk staff and concierges were continuously asked to call airlines to confirm flight times. Property management recognized that providing guests with real-time flight information would not only be a valuable service, but would also differentiate our property by providing guests with a comfortable alternative to long waits in airport terminals. We hoped to also open new revenue streams based on increased F&B and room sales for distressed travelers waiting out cancellations/delays at our hotel.
The solution takes off
To accomplish this, the Robert Treat Hotel contacted Flyte Systems, which provides flight information
displays to hotels, conference centers and digital signage companies. Flyte Systems uses the same type of display systems used by airports so guests are familiar with it. The information is up-to-the-minute and accurate, setting itself apart from other services that use only FAA-regulated flight information which can omit delays caused by mechanical problems, late airline crews and even weather.
We installed FlyteTouch, a kiosk with touch-screen flight information, in the lobby for our guests to use. We also had the company install FlyteChannel, a system that pipes live flight information onto our guestroom televisions over the property's cable system. The response from our guests was so positive, we had the same systems installed at our sister property, the Ramada Inn Jersey City.
The FlyteBoard and FlyteChannel systems provide automatic updates of Newark Airport, and guests not departing from Newark can easily use FlyteTouch to see arrival and departure times for JFK and LaGuardia as well. The three systems use a single high-speed Internet connection to retrieve the flight data, and this also enables FlyteSystems to remotely monitor and support the system. The property pays only a monthly service fee because we provided our own display panels.
Increased revenue
Because guest response to the new airline information service was so positive we asked Flyte Systems to install their FlyteBoard high-resolution flat panel LCD displays in our lobby and lounge. FlyteBoard screens look exactly like the familiar flight information displays at the airport, so guests can quickly verify their flight times at a glance while they are still on property.
Nearly all our guests rely on Flyte Systems information to verify flight times before they leave for the airport and are quick to tell us how valuable the service is. There is also a bottomline benefit to the hotel, because when guests learn their flight is delayed, they usually choose to stay on property in our outlets until their plane is ready. If they learn their flight is cancelled, they will frequently extend their stay at the hotel.
The solution takes off
To accomplish this, the Robert Treat Hotel contacted Flyte Systems, which provides flight information
displays to hotels, conference centers and digital signage companies. Flyte Systems uses the same type of display systems used by airports so guests are familiar with it. The information is up-to-the-minute and accurate, setting itself apart from other services that use only FAA-regulated flight information which can omit delays caused by mechanical problems, late airline crews and even weather.We installed FlyteTouch, a kiosk with touch-screen flight information, in the lobby for our guests to use. We also had the company install FlyteChannel, a system that pipes live flight information onto our guestroom televisions over the property's cable system. The response from our guests was so positive, we had the same systems installed at our sister property, the Ramada Inn Jersey City.
The FlyteBoard and FlyteChannel systems provide automatic updates of Newark Airport, and guests not departing from Newark can easily use FlyteTouch to see arrival and departure times for JFK and LaGuardia as well. The three systems use a single high-speed Internet connection to retrieve the flight data, and this also enables FlyteSystems to remotely monitor and support the system. The property pays only a monthly service fee because we provided our own display panels.
Increased revenue
Because guest response to the new airline information service was so positive we asked Flyte Systems to install their FlyteBoard high-resolution flat panel LCD displays in our lobby and lounge. FlyteBoard screens look exactly like the familiar flight information displays at the airport, so guests can quickly verify their flight times at a glance while they are still on property.
Nearly all our guests rely on Flyte Systems information to verify flight times before they leave for the airport and are quick to tell us how valuable the service is. There is also a bottomline benefit to the hotel, because when guests learn their flight is delayed, they usually choose to stay on property in our outlets until their plane is ready. If they learn their flight is cancelled, they will frequently extend their stay at the hotel.