Hotel Staff Stays Connected With Technology Trifecta

At the new Thompson Seattle, interdepartmental communication flows through a custom combination of device, app, and accessory.

Recently Two Roads Hospitality, an independent lifestyle hotel management company, premiered its Thompson Seattle luxury boutique hotel. Opened in the Summer of 2016 in downtown Seattle, WA, the hospitality facility features 158 rooms, 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event venues and meeting spaces, and a rooftop bar and signature restaurant.

According to hotel management, a key to keeping the Thompson Seattle running smoothly is consistent communication between departments and personnel, which is why the hotel’s IT Director, Danny Coker, chose a combination of device, app, and accessory to facilitate communication between hotel staff.

The Seattle Thompson hotel opened in Summer 2016.
The Seattle Thompson hotel opened in Summer 2016.

The Two Roads corporate engineering group designated a software application developed by Zello as its preferred solution. For Coker, using Thompson’s existing Wi-Fi network and Zello to convert iPods into radios with multiple channels delivered the solution he was looking for. But Coker also wanted to include an earpiece that would optimize this system and, after researching various options, he decided to work with Pryme, a Brea, CA manufacturer of products for professional users of mobile communications. This company is a Zello certified hardware accessory partner with a line of wireless products made specifically for this application.

However, Thompson’s needs were distinct in that there was a desire for a hybrid environment, necessitating both wireless and wired accessories in order to support all departments. Housekeeping, Food/Beverage, and Front Desk must be able to depend on an uninterrupted signal throughout the facility, while it’s more important for the facility engineering crew to be hands-free. Pryme’s BTH-300 Bluetooth headset with built-in wireless push-to-talk (PTT) was chosen for Thompson’s engineers. But, a wired version had not yet been developed, so Pryme worked with Coker to create a hard-wired earpiece to fit Thompson’s purposes.

Approximately 100 iPods with Pryme’s wired earpiece have been deployed at the Thompson Seattle, and, thus far, the results have been fully positive. Meanwhile, Thompson’s facility engineering staff are operating smoothly with the very happy with the wireless headsets. The three-part system delivers real-time communications between all departments, while also offering an Emergency All-Call Channel if any facility-wide issues occur.

Coker said, “The system enhances hotel security, safety, productivity and service response time. Plus, Pryme’s earpiece is designed to be so discreet that guests don’t even realize we’re using it.”