Source: RoamingAround

Insufficient cell coverage at a hotel isn't just a problem for guests; it can also affect internal communications for management, staff and restaurant/nightclub patrons. Such was the case at the Gale South Beach in Miami, Fla., a Menin Hospitality property. During a $35 million restoration initiative with considerable infrastructure and cosmetic upgrades, hotel management's attention was drawn towards the challenge of poor cellular reception. Cell service was nonexistent on the first floor and basement levels, both of which housed the hotel's administrative offices, the Regent Cocktail Club and Rec Room lounge, lobby, Dolce Italian restaurant and first-floor guestrooms. To address the problem quickly and cost effectively, Menin Hospitality turned to RoamingAround and its RoamBoost cellular signal enhancement solution.

RoamBoost uses an exclusive technology and a network of highly efficient antennas to enhance in-building cellular coverage for all carriers. This solution defeats one of the most complex challenges that hotels face today by enhancing the local geography's coverage inside the building. This ensures that all mobile calls and data communications are conducted successfully.

"Our staff is always moving around the property, making is incredibly difficult to reach them on a landline," said Jared Galbut, Menin Hospitality managing principal. "The best way to connect with team members is on their cell phones. Unfortunately, without cell service, communicating is near impossible. Regent Cocktail Club guests were equally as frustrated, unable to share their pictures and posts with friends on social media. Thankfully, RoamingAround came highly recommended as a mobility expert that could quickly fix our problem.

"RoamingAround installed RoamBoost antennas in the basement and on the first floor, and immediately cellular coverage was spectacular," Galbut said. "We could connect with staff and vice versa, and posts and Tweets from our bar patrons were appearing all over the social networks. Then, sporadic complaints about dropped calls and poor connections were being reported by guests staying on higher floors. We added RoamBoost to our 2014 capital budget, and today, the Gale South Beach is complaint free."

Phased-In Approach

Michael Garvin, RoamingAround president, explained that because RoamBoost is scalable, the Gale South Beach was able to take a phased-in approach and add antennas as needed: Phase I, which was completed mid-August 2013, included eight nodes to cover the back-of-house offices, restaurant, bar, lobby, first-floor guestrooms and back lounge; Phase II was completed this month, and included eight more nodes that were added to cover floors two, three and four.

"RoamBoost is enabling hotels to place the antennas in areas where they are needed most today, and if enhanced coverage is required elsewhere in the future, properties can simply add more nodes," Garvin said. "RoamBoost makes it easy for hotels to achieve guest loyalty and attract new prospects. It also helps to make employees' and managers' jobs easier, as they can now stay connected to each other and to customers via mobile devices, even in remote areas such as a basement."

Today, Menin Hospitality owns and operates six hotels and three more are in development. Just as they addressed poor cellular coverage at the Gale South Beach, Menin Hospitality plans to do the same for all properties in the future, adding RoamBoost as their trusted solution where warranted.

"Just because a guest can get a cell signal doesn't mean that hotel is providing sufficient coverage," Galbut said. "Guests need to be productive, and that means having full mobile connectivity whenever and wherever they need it."

For more information on RoamBoost by RoamingAround, contact our sales team at (978) 777-8787 oremail [email protected].

About RoamingAround

RoamingAround provides a suite of mobile engagement solutions designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Today, your guests live their lives on their mobile devices, and that's precisely where you need to reach them—before someone else does. From large conference hotels and upscale resorts to independent, intimate boutique properties, RoamingAround's powerful mobile engagement options can be customized for your property's individual goals, are compatible with every device on the market and feature vital customer profile and back-end tracking tools for predictive analysis and measurable results. More information can be found by visiting www.RoamingAround.com.

About The Gale South Beach & Regent Hotel

Originally built in 1941, the historic property is located in the heart of South Beach, on the Southwest corner of 17th Street and Collins Avenue. The Hotel is home to several new dining options, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a subterranean nightclub, The Regent Cocktail Club and a 5,000-square-foot rooftop pool deck with expansive ocean and city views. The hotel is walking distance to Miami Beach Convention Center, Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road, Fillmore, New World Symphony, night clubs, restaurants, shops, and galleries. Visit www.meninhotels.com.

Sarah Smith
RoamingAround
(978) 777-8787