OVER 120 technology brands are set to arrive at the Dubai World Trade Centre for 16th annual The Hotel Show Dubai on Sept. 28-30. Reflecting Dubai's status as a leader in hospitality and innovation, the popular event will see over 120 tech brands this year showcasing a variety of products and services from a first motorized luggage trolley, hidden LED HDTV's in mirrors, state-of-the-art multiroom surround-sound music, 3D cinema rooms, world-first sustainable printing solutions, sophisticated door locks, and more. “The hospitality landscape has changed significantly in recent years. Hoteliers have gone through the process of accepting mobile bookings, which is now a guest expectation, and are now taking tech further to capture visitors,” said Christine Davidson, group event director of the dmg events hospitality portfolio including The Hotel Show. “Rooms are now automated to the point where everything can be controlled from heating to lights to curtains, unique experiences include 3D cinema screens or waterproof LED TV's in bedroom and bathroom mirrors, customized music libraries with surround-sound music, and much more. Guest security is also being heightened with the launch of innovative new products including fingerprint and facial recognition methods for room entry.” Davidson continued: “The increasing importance of tech to hoteliers and restaurateurs reflects directly on the event floor at The Hotel Show this year as we introduce our first Technology and Security Summit, TecSec 2015, featuring major brands such as Google, NEC and Cisco. We have also seen the number of technology and security exhibitors at the event increase from 45 in 2012 to over 120 in 2015, now taking up just over 20% of the entire event.” Representing the full scope of how technology can be implemented in hotels to enhance the guest experience, exhibitors at The Hotel Show this year include TecSec 2015 sponsors Bang & Olufsen, based in Denmark, launching to the GCC market state-of-the-art “BeoLink Multiroom” wireless technologies to link TV and sound devices between rooms. Yamaha, the Japanese corporation globally famous for musical instruments and audio products, is showcasing various interior audio products and the latest wireless multi-room audio system “MusicCast”, alongside commercial installation solutions for cafes, restaurants and hotels. Yamaha will also present two grand pianos, Yamaha Disklavier, suitable for hotel lobby and suite rooms with its automatic playing function, and Bosendorfer, which provides the possibility for customising its color and design according to hotel interiors. Canon Middle East is showcasing a range of sustainable IT solutions and services including an A3 Color Copier with an eco stapler finish, which is the first in the world (floor standing model). Dubai-based Greentec Automation DMCC will showcase state-of-the-art hotel guest room management systems (GRMS), sustainable LED lighting and dimming controls, and energy efficient building control solutions. Lutron, is launching new myRoom™ guestroom management solutions designed to save energy using guest presence detection, turning lights off when a room is unoccupied, for example, and enhance guest experience through personal control over the room environment. Shadi Kharouf, Lutron sales director for Middle East, Turkey and Central Asia, said: “Lutron already has a strong pipeline for the myRoom solutions with several thousand guest rooms planned for the Middle East, over the next 18-24 months. This reflects the regional market, where guestroom management systems are the norm rather than the exception, as it is in most other regions, including Europe.” Dubai-based Platinum Vision offer the latest room automation systems allowing guests iPad and Smartphone control of music, lighting and more alongside the option for luxury 3D cinema rooms, bespoke custom seating and mood lighting. Guestotel, with offices in Dubai, Hong Kong and New York, will be showcasing state-of-the-art GuestKonnect auto switching wireless media panels for smart room automation, and advanced SmartLock RFID hotel door locking systems. SmartLock greets guests on the wall OLED display reader (“Welcome, Good Morning Jerzen Brues”) and to enhance their security, its online software updates the status of rooms both at the front desk and security office for guest entry and exit. US-based Electric Mirror, brand standard for over 35 of the world's top hotel chains, provide bespoke lighted mirror TVs that allow for a unique, luxury guest experience. The company recently installed a bathroom mirror with a hidden 15.6″ LED HDTV in the Ritz Carlton at DIFC. Ascolia, based in Belgium, is introducing the first motorized luggage trolley to the market at the Show, the “e-Everest”, while TeleAdapt Ltd is launching new products including the Discgo portable mobile phone charger for hospitality public spaces, and the ChargeTime™ compact alarm clock with USB charging, adding to its line of mobile device charging solutions for hotels. Czar Ngaosi, manager at TeleAdapt Ltd said: “There is an increasing trend in demand for hospitality services in Dubai, among this is technology. Hotels work hard to keep up. If they can't allocate budget for the newest development, more often than not, hotels consider an upgrade to their systems. Recent studies show that in-room technology is starting to catch up with the capabilities of all smartphones that guests carry with them. The industry will be more mindful of the ingenuity, with a strong emphasis on customer connection. TeleAdapt is always working with our R&D team making sure that all our products are up-to-date and upgraded to meet the demands of the millennial consumers.” Other exhibitors with innovative products enhancing guest security, service and experience at The Hotel Show Dubai 2015 include: Minxon Hotel Technologies, Antik Technology, VDA Group, INTEREL, Miditec Datensysteme GmbH, On Time, Smarteq, Thomsun General Trading LLC, The Arabian Hospitality Facility Supply LLC, Philips Hospitality TV, and Bang & Olufsen, exhibiting for the first time in the GCC countries and sponsoring the TecSec Summit alongside Crestron, Rate Gain, CMT Technologies and Brocade. — SG
