The RoomService II System consists of in-room refreshment centers that
communicate with a desk-top personal computer which is inter-faced with the hotel property
management system. Communications take place via the existing master antenna system
(coax cable system).
No additional wiring is required, and no interference with television reception occurs.
RoomService II's on-line, real-time communications permits
automatic charge/folio posting whenever a sale occurs.
Many unique features have been included to both lower the cost of operation and enhance
the control which hotel management has over its in-room refreshment service program.
RoomService II offers major operating cost savings over
conventional honor bars, and has significant feature and price/performance advantages over
other automated systems now on the market.
RoomService II is simple and convenient for hotel guests to use.
All items are easily visible and their retail selling prices are displayed through
a built-in light emitting diode (LED).
The RoomService II unit offers sixteen items, ten of which are
refrigerated, while the remaining six are kept at room temperature. The room
temperature items include liquor miniatures and packaged food items such as nuts and
candy. The total inventory is 84 items per unit, and RoomService II
is the only computer-controlled system that can accommodate bottles and cans.
The upper portion of the front door on each unit consists of a see-through smoked glass
panel. This panel permits easy viewing of the top row of items. The door panel
also lets the guest see the time-of-day display on the (LED). The unit has been
designed to attract attention which helps to promote impulse sales. The finish of
the room units can be specified to match or enhance existing casegoods or be built into
cabinets or armoires.
The guest does not need a key to use RoomService II. To buy an
item, the guest follows three simple steps outlined on the (bank-ATM style) control panel.
First, the guest presses the alphabetic button of the desired item. The
display panel switches from the time to display the current selling price of the item
selected. The next step is to press the "BUY" button. Once
"BUY" has been pressed, the charge for the item is immediately posted to the
folio. Next, the item is released and the guest can now remove the product from the
compartment. The "CANCEL" button permits the guest to scroll through the
prices of all items before making a final selection. Once the product is taken, the
charge for the item is immediately posted to the folio.
Using the unit itself to display the prices eliminates the need for printing costly
tent and menu cards and or price stickers. Additionally, there is no need for
equally costly and labor-intensive hang tags or consumption slips with RoomService
II.
There are three drawers used for-restocking purposes. Access to these drawers is
controlled by a secret computer password used only by restocking and service personnel.
The password may be changed as often as necessary, such as when an employee leaves
the hotel. The unit has been designed so that strict first-in, first-out (FIFO)
restocking always takes place. Each complete restocking drawer, as well as every
other part of a RoomService II unit, is field-replaceable should breakage
occur.
RoomService II saves employee time by maintaining selected minimum
restock levels of each pocket for each item vended. Thus, a room does not require
restocking if no items have fallen below the pre-set low limit. However, the system
will always show all items in each room which are in need of refilling. This feature
will substantially reduce the number of room visits needed on any one day. For
example, in a property with a 40% utilization rate, only 15% of occupied rooms will need
to be visited on a daily basis.
Our reports also provide details on the specific item types and quantities needed so
that the supply room may be requisitioned for only those items needed for restocking.
A number of software features permit RoomService II to comply with all
local liquor control board regulations. Individual units are activated when a guest
checks in, and deactivated upon check-out. Alcoholic beverages may also be
controlled separately. This unique feature permits soft drink and snack food sales
in rooms occupied by minors or in rooms where the hotel or the guests themselves does not
want liquor to be sold.
The system is run from a master 24-hour clock which, if required, may be easily
programmed to regulate the vending times for alcoholic beverages. The capability of
locking out liquor separately from locking out the entire unit is a feature found only
in RoomService II.
RoomService II interfaces with most property management systems.
However, the system is also capable of functioning as a stand-alone in properties
without a PMS. In either case, there are no after-departure charges or collection
hassles, since the system can produce a charge voucher with the date, time and name of
each item consumed.
RoomService II's automated system diagnostics alerts management to all
service problems as they occur, making immediate remedies possible. All system
parameters, diagnostics and functions may also be accessed from a remote site. Using
this capability, it is possible to make daily checks on the system's operation and assist
hotel maintenance with additional service.
RoomService II's operating system provides a method of managing
available resources to meet objectives more effectively. It helps to move in-room
refreshment management from an honor bar crisis mode of operation to a planned and orderly
environment.
Our goal in developing the RoomService II System was
to use advanced technology to:
