ENTIRETEC partners with Cisco to install AED 50 million next generation fully converged IT platform for UAE hospitality brand – sets global benchmark
Independent United Arab Emirates holding company Seven Tides and associated companies has taken hospitality technology architecture to the next level by installing an AED 50 million centralised fully converged platform, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
The IT platform which provides a flexible network covers all of Seven Tides’ upcoming Dubai developments, the Royal Amwaj and Oceana on Palm Jumeirah, Ibn Battuta Gate and Moevenpick Deira. Future developments will also be accommodated on the same platform linking all front and back of house operations – property to property.
Mike Scully, Managing Director Hospitality, Seven Tides, said, “These five-star developments are multi-use and have been designed for sophisticated lifestyles, whether it‘s business or leisure. Offering superior quality on this level needs a flexible, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable IT platform. ”
According to Scully, most hotels under development adopt a silo approach, meaning that they are constructed with multiple proprietary networks that support separate systems for IPTV, high speed internet access, wireless, CCTV, right down to access controls for A/C, lighting, fire and safety.
“In addition, most buildings have separate voice, video, and data communications networks. The bottom line is that this lack of integration makes properties complex to operate, with high installation and maintenance costs and substandard functionality,” he stated.
“Our connected solution unites these disparate networks and systems over a single IP network that allows all applications to be monitored and managed centrally. Ultimately, this integration will not only save money on installation and maintenance, more importantly it will enhance the guest experience and improve our operational efficiency,” added Scully.
For this vision to become a reality, Seven Tides appointed ENTIRETEC, a global IT consulting company, to weave the technology design, tendering, procurement and project management into the property development process. The early stages of a property’s conception, network and communications needs are usually not given the same early attention.
“Seven Tides understood that the infrastructure and the technology must be considered in the planning stages for it to have an optimal impact on their development’s functionality and play an integral role in delivering a superior guest experience,” commented Julian Kraft, Managing Director, ENTIRETEC Middle East.
“By running all of the technology under a central, next generation fully converged platform Seven Tides will not only make tremendous savings on capital and operational expenses, it has set a global benchmark with its technology and its centralised approach,” cited Kraft.
The next generation network is to be provided by Cisco. This infrastructure was selected during an 18 month process as the only viable solution for closing the IT gaps that traditional hoteliers experience. The ‘Cisco Connected Hotel’ is a comprehensive suite of solutions that address the industry concerns about employee productivity, complicated and outdated communications systems and energy costs, as well as lost revenue streams and fractured guest services.
“Cisco’s network foundation will allow Seven Tides’ properties to integrate communications, security, services, and building systems over one IP-based network. Data, voice, video, and critical applications can be managed and monitored over a single network that will grow to accommodate all of Seven Tides’ property needs in the future. In the service-oriented world of hospitality, connectivity, network reliability, accessibility and flexibility are essential to maintaining five-star service 365 days a year,” concluded Scully.
Based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, privately-owned Seven Tides is an internationally oriented holding company established in 2004. Currently focusing on hospitality and real estate sectors, Seven Tides thinks progressively, works creatively, partners strategically and acts quickly. The result is a current portfolio of offerings from landmark hospitality acquisitions and commercial buildings to residential towers and multi-use complexes in the gateway cities of London and Dubai.
About ENTIRETEC
‘Where innovation meets inspiration’
By ongoing qualification of our employees, ENTIRETEC designs, builds and operates innovative and high secure IP-Infrastructures that are customized for our clients. As a global acting technology supplier and service oriented IT solution provider we deliver up to the minute and state of the art network and communication technologies for the operations of our clients' IT infrastructure. We focus and emphasis on high availability, scalability, individuality and security.
Individual services and solutions are monitored centrally and managed in and through our data center's. Provided locally for our clients via our ENTIRETEC owned and designed MULTI-SERVICE NETWORK. The modular structure makes it flexible and easily adaptable to industry-specific requirements like hospitality, health care, government, automotive and semiconductor sector. To give our customers the freedom to focus on their business we are able to provide our network solutions as full ENTIRETEC Managed Services.
