Hotel Automation in the 5-star AQUARIUS Hotel Spa & Wellness

The system adopted for implementation was the result of a long-term collaboration between Roger company, a leading supplier of access control systems in Poland, and SENSOR-ONLINE, a company specialising in the development and supply of hotel automation solutions. Work on the hardware for the hotel system has been going on continuously for more than ten years. The turn of the year 2010/2011 saw the start of work to adapt access control (AC) controllers for hotel applications. As a result, the first version of firmware was developed for the HRC102/402 series hotel controllers. In parallel, hotel accessories for the HRC controllers were developed, including HRT hotel readers and hotel panels (air-conditioning control, temperature sensor, function buttons, and relay output expander). The HRC hotel controllers and accompanying accessories were integrated into the proprietary SENSOR-ONLINE software. This created a hotel automation system offered and implemented by SENSOR-ONLINE in many hotels throughout Poland and abroad. The system is constantly being developed and supplemented with new functionalities desired by users, both in terms of controller capabilities and management software.

After the successful evaluation executed in the first two rooms, the hotel automation control and management system was extended to all hotel rooms. This amounts to a total of 205 rooms with access control, a smart card holder, a panel for temperature control, and a function keys panel for sending guest requests (Do not disturb, Please clean up, Need help with luggage, Room service) and staff communication with the reception desk (Room cleaned ready for sale, Fault – room to be switched off).

The system is based on the HRC102 hotel controllers, one per room, which can also operate offline once configured (standalone operation). This solution was adopted due to its resilience to potential communication problems with the server, as well as limiting the scope of potential failure (shutdown) to a single room. The individual controllers are connected to each other via an RS485 bus and then, via an RS/IP converter and internal network, to the server where the management software is hosted. All supported devices such as proximity reader, card holder for power switching, control panels, door, and window opening sensors, as well as heating, cooling, or power controls, are connected to each controller. Thanks to the memory of the controllers, interruptions in communication do not affect the completeness of the transmitted data, which is sent when communication is restored. Roger is also the manufacturer of mentioned readers, card holders, and control panels.

The entire operation of the system is supervised by software enabling the collection of all key information from the controllers in real time, its analysis, control according to the established rules, and visualisation on the screens of selected computers. Independently, selected information and messages are transmitted and received via API software interfaces to/from the Betasi hotel software, allowing them to be integrated and achieving synergy in the process of hotel management and operation.

As required, the implementation of the project took place in phases (individual wings and floors) on an operational site. The construction work (additional cables and box planting) was carried out by the investor’s employees. The installation of the equipment, configuration, commissioning, and implementation was carried out by SENSOR-ONLINE in cooperation with the local installer. First, two demonstration rooms in February 2022 and then the entire installation in May 2022.

The system is currently being used by around 80 employees and all hotel guests.

The implemented solution has more than met expectations. Proper room management has been restored: individual and zoned access control, response to room occupancy status (via a link to the hotel software), and automatic switching of the room to the appropriate operating mode. Cooling or heating the room in advance while waiting for the guest’s arrival has been implemented. Changing the room status allows its automatic temperature adjustment, thereby optimising costs related to heating and cooling. In addition, a clear visualisation provides a quick overview of the situation in the facility (room occupancy, temperature distribution, guest presence, status of windows and doors, response to guest requests via the function panel, and staff communication with the reception desk).

Two of the most important benefits gained compared to the previous system are the operational stability and optimisation of the energy costs. Additional features have improved the communication of visitors and staff with the reception desk, including additional visualisation, as well as the status display on the entrance reader panel of the guest’s presence in the room, the opening of windows and doors, or the opening of the bar suggesting the need to refill it. The intelligent card holder eliminated the switching on of power in the rooms by inserting anything and also allowed the meaning of the function buttons on the panels to be changed depending on the user (e.g., disabled person – assistance needed; room – information on the status of the room – cleaned, failure, etc.) or even the control of a person’s time in the room.

As a result, after implementation and full configuration, the entire system was able to operate in the background according to predefined rules, in cooperation with the hotel software, without the need for daily maintenance by staff. On top of this, the API allowed two-way communication to be implemented with the Betasi hotel software, bringing about the maximum synergy between both solutions.