Management company selects Bittel’s all-in-one UNOMedia 5 with charging station, music player, alarm/clock/radio and phone, along with Classic Charger, for Marriott Brands and Holiday Inn Express
San Jose, Calif. — March 15, 2016 —Sunridge Hotel Group continues to win awards for having the highest guest satisfaction scores. As part of its customer service commitment, the company — which has earned multiple “Management Company of the Year” awards from Marriott International — is ensuring that guests have the easiest and most convenient way to plug, power and play their mobile devices by standardizing with Bittel in-room charging solutions. Today Bittel’s all-in-one UNOMedia 5 charging station with brand-compliant alarm/clock/radio/telephone is a standard feature at four of 17 Sunridge properties representing the Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express & Suites brands. Three properties feature UNOMedia 4 and four hotels feature the UNOMini. Eventually all properties will feature UNOMedia 5.
“Hospitality is a demanding industry, so to keep our guests happy and coming back, we stay on top of the latest technology trends and provide the most efficient in-room equipment,” said Don Brooksby, Sunridge Properties Director of Technology. “Guests need assurrances that they can charge and enjoy ALL their personal technologies without any issues. UNOMedia 5 supports ALL devices, including Apple lightning (iPhone 5 and 6 series, and new iPad), Micro USB (Android, Blackberry and Windows), Apple legacy products (iPhone 4s and older), and audio 3.5mm. It also features four USB charging ports designed for both standard and high power charging.
“Real estate on the nightstand is another problem addressed by Bittel,” Brooksby said. “We began using Bittel’s UNO Mini in 2012 at a few properties because of it’s small footprint. When the UNOMedia 4 came out in 2014, we saw it as the ideal compact solution to replace the existing alarm/clock/radios/chargers from another provider that are only compatible with Apple products. We began upgrading to UNOMedia 5 in 2015; it’s a charging device and Bluetooth-streaming music player first, an alarm/clock/radio second, and a phone third – all wrapped in a stylish, small bedside unit. Bittel truly understands what today’s guests’ want from an in-room experience, and they design their products accordingly.”
Meeting Guests’ Demands with Charging Attachment A renovation of the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott property in Sierra Vista, Ariz., is scheduled for 2017. Until that time, mobile device charging was not provided in the room, and guest complaints were mounting because there were no available outlets near the bedside. Sunridge consulted with Bittel to find a temporary solution.
“Bittel told us about their Classic Charger that easily attaches to most existing guestroom phones and instantly adds two high powered USB ports for charging mobile devices,” Brooksby said. “It was the perfect alternative. Today, many of our repeat guests are actually coming back to the front desk after checking into their rooms to tell our staff how thrilled they are that we listened to their concerns and to thank us for giving them bedside charging. After the renovation is complete and we upgrade to UNOMedia 5, we can remove the Classic Chargers from the old phones and use them elsewhere if needed. Listening to guests is critical to increasing satisfaction and loyalty. It’s great knowing know that Bittel has our backs when it comes to meeting guest demands.”
The Classic Charger being used at the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Sierra Vista also features Bittel’s optional Multi-Charging Cable that includes four connectors for Apple traditional (iPhone 4s and older), Apple Lightning (iPhone 6 and 5 plus new iPad), and two Micro USB (Android, Blackberry and Windows) charging. The Classic Charger is compatible with nearly all guestroom phones; no lamps, outlets, or furniture mods are required.
“We are delighted that Sunridge Hotel Group and its guests are so pleased with both the UNOMedia 5 and the Classic Charger,” said Mitch Heinlein, Bittel VP of Sales and Marketing. “As travelers bring more and more mobile devices with them on the road, hotels need to free up space at the bedside to conveniently charge these devices. Adding a charging port for the desktop, a wall-mount hub, or standalone power hub is okay, but each added piece of equipment means more cost and more clutter, not to mention the fact that it detracts from the guestroom design.
“Bittel is designing streamlined solutions with small footprints that provide a multitude of services,” he said. “UNOMedia 5, for example, lets guests carry on crystal clear phone conversations via the NFC-enabled Bluetooth speakerphone. They also can retrieve messages from anywhere in the room and play their favorite music without fear that their content is being enjoyed by someone else in a room next door or across the hall because each unit prevents unauthorized pairing to the device. More importantly, UNOMedia 5 isn’t designed for the residential market, so guest’s don’t have to worry about wireless security risks. At Bittel, we’ve got you covered from both a security and a streamlined, brand-compliant, all-in-one technology standpoint."
For more information on Bittel's full line of in-room equipment options, visit www.bittelamericas.com.
