Tigerlily comms contract was awarded to Commsworld

Boutique hotel Tigerlily in Edinburgh has unveiled one of its most impressive cutting edge features - its hi-tech communication system.

An ultra chic new Scots hotel has unveiled one of its most impressive cutting edge features - its hi-tech communication system.

Boutique hotel Tigerlily in Edinburgh has already won plaudits from design and travel critics with its couture, decor and elegance, putting Scotland on the map in terms of the world's hippest venues.

But the high-end design also posed huge challenges for engineers, with tons of glass and steel wreaking havoc with wireless signals.

Meanwhile miles of hi-tech cabling had to be installed without compromising the look and remaining sensitive to the heritage of the original five-storey Georgian townhouse.

The result is that Tigerlily is now also clear trendsetter in the technological stakes, with state-of-the art wireless, broadband, phone and computer capabilities, all integrated seamlessly to offer radical benefits to guests, staff and management.

The installation represents a major success for three Scottish businesses - hotel owners Montpeliers (Edinburgh) , Glasgow-based architects/interior designers Graven Images and Commsworld, the country's biggest independent communication experts.

Commsworld's Chief Technical Officer Alex Ramage said: "We are really proud of our involvement with Tigerlily as it is quite obviously a leader in its field and there is certainly nowhere like it in Scotland, if not the world.

"It was an extremely challenging project as we had to be particularly sensitive to the historical restoration of the building, while also fitting in with the design-led features throughout the building and the 33 bedrooms.

"What made it particularly difficult was the phenomenal amount of steel and glass throughout the design of Tigerlily - as any engineer will tell you this can greatly affect the wireless signal".

Jim Hamilton, Designer, Graven Images said: "Commsworld took on a particularly challenging project installing the communications systems within Tigerlily.

Not only were they faced with the obvious technical challenges within the project, but the design aspect was a major priority too.

"We spent 18 months on every possible detail of the design of Tigerlily, right down to the type of valves on the pipework underneath the sinks.

Literally anything that is visible - whether it is the branding on menus, or the Do Not Disturb signs - has an impact on the overall design.

"It is unfortunate, but all too often the communication elements are overlooked in this process and only appear on site hours before opening and totally compromise a look that has been month's in the planning.

"Commsworld were particularly sensitive to our needs and quickly understood the importance of integrating their systems with our designs which they did impeccably".

With bases in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Commsworld totally dominates the comms sector among Scotland's SMEs, with dozens of household name businesses in its impressive portfolio of 2500 clients.

It specialises in integrated communications, which bring together phones, internet and wireless capabilities and at Tigerlily this has all been segued with the back of house property management software.

For customers it means that while they are in any of Tigerlily's bars, restaurants, clubs or rooms they can connect wirelessly to broadband internet from laptops or handheld PCs.

All the bedrooms are also offer hardwire broadband connection.

A separate virtual network has been created for the hotel's zonal till system.

This means staff can easily and wirelessly use the electronic point of sale equipment anywhere in the building.

Staff and management also enjoy secure, encrypted access to a third virtual network, the Montpeliers group's own admin system.

Meanwhile Tigerlily has been kitted out with the advanced Mitel 3300 phone system, found in 75% of the world's top five-star hotels.

Crucially, all aspects of the communication package are integrated with Tigerlily's property management software system, a highly advanced tool which tracks every aspect of the business, including inventories, bar and meal orders, room booking, staff schedules and billing.

Commsworld's Alex Ramage added: "MITEL 3300 seamlessly blends the wired and wireless worlds for the user - anywhere within the building.

The single network supports wired and wireless voice and data devices with a single controller and staff can be reachable at all times and there are no airtime charges at all".

Commsworld, which specialises in delivering hi-tech communications solutions, saw turnover last year jump by 20 per cent to just short of £5million.

The Tigerlily comms contract was awarded to Commsworld by main contractors, MITIE Scotland.

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