CommScope announced that telco operator Wifirst selected its RUCKUS Wi-Fi as the new Wi-Fi network to be utilized by Barrière Group’s 33 casinos, 18 hotels, and 140 restaurants across France.
“We hope to give our guests an unforgettable adventure in an extraordinary setting marked by exquisite service, décor, and cuisine. Barrière Group creates a beautiful escape where convenience, tradition, and sophistication are as magnificent today as they were 100 years ago,” said Emmanuelle Anglade, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and technology at Barrière Group.
Anglade pointed out their need for connectivity and the challenge to find a business partner who could help find an economically viable, reliable, and scalable solution. “The Wi-Fi solution developed by Wifirst with CommScope’s RUCKUS is helping us achieve our vision of digital transformation.”
The new Wi-Fi network will be the foundation of an ambitious digital transformation program that enhances services for guests. Visitors will have the option to check-in via their mobile device, download keys to their smartphones, and go straight to their rooms. They can also extend their stays, check out, or change rooms without having to go to the front desk. By limiting unnecessary physical contact between guests and staff, these contactless conveniences will help increase guest confidence in the safety of their environment.
More than 7,000 rigorously trained employees will also benefit from the new network as they’ll be able to work more effectively using mobile applications for housekeeping, catering, maintenance, digital signage, and property management. Staff across the casinos and restaurants will have access to emerging technologies for hospitality, including IoT, automation, artificial intelligence, and more.
To address interference challenges, Wifirst implemented CommScope’s RUCKUS’ high-performance dual-band Wi-Fi 5 access points. These technologies focus and steer Wi-Fi signals by choosing the best performing paths and channels, and even adapting to environmental changes and the devices used by guests.
Etienne Detrie, marketing director at Wifirst, said: “Connectivity is critical both for guests who have become used to constant connectivity at home and for operational efficiency boosted by mobility. Wifirst’s experts are steeped in the realities of how to keep hotels and their guests fully connected.”
Most importantly, since the rollout of the new Wi-Fi network powered by CommScope, there have been no complaints from guests regarding the quality of the connection. In fact, the number of bookings has increased in properties that have benefitted from the new network.
“Barrière Group is creating an opportunity to impress visitors with a better-than-ever connectivity experience,” said Eric de Mython, Hospitality partner account manager at CommScope. “It’s been a pleasure collaborating with Barrière Group who is at the forefront of modern hospitality through three generations of entrepreneurial owners. Together with Wifirst, we are creating a blueprint for service excellence now and into the future.”