CIS 505 Week 9 Case Study 3 Submission Choice Hotels International

Case Study 3: Choice Hotels International

By

CIS505: Communications Technologies

Instructor:

Feb 27, 2019

Assess the two distinct networking functions.

There are two distinct networking functions in the hospitality industry. Choice Hotels

International does not own any hotels but has a network that supports the franchisees. It is one of

the most successful lodging companies in the world. For the customer, Choice Hotels have a

central reservation system. It is known as the Profit Manager and helps customers find the most

appropriate hotel based on wanted location and price range and rating. The Profit manager. For

the franchisees, they provide a service in return for royalty. The services provided by Choice’s

networks to its franchisees include marketing, quality control, and inventory management. The

networking functions for the customer is kept at a higher performance for the network.

Analyze the issues Choice is likely to experience as it expands its network to full global reach. Provide a rationale for your answer.

In 1990 the company Choice Hotels International wanted to provide state of the art global

reservations system. That system would service hotel customers better by providing an online

booking application that allowed customers to see what was available according to their needs

and even gave them a view of the room they are requesting. In the same turn, this system

allowed for a faster process for hotels because customers could now book themselves and all

room that where available can be booked. Before the system would only allow 30 percent of the

available rooms to be available online. Once all rooms were booked online at 30 percent, no

more online reservations can be made. Even if the hotel had more rooms available, only 30

percent was allowed. This was because the synchronizations of local and online reservations

were done manually. It was at the time, a telephone-based central reservation system that

allowed managers to see and set bookings online. When they became a Web-based system, it

allowed customers to see the listing for every room available to them. Before the global

expansion, Choice had a local reservation system and a central reservation system. Choice

provided every American hotel with a permanent connection to the Central reservation system.

This now means that Choice need to have a networks were coverage and reliability is criteria.

In the United States, there were only two choices that would provide that coverage. Leased lines

is an expensive technology. It is a private bidirectional or symmetric telecommunication circuit

between locations. A leased line is also a fiber optic, and you are paying rent for the use of the

line.

The other choice was dependence on switched networks. Switched networks do not always

provide good service. This service is only on a computer network that uses only network

switches will provide connection to each work station. To provide a world class state of the art

system for all customers and operations in American, Choice needed a system that would

provide universal coverage that is more reliable. Satellites with fixed dishes are dependable

technology for Choice.

Critique the Choice implementing free high-speed Internet access for all guests in its Clarion Hotels and Comfort Suites from the security point of view.

In the past Hotels would affordably provide Internet service at a charge to guess requesting

Internet access. Choice however wished to avoid that action. Hotels would charge due to the

high cost on an installation of cabling. Choice provides access by having Wi-Fi that serves all of

the guest rooms using 3Com Wi-Fi network. The guest was able to check email, exchange files

and browse the web up to 54 Mbps in speed. The installation of Wi-Fi did not require

construction or installing cables to receive the service. Wi-Fi just requires a controller in the

hotel. Choice Wi-Fi had encryption and support of security options that help save guard data.

The Wi-Fi system could support up to 256 users at a time. In my opinion, the offer of high-speed

Internet access attracts business minded customers who will return to that hotel time and time

again to do business. Customers who often have a need for access to the Internet are more likely

to go to one of Choice's hotels. Free Wi-Fi or high-speed internet access helps bring the guest to

the hotel which in turn it the nature of the business. People want to stay where they can get the

most for their money time and convince. Also, it is a free marketing tool to give free Wi-Fi

because of Social Media. If a hotel is seen on Social Media, being a place where a guest had a

great time and willing to come back. That guest will most likely put it on Social media and send

it to all their friends who in turn will most likely be next to visit the hotel.

Reference

� Mitchell, B. (2019, January 07). Definition of a Leased Line in Networking. Retrieved from https://www.lifewire.com/definition-of-leased-line-817871

� Free WiFi for hotel guests - Boon or a Bane? (2018, February 21). Retrieved March 2, 2019, from https://ezeeabsolute.com/blog/should-hoteliers-offer-free-wifi-for-hotel- guests/

� What is a CRS Central Reservation System? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.siteminder.com/crs-central-reservation-system-definition/