Thompson Seattle installs new communications solutions

The new Thompson Seattle hotel married its iPod devices, the Zello app and its Pryme accessories for seamless interdepartmental communications. Thompson Seattle, opened by Two Roads Hospitality in downtown Seattle last summer, has 158 rooms, 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event venues and meeting spaces, plus a rooftop bar and signature restaurant.
 
The key is consistent communication between departments and personnel at this busy hotel, which is why Thompson’s IT Director, Danny Coker, chose a unique combination of device, app and accessory to get the job done.
 
The Two Roads corporate engineering group designated a software application developed by Zello as its preferred solution. Using Thompson’s existing Wi-Fi network and Zello to convert iPods into radios with multiple channels was exactly what Coker was looking for. Coker also needed an earpiece that would optimize this system and, after researching various options, he selected Pryme. Pryme was a Zello certified hardware accessory partner with a line of wireless products made specifically for this application.
 
Thompson’s needs were unique in that theirs was a hybrid environment, necessitating both wireless and wired accessories in order to support all departments.  Housekeeping, food and beverage, and front desk must be able to depend on an uninterrupted signal throughout the facility, while it’s more important for the engineering crew to be hands free. Pryme’s BTH-300 Bluetooth headset with built-in wireless push-to-talk worked for Thompson’s engineers. But, a wired version had not yet been developed, so Pryme worked with Coker to create a heavy duty, hard-wired earpiece called the SPM-1399.
 
Coker deployed approximately 100 iPods with Pryme’s wired earpiece and the results have been positive. Meanwhile, Thompson’s engineering staff are very happy with Pryme’s wireless PTT headset. The three-part system delivers real-time communications between all departments, while also offering an emergency all-call channel if any hotel-wide issues occur.