HCN introduces roomservice alternative

Hotel Communication Network unveiled a new program that removes roomservice pain points. Called DineIN, HCN’s digital dining experience gives hoteliers options for managing roomservice operations via its HCN Navigator tablets, including the ability to outsource roomservice altogether to HCN.

"Hotel guests want a completely connected experience while traveling, and that includes digital dining," HCN CEO Kevin Bidner said in a statement. "Replacing printed menus with digital tablet ordering is nothing new in hospitality; some of the largest hotels in North America have been offering digital roomservice ordering for many years through the HCN Navigator tablet, and today they are are seeing revenue increases of 22 percent or more.”

The Navigator tablet also enables guests to keep onsite restaurant and grab-and-go options top of mind by facilitating menu item ordering from any outlet and having those items delivered to their rooms or picked up in a designated location, Bidner continued. This ensures that fast and accurate ordering reaches every guest, and it reduces ordering errors by enabling immediate changes to be made if menu items are no longer available.

“Guests can order [food and beverages] from up to 12 local restaurants that are handpicked by hotel staff to provide a wide variety of local dining options,” Bidner said. “Items can be charged to the room folio and delivered right to the room, just like a normal roomservice order. With guest safety and a secure experience top of mind, we established a very thorough delivery protocol. Not only will this program boost guest satisfaction scores at limited-service hotels, but the properties can share in the profits. Through HCN integration partnerships with the industry's leading [property-management system] providers, guests' orders can be billed directly to their rooms or paid via credit card. HCN even provides its own help desk should the need arise."