The Wi-Fi Maids - Page 2
June 14, 2004
If a demanding guest in room 704 wants his mini-bar restocked (and who doesn't?), the maid working on the seventh floor can get a message on her PDA in a matter of minutes -- rather than checking in with the front desk hours later to see what else needs to be done back up on seven.
A few hotels throughout North America have already installed JiHi and are enjoying its benefits.
"JiHi gets rid of all the paperwork for housekeeping and maintenance" says Joey Thiffault, general manager of the Best Western Centerville in Quebec City. "At first I didn't believe it at all -- giving computers to maids. But now all the maids have a PocketPC bolted to their cart. We know where each maid is, how long they've been cleaning a room, and when they are done."
In the midst of the current Wi-Fi market crisis, such common-sense solutions go a long way with hotel owners. At the Best Western, the front desk now knows throughout the day what rooms have been cleaned and can better accommodate requests to check in early or leave late.
"Maintenance is more effective, house keeping is more effective," says Thiffault. He won't reveal what he invested in his Wi-Fi network or the JiHi system but does say "I could have a pay-back in less than two years."