The Spires Upgrades To Rezlynx & Roomlynx
The Spires has been a leader in the serviced suites business, since it opened its first purpose-built development in 1995.
The Spires operates in Birmingham, Glasgow and Aberdeen, and the company aims to build its position as a nationally-recognised operator, with the addition of other locations.
The Spires Suites offers guests an attractive alternative to hotel accommodation. With a choice of one, two or two-bedroom deluxe, each suite at The Spires has space that offers genuine home comforts when travelling.
Every suite has a fully-fitted dining kitchen, living room and bathroom (deluxe suites include two bathrooms). At each location, The Spires has Director’s Suites with a separate office room, complete with full-size desk, free internet, printer and stationery.
Across its three locations, The Spires has over 100 serviced suites and a total workforce of around 30.
The Challenge
The Spires had been utilising basic CRM software to process reservations at all three properties. However, the management team at the Spires had become increasingly aware that the operation had outgrown this application, and that a fully integrated property management system (PMS) was required.
In addition to the CRM package, The Spires was connecting to the Global Distribution System (GDS) utilising a Synxis interface via Navarino, so any new system needed to incorporate this facility.
The Spires took the opportunity to evaluate various property management systems currently available in the marketplace that were suitable for their unique apartment based operation.
The key requirements for any new system implemented by the group, was the need to incorporate a centralised property management solution, to facilitate remote access, real-time head office management reporting for the whole group, seamless cross-property bookings and to accommodate live online reservations through The Spires website, and major online travel agencies.
The Solution
After careful consideration The Spires took the decision to install Guestline’s web based PMS, Rezlynx. This was combined with Roomlynx, for online channel management, and PCILynx to provide full PCI DSS compliance.
Rezlynx is a 100% internet based property management system designed around a single, centrally located data source, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world via a standard secure web browser.
Rezlynx incorporates full PMS functionality, including front of house, reservations, conference & banqueting, back office, sales ledger, business analysis reporting, and an extremely powerful sales & marketing tool.
The fundamental principle behind Rezlynx, is that the software is not installed locally at the hotel. Instead, it is hosted remotely on Guestline’s dedicated servers and Guestline is responsible for the security and backup of the hotel’s data, as well as the resilience of the hardware on which the software and data is stored.
The Spires requirement for the automatic processing of online bookings from their own website, major online booking agents and the GDS will be handled by Roomlynx, Guestline’s channel management and distribution solution.
Roomlynx streamlines the online channel management process, by actively connecting the groups properties to the leading online travel agencies, including LateRooms, Bookings.com and Hotel.info. Connection to the Global Distribution Systems is facilitated via a two way interface with Synxis.
This powerful two way interface will enable The Spires to manage its online rates, availability and restrictions directly from Rezlynx. It will also facilitate the seamless delivery of reservations from all online sales channels directly into Rezlynx, without the need for manual data entry.
The implementation of PCILynx will ensure that the group fully complies with the latest PCI DSS payment card security standard.
PCILynx provides solutions to the key problem areas of the standard, such as wireless security scans, external vulnerability scans, personal firewall & virus protection audits and creating policies and procedures. PCILynx integrates Rezlynx PMS with the card acquiring services to provide a secure method of card data storage.
Business Benefits
Rezlynx offers a wide range of benefits when compared to a traditional locally installed PMS.
- Lower Cost Of Ownership - There is no need for the group to purchase expensive new computer equipment to run the system.
- No Specialist IT Skills Required At The Hotel - The remote servers are maintained by qualified technicians, and are constantly monitored to ensure there is little or no down time.
- Security Of Business Critical Data - The confidential hotel database is subject to comprehensive backup and security procedures.
- Remote Access From Anywhere In The World - Proprietors and the management team can access the system and the live data from anywhere in the world.
- Multi Property Capabilities - Group properties can take advantage of Rezlynx single data source, by checking live availability for all hotels and making cross property reservations. The client database, guest history and ledger details can be shared easily across all hotels.
- Lessened Impact Of Hardware Failures - The potential effect of a hardware failure at the hotel is significantly reduced. Rezlynx ensures there is no need to reinstall complicated software, users simply replace the PC and connect to the internet to access the system once more.
Rate management is much simpler with Rezlynx, as all rates are managed from a single location and then exposed automatically to the group website, online travel agents and the GDS via Roomlynx. This not only saves time, as updating rates and availability on an individual channel is no longer necessary, but rate parity can also be easily achieved.
The addition of PCILynx to the overall PMS solution, will result in The Spires being fully compliant with all PCI DSS procedures specified by their bank. It will also provide the company with improved levels of payment card security and will minimise the potential of fraudulent card transactions.
“Guestline have provided us with a fully scalable property management solution, that will continue to fulfill our requirements as we expand our operations” Margaret Beattie, Managing Director of The Spires Serviced Apartments.