The Yeatman Hotel, located in the historic city of Oporto, northern Portugal, opened its doors last year to considerable acclaim. Chief executive officer Adrian Bridge tells Hotel Management International how Nonius’ cutting-edge in-room entertainment platform has enhanced the guest experience while reflecting the hotel’s unique brand.

1. Company insight > Technology
The personal touch
The Yeatman Hotel, located in the historic city of Oporto, northern Portugal, opened its
doors last year to considerable acclaim. Chief executive officer Adrian Bridge tells Hotel
Management International how Nonius’ cutting-edge in-room entertainment platform has
enhanced the guest experience while reflecting the hotel’s unique brand.
How did the partnership between Nonius and The set-top box has an integrated
Yeatman Hotel come about? access point, which provides
Adrian Bridge: We were looking for a supplier that could wireless internet access.
understand our needs. We wanted to produce an integrated It’s also worth mentioning that
solution that would be forward-looking, not only giving guests TV NiVo’s Media Hub adapter
and wireless internet access, but also data port accessibility for integration offers seamless
their hand-held devices. connectivity through a Plug &
Play solution, which connects to
What factors were considered when tailoring personal devices such as laptops,
Nonius’ state-of-the-art entertainment platform to smartphones, MP3 players and
The Yeatman’s understated and stylish comfort? video cameras.
We reviewed the sample put together by Nonius, who were
responsive to our ideas and requests. This produced a The Plug & Play function allows How does the software
guests to connect their personal
collaborative relationship that allowed us to rely on Nonius’ devices to the hotel’s TV screen.
reflect the hotel brand?
know-how – a very important factor since we are an independent The Yeatman Hotel is setting a
operator and therefore do not have in-house expertise. new level of guest experience in many areas – software is as
One of our biggest concerns was how to highlight the hotel important to today’s guest as a good restaurant, maybe more so.
logo on all the TV screens in order to increase the brand We want to transform the stay at The Yeatman Hotel into a
experience. This was a challenge that we overcame thanks to the unique and unforgettable experience. NiVo has certainly
flexibility of the NiVo platform. The GUI (Graphical User Interface) contributed to this by providing a five-star in-room entertainment
was designed to reflect the hotel’s brand for each LCD screen. experience. By providing this distinctive service, we hope to
We also wanted to provide the best guest experience by increase guest satisfaction and encourage loyalty.
meeting requirements for different guest profiles. We were certain
that NiVo offered content and entertainment for both business What additional technological support and service
and leisure guests of all ages, and allowed them to use the does Nonius offer to The Yeatman Hotel?
system in their native language. We entered into this looking for a long-term partner who could
continue to help and guide us.
In your opinion, what else does the NiVo system We now have an established partnership with Nonius,
add to the guest experience? which guarantees both client and technical support to ensure
The Yeatman Hotel operates in the luxury segment, so we hassle-free operation of the system.
wanted to provide our guests with a superior, flexible and
easy-to-use in-room entertainment system in order to transform What has been the feedback from guests who have
their stay into a unique experience. utilised Nonius’ Plug & Play technology?
NiVo is installed in every room, with a flat screen LCD display, While there have been some inevitable teething problems, the
which welcomes guests with a personalised message on the TV feedback from guests has been largely positive. They are always
screen. Moreover, they have their own inbox where they can impressed when they discover they can connect their personal
check messages from the hotel. Guests are also devices to the TV. For example, leisure guests can plug in their
able to access a wide range of international TV channels, online digital or video camera to view their photos or watch videos of
radio channels, games and the very latest Hollywood releases their holiday in Oporto before they return home. ■
and blockbusters. NiVo also incorporates public information such
as flight schedules, weather updates and
the latest news. Further information
One of the system’s major applications is the fully-featured Nonius
www.noniussoftware.com
web browser, which allows guests to access the internet from
The Yeatman Hotel
the TV. This is ideal for business and leisure guests travelling www.the-yeatman-hotel.com
without a laptop. For those who bring their own devices, NiVo’s
78 Hotel Management International | www.hotelmanagement-network.com

2. Directory > Product showcase
Product showcase
Multi-talented in-room Box of tricks Full control at your at temperatures of between -20°C
entertainment NiVo is a state-of-the-art, fingertips and +10°C; it can be installed
in-room entertainment platform. below most of the top appliances
It combines TV and radio and it is suitable for high
channels, video-on-demand, productivity environments. It is
internet access, signage and a also possible to combine the Ref-
broad selection of games, all freezer base with either the XP
accessible through a remote PowerGrillHP or XP Fry TopHP for
control and wireless keyboard. full flexibility in the kitchen.
Hotels with NiVo provide their The XP range is the only way to
guests with a full HD experience have everything you need to cook
accessible through a user- your favourite food without the
friendly and fully customisable need to move.
guest user interface. IcyHot solution, Electrolux’s unique
Ref-freezer base. Further information
Access to the latest Web2.0 Electrolux Professional
content is just a few clicks away. With more than 70 years of Email: foodservice@electrolux.com
www.electrolux.com/foodservice
NiVo features a fully functional experience in producing modular
Loewe’s innovative Connect range cooking and now a market leader The ultimate
pushes the concept of connectivity
to its very limits. in productivity and energy spin experts
efficiency with outstanding
It’s been three years since innovation, Electrolux offers Electrolux Professional’s new
Loewe set a major trend for extreme power, simplicity range of tumble dryers, the T5000
the entire consumer electronics and sustainability. series, has been developed with
industry with the first smart The NiVo is a fully integrated, energy- In response to the changing quality, useability and efficiency
ef cient entertainment platform.
TV, Loewe Connect. Right needs of the foodservice market, in mind, taking into consideration
from the outset, Connect integrated web browser, giving Electrolux presents the XP range, the hospitality industry’s need for
pushed the concept of hotel guests access to Facebook, its new and improved selection of speed and first-class results.
connectivity to its very limits, YouTube XL, Messenger and high performance modular
by interlinking several more. In addition, the platform cooking, featuring the 900XP and
multimedia applications. offers guests access to a wide the 700XP.
Now, Loewe is taking this line variety of information and The experience of five
to a new level. With the complementary services, allowing generations of chefs and a
integrated Loewe MediaNet, the them to book a tennis court, go passion for innovation and
free internet browser with shopping or check flight sustainability have enabled the
hundreds of internet schedules from the comfort of company to provide high-
applications, hotel guests can their own rooms. performing, easy-to-use and cost-
access the online world directly NiVo provides hotel guests effective equipment that every
from their television set. In with a high throughput, professional chef can trust.
addition, guests can attach a broadband wireless internet One of the most interesting
personal MP3 player, view experience. Seamless PMS and features of the new XP range is
holiday photos and obtain video-on-demand integration the Ref-freezer base. This unique
information from the internet. ensuresthat hotels can leverage function has been designed
The progressive Connect their existing investment in according to chefs’ needs. The
design has been given a IT infrastructure. 900XP Ref-freezer base is the
luxurious finishing touch with Mounted behind the television only base that can store food at
T5000 dryers have an average
a high-quality contrast filter and completely fanless, the NiVo any temperature. life span of 30,000 cycles.
panel. Backlighting with set-top box is designed to be The named IcyHot solutions
modern Edge LED technology unobtrusive and, like all Nonius combines two innovative In hotels, reducing the time
allows excellent contrast while products, it is constructed with functions: the unique Ref-freezer spent on the cleaning and drying
consuming little energy. energy efficiency in mind. base with the hi-productivity XP process while still achieving the
PowerGrillHP, and the XP Fry best results is extremely
Further information Further information TopHP. The Ref-freezer base can important. Electrolux Professional
Loewe Nonius Software
www.loewe-int.de www.noniussoftware.com be set as a refrigerator or freezer is well aware of this fact, which is
Hotel Management International | www.hotelmanagement-network.com 79