Roomwithnet™ Worldwide
– the latest technology in your room - digitally

 

A room with a view used to be what every discerning guest would require to make their trip away from home memorable. Now, it seems, we are loath to be away from our home comforts and our appetite for connectivity to the outside world is often paramount.

 

Roomwithnet™ is what people expect and ask for on their travels - the product is called Virtual Concierge and it offers luxury digital in-room entertainment. Virtual Concierge has been developed for hotels, serviced apartments and even cruise liners; it also delivers business systems that keep you in touch wherever you are in the world, whether on business or on holiday.

 

Digital and satellite TV are just the starting point – want to watch time-delayed TV? No problem. Interactive digital video on demand? No problem, just choose from the extensive menu – likewise for an interactive music CD library. And for those who are addicted to interactive digital games, these needs have not been forgotten either.

 

If you have work to do whilst you are away, you can easily be connected to the usual suite of office-based applications, with internet access, VoIP and laptop connectivity as well as video conferencing.

 

If all that work is making you hungry, you can either order room service via the full list of menus (including modifiers - so you can order a well-done steak) or you can scan CCTV to see if you like the look of the local restaurant and then make an on-line reservation and on-line taxi booking and you are away. Easy just with a click of a mouse.

 

You get the picture. If the establishment has signed up for all the services available, the customer will be able to avail themselves of as many or as few as they need – ensuring a memorable holiday or business trip, making the most of every spare moment. Everyone wins. 

 

“Hotels and property companies can generate valuable additional revenue by using Virtual Concierge as an advertising medium for their own and local businesses. Guests can see a range of hotel services, book excursions and spa treatments – all from the comfort of their own hotel room” says Carol Prince, one of the Directors of Roomwithnet™.

 

Roomwithnet™ is now based in the UK and UAE. It all started in 2006 when a holiday trip to Dubai inspired the founders to think about establishing links in the area as it was overflowing with luxury hotels. The people who stay in these luxury hotels are also the ones who expect luxury business end solutions – exactly the right clients for Virtual Concierge.

 

So armed with an idea, some personal investment and brave faces, Directors Andrew and Carol Prince started their research and after months of hard work set up a local office in Dubai. The market research really paid off and during this time they also made contact with UK Trade & Investment.

 

“We got an enormous amount of help from UKTI” said Andrew Prince. “We accessed some funding that helped us to attend a trade mission, and the knowledge, information and networking they were able to offer us was second to none. We were introduced to the British Business Group in Dubai, and the UKTI advisers were able to create a higher level of credibility for us which helped boost the business. 

 

The founders also attended UKTI sales training workshops and briefing sessions which helped enormously in understanding the culture and the etiquette of conducting business in the Middle East; certainly a different way of doing business than in the UK!

 

“You never know where the outcome of a meeting might lead, or what the customer might like to buy. Recently a prestigious new hotel chain in Dubai arranged a meeting to discuss Virtual Concierge and ended up also purchasing i-Pod radio alarm clocks – by the hundreds!” says Andrew. “The business people are very open to share contacts – we have met with systems integrators and cabling contractors, all of whom were really keen to discuss possible business. It’s not unheard of to get to see the Chief Executive of a major company the same day you enquire about a possible meeting, so business get-togethers can be arranged very quickly and nearly always over a good cup of coffee!” 

 

Roomwithnet™ has plans to be involved in the whole of the Middle East area and also is developing interests in India and The Maldives and China. The potential is enormous.

 

Estelle Dingley, specialist International Trade Adviser with UKTI, worked closely with Roomwithnet™ to help them maximise opportunities overseas and says “It really shows that good desk and market research were key to the company success.  Under the Passport to Export programme, Carol and Andrew were given the tools essential to developing their business overseas.”

 

So as well as a room with the view – next time you are planning to go away you may wish to get a Roomwithnet™ to ensure that your stay is as productive and relaxing as possible.  

 

With all the time you save you may even have time to hit the beach….