Flight information is essential in the hospitality and airport industries and Noventri has made digital flight information a simple solution with the Noventri Eco-Flight Board. The Eco-Flight Board is a digital signage flight information board that provides guests and travelers with updates of departure times, delays and cancellations with no required interaction for users or viewers.

Noventri Eco-Flight Board is a highly stable information board and is not a PC-based system. It is made up of an HD flat-screen with the new Noventri Eco-Series SF-200 digital signage player mounted to the back and requires only an Internet connection to provide dynamic updates of airport flight information. Eco-Flight Boards are used in airports in an array of boards to show current flight information for various

Flight cancellations and delays may seem like an inconvenience, but guests and hotels both benefit by knowing about them in advance with Eco-Flight Boards. Guests can book additional nights at the hotel once they realize their flight has been cancelled or take in a meal at the hotel restaurant if flights are delayed, thus avoiding wait time at the airport. While hotels benefit from knowing cancellation and delays in advance because they can schedule extra rotations of shuttle service for stranded travelers and they can ramp up staff for sudden weather changes and cancellations.

Optional features for the Eco-Flight Board include:

• Available Branding – so that the Eco-Flight Board reflects the look and feel of the hotel.
• Installation Services – although installation is simply hanging a screen and connecting it to the Internet, Noventri will do all the work for you, if needed.
• Local Weather – providing added information for viewers.
• In-Room Channel – a convenience for guests to check flight statuses without leaving the room.
• Three-Year Extended Warranty

“Having flight information at their fingertips for hotel guests provides a great opportunity for hotels,” says David Linetsky, President of Noventri. “This allows guests to reschedule flights and wait out delays without leaving the hotel.”

For more information contact Judy L. Hoffman at judyh@noventri.com or 301-790-0103.

Click here to view on mobile devices.

In part 3 of our series on moving food in a QSR environment, we are going to take a closer look at dayparting. Most QSR’s have breakfast items, lunch items, maybe even dinner items. It is important for these to be displayed at the appropriate times on the menu boards. This way the customers know which items they have to choose from.

So how do you change your menu boards?

Well, in the past we have seen individuals use the “remove and replace method.” This is where the entire menu slick is taken down and a new one is put up in its place. They even have magnetic ones where you can have menu items printed out on magnetic strips. You have to peel off the old item and then you’re able to stick the new strip up.  You have to get it lined up just right, and do the same with your price changes.

What I saw recently, which I thought was kind of interesting, I guess you would call it a game show menu board. They actually had photos of menu items on a cube. Whenever they needed to change the item, an employee would have to manually spin the cube around to have the new item’s picture shown to the customers.

With these menu systems, you have to rely on an employee manually changing out the menu boards. They have to take time out of their other activities that they are engaged in.  Maybe there are even customers in line and they just have to wait until the menu board gets switched over. Also, you have the added expense of potential wear and tear and replacement of those items as they’re continually handled and manipulated to reflect your changes.

For years, that was our only option when it came to dayparting on menu boards. Now, thankfully, we have digital menu boards. With Noventri Digital Signage you are able to schedule out your dayparting as far in advance as you would like.

So let’s say every day you know that at ten thirty you are going to switch over from your breakfast menu to your lunch menu. You can schedule that in to change automatically. Perhaps there are certain promotions that are going to happen every week, maybe you have a Tuesday seniors day, or perhaps fish on Friday. Any of these things can be programmed in advance so that way you don not have to worry about changing your menu boards. It will happen automatically.

For even more automated control, you can tie in your existing POS systems inventory database with Noventri Digital Signage. For instance, perhaps you’re running out of roast beef. It could automatically remove that item from off your menu boards and replace it with something else you would like to promote. This way your customers stay well informed and you do not have to take time out of your schedule to manually change your menu boards.

For your establishment to be profitable, it is obvious that you need to have a good dayparting strategy.  With Noventri Digital Signage you are able to implement that strategy automatically. You do not have to worry about manually changing out your boards, but it can take place behind the scenes so that you can get back to making good food and taking care of your customers.

To stay up to date with the latest in Noventri Classroom as well as our other videos, please subscribe to our YouTube channel or you can visit us online at www.noventri.com

The right enclosure provides protection from roaming hands and creeping elements.

LCD screens are a high-value item. You don’t want someone, just anyone, fondling it. And you don’t want outside influences creeping in and slowly destroying it. So you need protection. Digital Signage screens in public areas are vulnerable to all of the above and unless they are properly protected, someone or something will find it and damage or destroy it.

Electronic signage looks great, and when properly managed, brings value to all industries. But if steps are not taken to keep it safe, well… things happen. Indoors or out, digital signage that is within reach of hands will soon find someone groping and touching buttons and settings. Also, indoor and outdoor signage is easily violated by such elements as dust, moisture, and temperature fluctuations.

The right enclosure provides protection from roaming hands and creeping elements. Since advertising networks and message centers are controlled remotely from a central location there is no need to access screens on a regular basis, so locking them away makes sense.

Many owners of digital media networks may balk at the thought of enclosures. What will they look like? Will the enclosures take away from the experience? Will the enclosures blend or compliment with the environment or décor?

Whether they are free-standing, wall or ceiling mounted or displays that are inset into walls with protective screens, choices of materials coupled with innovative design guarantees that enclosures and custom frames will blend with their surroundings.

With so many choices it is recommended that companies look to an experienced reseller that can provide insight into matching a network’s needs to available enclosures.

Check out enclosure options by Noventri. Or download the Noventri Enclosure Catalog. Can’t find a solution that fits? Ask about our customized enclosures!

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So AAA has just revamped its diamond rating system! This rating system is the “Approval Requirements & Diamond Rating Guidelines” for hotels. It serves as the blueprint for assigning one to five AAA Diamonds. The Diamonds are assigned only after an on-site inspection of the hotel and include over 30,000 hotels throughout the U.S.

Interestingly, the AAA Diamond rating has been revamped to include digital signage as part of the evaluations. Digital signage and self-service kiosks are considered and noted as to how they contribute to the hotel’s atmosphere and what services they provide.

It is great to see that digital signage is recognized as an important part of the guest experience!

What are your thoughts?

In the hospitality world, the guests are king. In the Digital Signage world, content and integration is king. When melded together, the hotel experience is novel instead of ordinary. It all starts in the lobby when the guest walks through the door and checks in.

The following is a first persons perspective of their experience at a hotel that has a properly integrated Dynamic Digital Signage (DDS) network.

The first thing that is noticed is a screen with sharp and crisp imagery dazzling your senses. Second, an attention grabbing animation that features the hotel’s restaurant. “I didn’t realize that they had a restaurant here, how convenient? That steak looks so good and what a great price, I think I’ll eat at the hotel tonight!” Below the restaurant animation is the hotel’s event schedule. The meeting that you came to attend has changed meeting space since the time you have received your itinerary. “That’s good to know” you think to yourself. The last thing you want is a guest wandering around the next day burning up precious networking time.

Ah, the things that are learned before you even walked up to the counter to check in. Once you check in and get to your room, it’s time to get dressed for dinner. While dressing it’s only natural to turn on the TV. “What’s this? It’s welcoming me by name! It has my company’s logo, since that’s the reason why I’m here and has my meeting agenda right on the screen. Now I’m curious!” Navigation is very simple. Click by click and the HD menu is displaying what appeals to you most. One click enables you to order your favorite meal right on the TV and have it delivered directly to your room. The decision is made to order room service instead of going down to eat, “maybe tomorrow” you reason with yourself as you peruse the rest of the options on the screen. “Movies look interesting. How about that! These movies are still in the theater. This movie is getting rave reviews and I’ve wanted to see it but I had to come to this meeting instead. I think I’ll have dinner and a movie right here in my room!” While waiting on the food to arrive, you start to unpack. The white dress shirt that was needed for this meeting isn’t here! To no avail! A “Shopping” button on your TV screen allures even the frugal to click on it. Here is everything that you need including shirts! Leaving the room isn’t really needed since there is an option to have it delivered right to your room!

Let’s just say that dinner and a movie was a great hit and you plan on doing it again the next evening but it’s morning and it’s time to talk turkey at the business meeting. After rubbing the sleep out of your eyes, with paperwork in hand, you head toward your destination, Ballroom 203. While you are walking down the hall to your meeting space it is noticed that the other meeting room screens are featuring a lunch special at the hotel restaurant; chicken potpie that looks like it is to die for. “I’ll order that this afternoon,” you say with stern resolution. Ah! Ballroom 203. There isn’t an ad playing here. It’s a notification message. “XYZ meeting has been moved to the Grand Ballroom 227 due to space constraints.” “That’s right! I remember, they moved the space” Just around the corner you find the Grand Ballroom and this time the screen says “Grand Ballroom 227 – XYZ Inc. “How to sell more XYZ’mabobs” 10:00AM – 5:00PM” Of course this is placed on top of the XYZ logo since that is what you would expect.

The meeting is a hit and your department is ahead by 12%!

Make them King

Yes, the guests are king, and what makes them feel like a king is up to you, it’s all about having the right tools. In this case, products, and services that back those products enable you to get a Return On Objectives (ROO) and Return On Investment (ROI).

Now we will look at the previous scenario from the hotel’s perspective.

Since the DDS screens were installed in your lobby there is a noticed improvement in restaurant sales. The guests seem more informed. Adding DDS screens behind your counter drastically reduces perceived wait time for your guests. We all know that we don’t like asking for directions, especially if we’re in a hurry and a well-implemented DDS network will help your guests save face during their “kingship”. We have just identified getting ROO from you DDS network.

ROO also comes by using that same DDS network to brand your hotel even further as compared to de-branding it with a wrinkled piece of paper being used as a way finder. ROO is usually overlooked in implementing a DDS network since most are only interested in the ROI. One thing to remember is the ROO is what is the most powerful tool a hotel can put at their disposal.

ROI is achieved by offering the hotels preferred Limousine Company and the nearby Museum advertising space on your DDS network. Ah! Now the DDS network is working for your pocket. In the end this makes you king.

Every time meeting space is sold to a client, offer to place their logo on the meeting room’s screen for “just an additional $30″. Before you know it, the meeting room screens have paid for themselves in months and not years, not including the ad space they offer.

What about in the hotel room? Why not make some extra ‘green stuff’ every time a brand new HD Hollywood movie is clicked on to watch, and Internet is used on the TV. They can even work for you if there is no occupancy in that room since “Amenities” are provided to the guests as local attractions that have paid to have that “ad” on your in-room service screen. Guests don’t get charged for everything. In-room free-to-guest offerings include free PC gaming and television all in HD!

There are so many ways to make your guest feel like a king while you sit on the treasure by installing a well integrated DDS network that meets your objectives and at the same time, adds vitality to your property.