Being able to communicate effectively is crucial in a customer-focused industry, such as hospitality. A good telephone system is therefore a necessity. Modern phone system technology can be tailored to suit the size and requirements of your business, from a small local restaurant to a vast luxury hotel.
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Best Hotel Phone Reviews
If you manage a business in the hospitality sector, you need to know which phone is most suited to your hotel. In this section of our guide, we reveal the best phone systems for hospitality businesses, taking a look at features, ease of use, and cost.
Hospitality businesses often have a variety of specialist needs — phones that can be used while moving around the building and dedicated handsets and base stations for customers, for example. We've taken all these requirements into account, and here's our top five phones for hospitality businesses:
1. Ericsson iPECS LIP-9071
Specifically designed for use in hotels, this model is created with mobile staff in mind. Hotel staff can keep in touch while working across many areas of a hotel, from the restaurant to housekeeping and this equipment features Wi-Fi, DECT and Smartphone integration for staff to use while they are on the move.
With iPECS functionality, guest rooms come equipped with IP phones and personalized greetings which add a personal touch to each room. Touch service keys are also available for guests to make specific requests to the hotel team.
Pros:
- Touch service keys
- Smartphone integration
- HDMI out
Cons:
- Not everyone will need the video call feature
2. MiVoice 5340E
The MiVoice 5340E IP phone is a great choice for hotels, thanks to a large, easy to read six-inch display, as well as its ability to easily connect to extra handsets or Bluetooth devices. It's also a phone that has flexibility at its core, thanks to a total of 48 programmable keys.
It also has 13 function keys for quick access to regularly used features. Of course, it's also VoIP compatible, which is many businesses are turning to as a cheaper and more flexible alternative to traditional lines.
Pros:
- Large screen
- VoIP functions
- 48 programmable keys
Cons:
- Monochrome display
3. Cisco 8865 IP
A stalwart of businesses, the Cisco 8865 IP has a home in many a hotel, and for good reason. With a 720p video conferencing display, and integration with mobile devices, it's a versatile tool that can be expanded even further with expansion modules and microphones.
Keys are configurable, giving businesses the opportunity to make the Cisco 8865IP work for them, and be a bespoke tool. ‘Cisco Intelligent Proximity' means that users can move the audio from the phone to their mobile, when they need to move away from their desk.
Pros:
- 720p video screen
- Switch audio between mobile phone and desktop
- Plenty of expansion options
Cons:
- Not for those on small budgets
4. AT&T 1080
The AT&T is an affordable phone for your hotel reception, and supports four lines, expandable to up to 16 base stations. The phone can also be used to conference call with up to three people.
The phone also includes caller ID and caller waiting features, as well as a 200 name/number history.
Affordable, easy to use, and can be expanded with to other base stations if needed, including page, intercom and call transfer options.
Pros:
- 3 party conferencing
- Expandable to 16 bases
- Intercom
Cons:
- No caller display
5. VTech CM18445
The VTech CM18445 offers a great value option for hoteliers working to a budget. Available at just over $100, it's a great choice to handle bookings, queries and outgoing calls, thanks to a noise reduction mode, as well as its 4-line compatibility
A large display makes it easy to see where incoming calls are coming from, and its also compatible with a cordless handset or headset for convenience.
Highlights:
- Very simple installation
- Customizable on-hold music
Key Features:
- 100-name call history and directory
- Auto-attendant on all four lines
- Digital answering system (180 shared minutes)
Hotel Phone Systems Explained
A hotel phone system is not that much different than your average business telephone network. The key differences arise when you start to look at the features available for hotel phone systems and how they expand beyond the provision of a simple telephone handset.
In the hospitality sector, hotel telephone systems can use specially designed handsets to be used in guest rooms. These handsets have a limited set of features and only allow internal calls.
Many phone systems within the hotel industry today will either use PBX or VoIP technology. A PBX system is a more traditional telephone solution and they're thought to be more reliable, but costs can soon add up.
A VoIP phone system, on the other hand, is more advanced and hosted in the cloud, eliminating the requirement for a traditional phone system. They also offer a range of advanced features and improved call quality.
Hotels may sometimes require an internet phone system to connect to each room and an external phone system to reach suppliers, customers, and other contacts. Although some smaller hotels can cope very well with a basic phone system, there are a number of benefits to installing a more modern system that can better fulfill the requirements of both guests and hotel management.
The more advanced hotel phone systems offer your guests the usual functions of a telephone in addition to features such as a wake up call, a specific reminder, or the ability for hotel guests to make external calls with automated billing.
Advanced phone systems can bring several benefits to hotels, from improved customer service to increased efficiency and better communications between staff. Other advantages include:
- Managing reservations & room bookings
- Improving internal communication processes
- Dealing with hotel guest inquiries & requests
- Allowing reception staff to transfer and hold calls easily for guests
Different Types of Hospitality & Hotel Phone Systems
The type of phone system you choose will depend on the demands of your business and the available budget. This means you'll want to take a careful look at the many options before deciding for yourself. There are several systems regularly used in the hospitality industry, including:
Key Service Unit (KSU) Telephones
Best for traditionalists
As specialist systems, these units are only used by a small selection of businesses. They require professional installation because they are hardwired into the network. This type of system is also connected to a central unit somewhere on the premises which has a connection to the external services supplied by the telephone provider.
These systems are quite demanding, requiring regular maintenance and servicing by a company who specialize in KSU systems.
The KSU telephone network can support between 5-40 telephone lines which is great if you need multiple extensions to different areas of a hotel or restaurant.
Non KSU Telephone Systems
Best for 5 phones or less
Many telephones in domestic properties function through a non-KSU system. Businesses can also use these phones, provided that a property has a working phone system and the business doesn’t have demanding communication requirements.
Sometimes used by small restaurants, these phone systems are most suited to businesses that only need five lines or less and have a very tight budget.
Private Branch Exchange (PBX) Phone Systems
Best for large businesses (e.g. Hotels with 100+ rooms)
Larger hotels and restaurants can benefit from a private branch exchange system. Very similar to KSU phones, they rely on a connected network to operate and must be professionally installed and serviced.
However, with a PBX solution, you only need install one system to cover multiple business locations or over 40 lines.
Physical landline PBX setups are quickly becoming outdated, but can offer great reliability for the largest on-premise businesses, who don't need the flexibility of modern IP-PBX phones (VoIP).
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Phone Systems
Best overall choice
With modern IP-PBX phones (also known as VoIP) you can get set up in minutes, and save a significant amount of money too. This is the best choice for almost all small, medium and large hospitality businesses.
A big benefit of VoIP systems is that they're cloud-based and can be hosted externally, meaning you don't have to worry about telecom services taking up space. To function correctly, VoIP phone systems do require a reliable internet connection, however this should already be a necessity for modern hotels and restaurants.
Restaurant Phone Systems
A restaurant is not the easiest of businesses to run and a good telephone system is crucial. There are numerous systems and technologies that can be used to streamline your communications, whether you are a small restaurant or a large establishment.
Some useful restaurant-specific features include:
- Ability to set up menu selections using the telephone keypad or deliver an automated service.
- Booking and reservations are also often handled over the phone meaning crystal clear sound quality is a huge benefit.
- Ability to put customers on hold while you check reservations or transfer the call
- Automated message for when your line is busy
- Automated table reservation without human interaction
With many different types of phones available ensuring you choose the right system is crucial.
If you are a formal, fine dining establishment, you would probably benefit from more than one telephone line so you can take reservations. Or perhaps you have a delivery service, in which case a multi-line phone systems for small business may be best, as you'll need different lines for reservations, payments, and customer concerns.
Choosing a Hospitality Phone System
Choosing the right phone system for your hotel, restaurant or other business in the hospitality sector, will require you to consider a number of factors about your business and its future. Some of the factors you should take into account when choosing your hospitality phone system are:
- Number of calls: Telephone systems should be able to comfortably handle all calls during your busiest times. If they are struggling, you may need to upgrade your system.
- Business expansion: If you have plans for growth you should select a telephone system which is capable of changing easily as demand for your business expands (such as a VoIP one).
- Accessories: Some hospitality businesses may need a fully functioning telephone system with a range of accessories integrated into the system such as point of sale features, headsets for processing bookings or voicemail.
- Protection: Phones in busy working environments should have guards for the keypad and handset to protect the equipment.
- Staff training: Often overlooked, this is a key consideration. You need to consider whether staff will need training on any new phone system and how this is to be delivered. Sometimes phone suppliers offer free training, so it’s always worth asking on installation.
- Ongoing maintenance: As with any piece of equipment, phones do require regular servicing, maintenance and occasionally repair. You should ascertain who is responsible for maintaining the systems once they are installed. Cloud-based VoIP systems will require the least maintenance.
- Cost: This is always a deciding factor when purchasing any new equipment and your telephone systems are no different. Choose a phone system that is within your budget- but that will also meet your future requirements. Invest wisely and choose a system that you know will adequately support your business.
Restaurants and hotels have very specific requirements when it comes to installing a phone system and there are a range of options which can be used to tailor the systems to meet the communication requirements of your business.
Next Steps in Getting a Hotel Phone System
As you can see, not all phone systems are created equal, and not all phone systems are right for every business — even within the hospitality sector.
If you're running a hotel, your biggest decisions will be whether you want a VoIP or PBX system. If you're running a restaurant, you'll need at least one phone handset will a large feature set.
But the most important thing is to get the right phone system at the right price. There's no point in trying to get a one-size-fits-all solution — every business needs a bespoke set-up — and you can get started using the form below.
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