The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center unveiled an innovative computer system that is getting national attention.
Each of the hotel’s 1,406 rooms is equipped with a 15-inch flat-screen monitor with a full-size keyboard and mouse. No computer tower is necessary because the system runs on what is known as “thin technology” that operates everything out of the hotel’s central service.
When booking conferences, meeting planners can purchase packages that let them e-mail individual attendees with on-site surveys, itinerary changes and other information.
Convention attendees can also e-mail each other or give feedback on meetings or create their own schedules.
In-house computers can also be used as guests to obtain any of Gaylord’s services such as requesting an extra pillow, for example.
Users can also check their own web-based personal or work e-mail (allowing many meeting goers to leave laptops at home).
The system is operated by 16 information technology employees.
Hotel officials said the $2 million system could take four years to determine whether it added enough new guests to pay for it.
Report by David Wilkening
