Micron completes serviced apartments in Manchester

Micron makes new moves in Manchester

Micron Communications has worked with SACO (Serviced Apartment Company) for the first time to convert the entire communications infrastructure in newly developed serviced apartments in Piccadilly, Manchester.

SACO has recently taken on a new development of serviced apartments offering a hotel alternative for business and leisure travellers in the heart of Manchester. The project demanded an intelligent communications system that connected all the separate property units, and made effective use of SACO’s customer service staff throughout the UK.

Dominique Glandfield, SACO’s Central Operations Manager explains: ‘We chose Micron because we needed a communications provider that understood how best to utilise our existing infrastructure both locally on site, and nationally to connect with our regional offices. Although the apartments were equipped for modern telephony and internet use they were created as entirely separate units. Micron adapted the existing building infrastructure allowing us to operate all of the communications to the apartments within a centralised network, meaning our guests enjoy a simple, streamlined and instantaneous service.’

Mark Parsons from Micron Communications expands: ‘From a customer service perspective, ensuring that guests could speak to a real person 24 hours a day posed an exciting challenge. The time dependent call diversion system Micron installed guarantees that guests can pick up the phone and be immediately connected to a SACO member of staff in the UK. The call is automatically transferred to wherever SACO staff are working, meaning that guests have 24 hour assistance. This provides a fantastic level of service for all guests, and also makes very efficient use of SACO’s staff throughout the UK.’

Rallying The Troops

Members of the Micron Team gather to admire the newest vehicle to the fleet; the Mark 11 Escort driven by director Jake Scannell in this year’s British Historic Rally Championships.

Sponsoring the car is Micron Talk; one of three companies within the Micron Group, offering call and line rental services as well as VoIP, Broadband and Inbound numbering.

Driver Jake Scannell and co driver / partner Nina Thompson competed in last year’s Silver Fern Rally which was held in New Zealand, as well as putting on a Christmas Rally Event for the entire Micron Team.

“Rally Driving is a great way to let off steam at the weekends whilst also creating valuable press coverage for the company. We’ve enjoyed much success over the last 12 months, despite at one stage finding ourselves upside down in New Zealand!! Jake Scannell, Micron Communications.

More info: www.hotelphones.co.uk

Holiday Inn Express, Kettering

A year on from successfully completing the install of a bespoke voice and data solution for the flagship Holiday Inn Express in Banbury, Oxon, Micron Communications has been putting it’s unique range of skills to the test once again, this time for the 10th and newest site of the Butterfly Hotels Group; Holiday Inn Express, Kettering.

As with the Banbury site, this installation was for a complete voice and data solution and drew on Micron’s unique resource of knowledge not only of the equipment required but also of the requirements of the brand itself; Intercontinental Hotels Group, one of the largest in the world.

Micron managed the installation of a complete Cat5e and COAX infrastructure which were installed in tandem with external connectivity in the form of ISDN and DSL, provided by sister company Micron Talk Ltd. All hardware was pre programmed and rigorously tested at Micron’s Yeovil Headquarters before being despatched to site for installation.

A state of the art Mitel phone system was installed and fully integrated into the IT network. Servers and desktops were also installed as well as guest high speed internet access and, audio visual technology for conferencing facilities and room TV’s.

The end product was a great success and one which all at Butterfly Hotels were extremely happy with. Micron worked closely throughout with specialist partners such as Pentangle Design and Bowmer and Kirkland ensuring this total solution represented exceptional value for money to the client.

“Each project we embark on, no matter how similar to the last, brings its own unique set of quirks and challenges at every stage. The key to our success is being able to pre-empt potential stumbling blocks and accommodating them into our plans from the outset. We simulate the entire network and system in house prior to setting foot on site. In doing this we can ensure that by the time our engineers arrive for installation, it really is almost a case of ‘plugging it in and switching it on’. From our client’s perspective, this ensures the entire project is seamless and stress free”. Jon Biles, Sales Manager, Micron Communications.

Ashes Tickets Winner

Micron Communications Ashes Competition

Following an unprecedented response to our competition for tickets to the Ashes cricket at Edgbaston, the lucky winner has been drawn and is;

Michael Dewey, General Manager, Hard Days Night Hotel, Liverpool.

Mr Dewey and a guest will be joining us at Edgbaston on Thursday 30th July to watch the first day of the 3rd test, for what promises to be a great day of sporting action.

For your chance to enter one of our prize giveaways; look out for our monthly email newsletter.

May Hamper Winners

Credit Crunch Busting Hamper Competition

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve drawn the winners of our fantastic May Hamper giveaway. We promised to give one lucky entrant a top quality Hamper worth over £100, however we’re feeling generous due to the fantastic response we’ve received, so to thank you all for entering we’ve added a second hamper to the draw. The two lucky winners are listed below, and we will be in touch shortly to arrange delivery of your prizes.
If you missed out this time, look out for our next newsletter for tickets to join us at the one of the UK’s top sporting events……………. Details to follow.

The lucky winners of the Micron Communications ‘Credit Crunch Busting Hamper’ competition were;

Neil Finnes Forsetdale Hotels, Bournemouth
Dominique Glandfield SACO (Serviced Apartment Company) Ltd

Congratulations and good luck to all for next month’s draw

Hampton By Hilton

Micron Communications, has been appointed by hotel operator and franchise company , Total Hotel Solutions, to supply and install an integrated telephone system at the UK’s first Hampton by Hilton™, which opens in Corby, Northamptonshire in March. The 88-room new-build hotel is located at Rockingham Leisure Park on the outskirts of Corby.

“Micron interpreted our system requirement brief very well and came up with a well-adapted plan that meets the exacting standards of this new brand,” says Richard Lee, general manager at the Hampton by Hilton.

“Not only were they very competitive but they also showed great enthusiasm for the project and we have received excellent service throughout the development.”

Originally established to operate franchised hotels three years ago, Total Hotel Solutions has since grown through the outsourcing of housekeeping and catering services to around 45 branded and independent hotels across the UK. The Hampton by Hilton Corby is the group’s first wholly managed and operated property.

“Being a new-build hotel, one of the challenges we faced was to secure permanent telephone numbers months in advance of the telephone lines being installed, to enable Hotel Solutions to start marketing the hotel,” says Jake Scannell, director, Micron Communications.

Micron Installed a Mitel 3300 IP telephony switch servicing the 88 rooms and various administration extensions as well as the Gym. All the IP telephones use the Mitel cordless handsets allowing staff to roam freely around their work stations. Tiger call management software was installed to interface between the Mitel and OnQ PMS system seamlessly intergrating call traffic and the voice messaging system.

More Info: www.hamptonbyhilton.com

Hard Days Night Hotel

Somerset based Micron Communications is quietly humming The Beatles’ tunes after a successful 18 month long project at the new Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool. Themed around the history of The Beatles, the Hotel was officially opened on 1st February. Guests from all over the world gathered to see how the Grade II listed building has been transformed and part of this massive transformation involved a state of the art communication system installed by Yeovil based, Micron.

Mark Parsons from Micron Communications explains: “It was a huge achievement for Micron to win the contract for the Hard Days Night Hotel. We were up against national companies much bigger than ourselves; to be chosen from such a list was a fantastic result. We do a huge amount of work in the hospitality sector and Micron stands out because it can offer a complete solution for both IT and Telecoms, which saves the hotel operator time as there is only one point of contact.”

Mike Dewey, general manager, Hard Days Night Hotel said: “We have had a smooth relationship with Micron Communications. They have been professional and have provided the Hard Days Night Hotel with a state of the art communication system, which will make a big difference to staff and guests of the hotel.”

And now for the science bit… After months of challenging and intricate work by Micron, the Hard Days Night Hotel now has IT and telecoms systems which include; an Internet Protocol (IP) based Mitel hospitality telephone system with a new range of guest service handsets that are some of the first in the UK, and complete computer hardware and electronic point of sale (EPOS) systems. The IT hardware infrastructure is based around DELL servers and the EPOS hardware uses Epson equipment – both manufacturers were chosen because of their well supported, durable, practical and easy to use products. These systems can be seen throughout the hotel, its 110 guest bedrooms, the reception area, restaurants and bars.

Mark continues: “It has been very exciting to work on such a venture which has attracted attention from all over the world. We’ve had our fair share of challenges throughout this project, which was expected with such a large, old building. There are many areas which are of great historic value and we were sensitive to this throughout the project. It is great to see such advanced equipment working so well in such an old building. We look forward to seeing Hard Days Night Hotel grow and succeed.”

Visit www.harddaysnighthotel.com

Holiday Inn Express Banbury

As part of a longstanding partnership with Butterfly Hotels, we have successfully project managed all telecom and IT systems at the group’s new 120-room Holiday Inn Express at Stroud Park in Banbury. The hotel, opened on 3rd June, providing the town with its first high profile hotel. This has included high speed Internet access to rooms with WiFi to public areas utilising Nomadix, audio visual and conference facilities, IP telephony with a Mitel 3300 and a DELL server and PC infrastructure to suit the myhotel software Brilliant PMS. The EPoS installation was also specified and installed using Blue Runner cashless interfacing.

From the outset we were involved in the full specification of hardware and cable infrastructure and as part of our solution provided the CAT5e cable install and termination.

Says Clive Nicholls, Operations Director, Butterfly Hotels: “We are delighted to be working with Micron on this project. It is a very competent company that provides us with a one-stop shop for all our telecom and IT needs. We can trust them to come up with the right price, take everything off our hands and to do the job to perfection.”

The Holiday Inn Express Banbury will be Butterfly’s 8th property all of which we have installed into and maintain . It will have a contemporary and stylish interior with 120 bedrooms on four floors, superior bathroom fittings, an all-day coffee shop, a bar, meeting rooms and free on-site parking.

Visit www.butterfly.co.uk/Our_Hotels/Banbury/index.php

Micron Communications Awarded National Accolade

Somerset based Micron Communications has been awarded hospitality specialistPARTNER designation from leading communications provider, Mitel. Micron is one of four companies to be selected in the UK and one of only two privately owned businesses to receive the designation. The award has been received in recognition of excellence in providing communication solutions to the hospitality industry, and Micron has been praised for its outstanding customer care, technical proficiency and expertly trained workforce within the sector.

Mark Parsons, a director of Micron Communications, comments: "We are extremely pleased to have been recognised as a hospitality specialist by one of the global leaders in the communications industry. It is especially rewarding to be recognised alongside much larger companies - so there is an element of David and Goliath here! Best of all, now we have the designation, we have privileged access to Mitel's hospitality sales team, which in turn benefits our clients."

As a member of the Mitel PARTNERprogram , Micron will also benefit from ongoing training, and marketing support, and the companies will work together to combine their tailored communications solutions and expertise. This will further enhance Micron’s ability to work with the hospitality industry in its efforts to better the guest experience and improve business processes.

Ian Bevington, marketing specialist for the hospitality sector at Mitel comments: "We look forward to working closely with Micron Communications as a Mitel hospitality specialistPARTNER. There are rigorous requirements for this designation. Micron deserves the recognition it has received. This will help us both towards further successes in this dynamic industry."

Pictured is Jon Biles Sales Manager from Micron Communications.

Micron Talk Precious Minutes

Micron Talk, the telecommunications reseller, has launched a new charity initiative called “Precious Minutes” in order to raise money for Dorset’s only children’s hospice; Julia’s House. The Precious Minutes scheme is a special tariff which will add a 1p connection charge whenever an outbound call is made from a premises on the scheme.

Micron Talk will initially be offering the tariff to local businesses and hotels, who will have the option of adding their own further donations to itemised bills. The scheme is particularly well suited to the hotel industry as it allows them to raise money for a worthwhile cause while also generating positive PR for themselves, and is part of Micron Talk’s extended scheme of involvement in local affairs.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be able to help raise funds for Julia’s House”, said Jonny White, Micron Talk. “We see this as a chance to make a real difference to the lives of life-limited children, as well as giving something back to the local area. It is a scheme which works for everybody, generating positive PR while slowly and reliably building up the pot from many affordable donations.”

Micron Talk’s service is based on Gamma Telecom’s network infrastructure. Micron specialises in supplying communications solutions for the leisure and hotel industry, including IP Telephony and traditional fixed line telecoms, fixed or Wireless internet connections and various other data-based services.

About Micron
Micron Talk specialises in supplying communications solutions to the hotel and hospitality industry.
The company has expertise in the supply, installation and maintenance of telephone systems, networks, WiFi and all other voice and data systems. Micron Talk also provides a highly efficient ‘single point of contact’ maintenance plan to its customers.
Micron Talk has provided solutions for many of the most recognisable hospitality brands in the UK.
Julia's House is a registered charity that cares for life-limited and life-threatened children throughout Dorset, the majority of whom are not expected to live into adulthood.

Nurses and carers support the children and their families in their own homes and at Julia's House giving a much-needed break to parents who face the pressures of meeting the complex medical needs of their children, for weeks, months and often years.

The hospice is a happy and homely place and not clinical, as the emphasis at Julia's House is very much on giving the children the best possible time they can have. Current patrons include Martin Clunes and Harry Redknapp.

For further information Visit www.julias-house.com

Yeovil Town Football Club

Yeovil based Micron Communications has been awarded a new contract by Yeovil Town Football Club (YTFC). Micron completed the installation of the new telephone system around a busy match schedule and in a record time of four days. The Club and its conference centre can now answer and route calls to different departments more efficiently, making the communications experience quicker and easier for internal staff, visitors to the Club and YTFC fans phoning for tickets.

Dudley Robshaw from Micron Communications comments: “Our work takes us all over the country and it is great to work alongside a business that is on our doorstep, to build a close partnership and enhance Somerset’s circular economy. We are very pleased to use our experience, proficiency and technical ability in the hospitality sector to improve the phone systems and Internet access at the Club and its conference centre – the communication abilities there are now second to none!”

James Hillier comments: “As a local community Football Club we endeavor to give all our customers the best service possible. The criteria for our new phone system was that it would expand as we grow, this has been achieved by working in close partnership with Micron Communications, a Yeovil based company. Micron Communications’ helpful onsite team successfully interpreted our complex requirements and guided us through this project successfully.”

For further information Visit www.ytfc.net

The Franklin Hotel. Knightsbridge

The Franklin Hotel is an established and well documented 5 star hotel based in the heart of Knightsbridge London.

It is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment to its entire interior, and has chosen to update its full voice and data applications as part of these works.

After several months of negotiation and consultancy and despite strong competition Micron Communications were given the order to proceed with the supply and install of a Mitel telephone system. This system was to be complimented from Microns portfolio with the addition of Telecom Eye call management and hospitality voicemail and a Nomadix WiFi guest internet system.

With the addition of the WiFi system and the use of Colubris MAP 300 multi service access points we were then able to consult and implement a WiFi cordless solution utilising Spectra Link handsets and server.

As the project was to take approximately 10 months to complete and the management staff required to continue to work at site Micron provided service to them by handling all the line provision elements and a loan telephone system into temporary cabins situated outside the building.

Due to Microns expansive portfolio designed around the hospitality market we were asked to consult further on the project and as a result we installed a temporary IT network and are due to install a full administration IT network consisting of a server, back office PCs and peripheral equipment along with our own provision of ADSL, ISDN and VPNs.

As the works have progressed it became apparent that due to additional services being included into the planned containment risers for the CAT5 cabling that was being provided via 3rd party the newly planned cable route was to be in excess of 90 metres, Micron was again called in to consult and from this we are now installing a Fibre backbone down through the floors to allow for cabling to come in at separate levels and be terminated into the basement Comms Room.

From the procurement of just the telephone system the owners have now entrusted Micron with the design, supply and install of all the voice and back office data including the design and implementation of the backbone to the cable infrastructure to the entire property.

This case study goes a long way to show how Microns experience, knowledge and wide range of products can be put into place seamlessly to give a one stop shop for any voice and data requirements that any hospitality site may need.

For further information Visit www.franklinhotel.co.uk

Butterfly Hotels - Multiple Sites, UK

Introduction
Butterfly Hotels is a company which specialises in the acquisition of underperforming hotels with the objective of reversing their fortunes and developing them into prosperous and successful sites in a very short time scale. Using franchised brand names best suited to the particular location, the Butterfly chain operates through central England from Bury St Edmunds to Birmingham and as far south as Stevenage.

Problem
Butterfly Hotels acquires sites which are already operational in some capacity. Very often new sites are using out of date and antiquated systems and services. This can make the operation of managing accounts and services very time consuming and inefficient for Butterfly Hotels purely due to the number of different vendors they have to deal with from their centrally located head office.

Solution
In February 2007 MicronTALK began taking over the call and line rental services for the Butterfly Hotels Group, the objective being for head office to have one point of contact for calls and line rentals at all sites. Because every site was using a different provider, the task of bringing it all together was fraught with possible problems which could potentially be service affecting. Micron took the decision to project manage the takeover on a daily basis from initial provision to completion and billing to ensure that nothing slipped through the net.

Conclusion
After 6 weeks of negotiations with various carriers and service providers, Butterfly Hotels group now receive one bill on a monthly basis for all calls and line rentals. Bills are supplied in hard copies with itemisations and graphical call breakdowns sent by email to minimise paperwork and streamline the administering of the crucial part of the Butterfly Hotels operation.

“To take over the services for such a large group so heavily dependant on it’s phone lines was one fraught with difficulties. We were absolutely confident from day one that we had the resources in place to handle such a transfer. The fact that after only 6 weeks we have completed the project successfully gives a great sense of achievement for all involved”. Jonny White, MicronTALK

For further information Visit www.butterflyhotels.co.uk

The Elephant Hotel

“The Elephant Hotel, set in the bustling village of Pangbourne, beside the River Thames, minutes from the vibrant city of Reading, offers a return to the opulence of the Empire” (www.elephanthotel.co.uk) …. Micron Communications has supplied a full hospitality voice and data solution to aid in this full hotel refurbishment.

HillBrooke Leisure the holding company behind this hotel approached Micron Communications to discuss how we could help in their project. From the outset Micron were able to supply a fully project managed service to supply all aspects of their voice and data requirements hence simplifying the installation process with only one point of contact for all matters.

With Microns in house portfolio of Exchange Servers, PC’s, Hospitality Telephone Systems and High Speed Internet Access via Nomadix / Colubris WiFi (myMicron.Net) combined with our business partners to provide structured cabling, Audio Visual, TV’s from Forbes Direct Hospitality (www.forbeshospitality.co.uk) and Property Management System with EPoS, we were able to design, build and implement all the Hotels requirements from start to finish.

As part of this solution and in conjunction with R&D from Welcome Computer Systems (www.welcome-computers.co.uk) the Hotel now benefits from a fully integrated IP Bi-directional link between the Samsung IP OS7200 Telephone System and the PMS, understanding that IP is the only future proofed solution Micron and Welcomes relationship strives to push the Hospitality technology barriers to the full.

By both understanding what the market place requires and what equipment will not date Micron can offer a future proofed solution to any size of property.

As with this project Micron can provide consultancy to give our 12 years of experience to the hotelier wishing to improve any aspect of their voice and data installation.

WIFI at the Royal Scots Club

The Royal Scots Club – Edinburgh was founded in 1919 and represents a club and town house in the centre of Edinburgh open to both members and non members alike.

The building its self and as described in their own web site “offers unique features that are architecturally stimulating and create a charm and ambiance that are relaxed and comfortable” so when Micron were approached to provide a WiFi internet system for them we had to consider all aspects of the installation very carefully.

With our experience and range of WiFi guest service products we were able to achieve an install that fitted into the buildings structure accordingly.

We installed as the “gateway” a Nomadix server working on a PIN code access system with easy user “sign on” and designed and implemented their own individual host page with user T&Cs and information relating to the property.

Although some areas of the building allowed for CAT5 cabling to the Colubris WAP200 access points there were areas that would not allow for cabling to be installed. With the use of Colubris MAP 300 access points we were able to create wireless bridges over the sites structure and thus create a WiFi network for guests without having to “hardwire”.

Apart from the actual ability to pick up a WiFi network throughout the building it is not obvious from any location that hardware has been installed throughout to create what is now seen as a necessary service within all hospitality venues.

For further information Visit www.royalscotsclub.com

I Recruit / I Spy- Multiple Sites, UK

Introduction
I Recruit is a small recruitment company which has been operating successfully for over 10 years. It specialises in placements for the hospitality industry, with candidates very often sourced from France and Europe. The company also has a mystery shopping agency called I Spy, also specialising within the hospitality sector.
The company is made up of 3 small home offices with remote based workers at each, located 1 in Dorset and 2 separate sites in Wiltshire.

Problem
I recruit likes to offer it’s employees the flexibility to work from home. It does however also like to portray to it’s clients the feel of a large centrally operated organisation as it feels this gives potential clients and candidates confidence in it’s services. I-Recruit had experimented with various phone systems in the past, but as yet hadn’t found a solution which fulfilled it’s requirements and fell within it’s budget. Also, because offices were at times unmanned, MD Nina Thompson feared that valuable calls and subsequent revenue could be being lost.

Solution
Micron Communications installed a feature plus hosted phone platform at each individual office offering such benefits as call logging, call forwarding, speed dialling, call transferring, basic CRM and voicemail forwarding. By setting up call forwarding features within the hosted platform incoming calls could not only ring simultaneously on the phones at each site, but could also be transferred between sites just as they would have been had everyone been in the same office.
Voicemail forwarding offer consultants notification by email and or text the instant a voicemail lands in the inbox.

Conclusion
Feature Plus has fulfilled and exceeded all of the requirements of I-Recruit and I-Spy and brought all of the staff together into one virtual office. Inbound traffic can be transferred, forwarded, diverted, logged and subsequently handled to ensure that I-Recruit and I-Spy never misses a call.

“That all this can be achieved from a simple, portable and affordable little box is unbelievable. Each site now has 1 phone line for all calls, fax’s and broadband downloads and what’s more; two people can talk on different calls at the same time, whilst surfing the net and sending a fax! ” To say the team at I-Spy and I-Recruit is pleased with there new phone system would be a massive understatement! Jonny White, MicronTALK

For further information Visit www.irecruitltd.com