1

I’m required to do the IT setup and handle all IT related matters for a completely new 220-room 13 story hotel. They are new in the hotel business.

I will keep you updated on progress as more info comes in.

Info that I have right now:

  1. All computer equipment is leased.

  2. There is WiFi all over the hotel. Must be. I will need to test this out.

  3. Office has 20 headcount - for now. Total workers will be 70-80 at max.

  4. Right now we are using microwave dish for internet supply.

  5. Currently there is no electricity to the server room, the network cabling is still incomplete.

What I can think of:

  1. AD Setup

  2. Email Setup (Was thinking of going for hosted) - there is no separate email server ordered - i might have to request if doing it in house. - is hMailServer software any good ? - to be used with outlook and autodiscover for easy external usage.

  3. Vendor Management (They will setup the Property Management System) + emergency contact list.

  4. Backup Setup

  5. Disaster Recovery Plan

  6. KPI for IT (Wifi Signal Strength, Daily Backups, what else ? - i really dont know)

  7. IT Documentation Files (network diagram, seating positions, network port labelling, invoices, DOs, what else to include ?)

  8. Inventory List (To keep track of all leased equipment

  9. Internet Setup

  10. Things to buy for IT operations (filing folders, network cable crimpers - no vendor for this, network cable testers, extension wires)… anything else?

  11. Prepare the critical path for my IT department to compile with the other departments to report to the GM.

  12. Post construction testing results.

… what else ?

Kindly assist if i missed out on anything. Or just link it here. More people have a larger breadth of experience and know better things.

Thank you.

@HP

7 Spice ups
2

13 stories, you say?

2 Spice ups
3

What are you doing for in-room internet access and guest Wi-Fi? Do you have wiring closets on each floor, and is everything labeled.

1 Spice up
4

Have you software for managing reservation ? Software & hardware for creating security passes? Are you providing TV to the rooms? Phone system?

1 Spice up
5

I think you need an in-person/on-site consultant and project manager.

A project of this scope is really beyond just simple message-board communications with complete strangers, since there is no practical way that we can know any/all of just building codes and regulations in Malaysia or provide relevant information in that regard.

2 Spice ups
6

Yes, for reservations we have a PMS (property management software) that handles that. Training is ongoing.

Wifi is complimentary (free). So password protection is not required. Plus the additional cost involved.

TV and phone system are handled by their respective contractors.

7

Hi yes. Everything is fully labelled. There are AP’s along the corridor of each floor connected via a GEPON (fiber optic) backbone back to the server room. Wifi signal and internet speed testing is pending the completion of VLAN configuration.Guest WiFi and in-room internet access is FOC.

8 
Wifi is complimentary (free). So password protection is not required

But host isolation is. Remember enabling host isolation will break Apple TV/Chromecast and anything else that relies on host to host or multicast communication.

Have all cables been tested and verified with the appropriate testing and verification instrumentation?

You MUST do a wifi survey in EVERY room once walls and furniture are in place. And be ready to spend many hours tuning the wifi. It absolutely will NOT be plug and play. Things like signal strength and data rates can be tuned to make the wifi work very well indeed. Simply turning up the power to max and ignoring data rates is not an option.

What make and model of AP is in use? Are they AC? AC allows for better utilisation of the wireless space so more clients get more action more of the time.

How fast is the internet connection? Some simple maths suggests that if the hotel has 70 to 80 staff hanging off a 100Mb/s internet link you will have 20 to 30 Mb left for guests. 220 rooms = 440 guests if we average out single guests and families etc etc. And thats without thinking about on-line devices such as the hotels “guest services”, smart TV, VoIP phones etc etc. If wifi is free it is probably going to get well utilised so you’ll run out of internet capacity pretty quickly.