The once 3-star hotel was bought in 2007 by Sanguine Hospitality Group, an organisation founded by hotel entrepreneur Simon Matthews-Williams with the backing of major venture capitalists.
It is now undergoing a £25million refurbishment and will become the North West’s premier five-star luxury hotel when work is completed next year.
With service and standards exceeding those of the world’s best hotels such as The Lowry in Manchester, The Ritz in London and the New York Hilton, only the very ‘best-of-breed’ suppliers and equipment are considered and used. To meet these requirements Ken Moore, the IT Manager, approached Pennine Telecom for advice on a telephone system that would be compatible with such a status.
Ken wanted the best equipment that would be future proof, a supplier who could provide service and support of the very highest standards and value for money.
“With Pennine and Avaya I found all three components,” said Ken. “We are starting off with more than 200 telephones and in three years’ time that might be 450 telephones with all the most up-to-date communications as well.”
The Avaya Communications Manager (ACM) proved to be one of the few systems that offered that capability. “It was the only system I had confidence in,” he said.
He also had confidence in Pennine Telecom, having worked with them on a number of occasions in the past. “They have always completed projects to my total satisfaction and this has been no exception,” he said.
All the telephones on the ACM work over VoIP and by using Pennine’s least cost routing it keeps landline call costs to a minimum.
Pennine has also installed a Gateway which recognises all mobile calls dialled and routes them through equipment which charges as if the call was from mobile to mobile rather than from a landline. That can reduce costs by more than 50 per cent.
Pennine Telecom has also supplied Blackberry hand-held computers and will be supplying a DECT mobile phone system in the coming months.
The next chapter in the history of Hoole Hall is set to be an exciting one with the completion of the multi-million pound redevelopment which will offer luxurious air-conditioned bedrooms and suites, the opening of a new chic restaurant and premium banqueting suite and the addition of a brand new luxury spa.