Gila River Hotels and Casinos on Tuesday said it has seen several benefits from technology upgrades made with partner SONIFI Solutions.
The Arizona operator said during pandemic closures in 2020, it took the opportunity to have SONIFI install its interactive TV platform in each hotel room and update the Wi-Fi network throughout Gila’s Wild Horse Pass (pictured) and Vee Quiva properties.
“Before SONIFI, we used to receive constant complaints from guests about Wi-Fi service, especially in our 10-story tower, where the network struggled to keep up,” Denise Pfaff, Gila River’s corporate director of hotel operations, said in a statement.
As pandemic restrictions have been lifted, Gila River is seeing a strong mixture of guests coming for gaming, leisure and group conferences, Pfaff continued. She said Wi-Fi now is the most reliable and stable in the history of the properties.
SONIFI's network upgrade included adding access points in every guest room, and creating dedicated bandwidth for groups using the conference center.
“The option to purchase dedicated bandwidth for meetings and conferences is a huge selling feature,” Pfaff reported, “and it is increasing our conference center revenue.”
Gila River has tapped the upgrade to interactive TVs to send custom promotions, videos and messages to guests, which Pfaff noted has led to increased revenue at its casinos and dining venues in the two properties.
The television sets now have a theatrical video on demand solution that generates revenue for the hotels by increasing in-room movie revenue by 100%, Pfaff noted.
“Adding SONIFI technology to our properties has elevated the overall guest experience, ranging from improved TV programming and in-room entertainment to dependable Wi-Fi in all hotel rooms and conference center areas,” she said. “We have seen increased incremental revenue since this implementation due to the ease of ordering movies, the marketing opportunities on the TVs and the dedicated bandwidth option in our group services packages. We are in the midst of adding a new hotel tower, pool area and conference center to Wild Horse Pass, and SONIFI is working with us to make sure the installation process is seamless.”
Nick Clessuras, SONIFI's SVP of sales, added: “It has been great working with Gila River Hotels and Casinos. SONIFI is proud to be part of Gila River’s commitment to exceptional experiences, and we are excited to continue our partnership in their new expansion opening later this year.”
Los Angeles-based SONIFI Solutions is a technology and service platform that serves more than 5,000 customers across the hospitality, healthcare and commercial sectors worldwide.
