'Smart Hotel' opens in Livingston, N.J. (Technology Update).

Not only is The Westminster Hotel luxurious, it is also smart--smart in the sense that the new independent classic contemporary hotel located in Livingston, N.J., will feature cutting edge technology designed to enhance the guest experience and streamline operating systems. Scheduled to open in January 2003, the hotel is the flagship for Westminster Hospitality Group, an affiliate of Kushner Companies in Florham Park, N.J., which is spearheading a partnership with the Scharf and Barad families for this venture.

"The highly advanced technological systems that have been integrated into The Westminster Hotel's infrastructure are extraordinary for an independent hotel operator," said Michael Linczyc, vice president of design and development for Westminster Hospitality Group. "Once exclusive to the large hotel chains, this type of comprehensive data network at The Westminster Hotel will facilitate the entire guest experience and offer first-class amenities that cater to today's business traveler."

The hotel features two sophisticated data networks: The hotel network, which provides telephone and computer service to the entire hotel, and the guest network, which provides such amenities as Internet access in guest rooms and wireless access in public areas. The same amenities are available in the Westminster Club, an exclusive wing featuring specially appointed guestrooms with deluxe amenities and a concierge lounge in a separate building. Hightech amenities include in-room entertainment systems designed to streamline the check-out process; and access to the Internet at the desk or via a wireless keyboard through the television, allowing guests to verify flight times and stock prices. The guest rooms also feature T1 lines for guests' laptop computers in two locations--in the "living" area and at the desk; two-line cordless phones and voice mail service; wireless capabilities that allow guests to log onto the Internet from the lounge, banquet room or meeting space; broadcast and videoconferencing service; and on-site audio video resources. In-room fax machines are also available upon request.

"Our goal is to establish a friendly, inviting guest experience that is convenient and effective for business and leisure travelers," Linczyc said. "This is more than technology for technology's sake: It is technology designed to achieve the utmost in guest comfort as well as operational efficiency."

If guests need to know where their meeting is or even the topic of the conference in progress, plasma screens in the lobby and in the pre-function space let them know what is happening in each space as well as the world at large. Outside the meeting room, an LCD touch-screen shows guests the agenda and allows users to scroll through and see availability for future dates and times. A password even allows an event planned to extend the reserved time if meetings run over.

On the operating side, an innovative energy management system controls costs by utilizing motion and occupancy sensors linked to the thermostats in the guest rooms, and the hotel includes a high-tech security system that is capable of recording up to thirty days of data onto a hard drive.

"In a market dominated by large hotel chains, The Westminster Hotel has been carefully planned to compete at this level," said Linczyc. "Our technology is the latest and greatest, reliable and cutting edge. This is only one example of our strategic approach--we evaluate what everyone else does, and we strive to exceed our 'guests' expectations."

The Westminster Hotel, located at 550 West Mount Pleasant Avenue (Route 10), features 190 luxury guest rooms; 15,000 SF of banquet and conference facilities; Strip House at The Westminster Hotel, a 120-seat restaurant modeled after the original Strip House in Manhattan; and a full-range of first-class amenities.

Centrally located off the Eisenhower Parkway, the hotel is minutes from Routes 280, 287, 78 and 24 and is near Short Hills, Morristown, Millburn and Chatham; 20 miles west of New York City; and only 20 minutes from Newark International Airport.