Doug Killion, the owner and developer of HOTEL PHONE APP ™, believes it will modernize hotel phone systems and provide significant cost savings to hotel companies.

Killion said, “HOTEL PHONE APP ™ allows hotels to remove guest room push button phones and eliminate their associated monthly costs per phone line. Guests prefer to use their personal cell phones for travel related communication.”

Hotel phone systems operate using old technology:  PBX developed in the 1930’s, push button phones in the 1960’s, and VOIP in the 1970’s.  All developed before cell phones gained wide usage in the 2000’s.  Many of the functions of push button phones have already been taken over by guest cell phones: local and long distance calling, messaging, alarm clock wake-up, ride-share apps, and food delivery apps to name a few.

“Killion said, “The HOTEL PHONE APP ™ technology was needed to complete the move of all guest room push button phone functionality onto guest cell phones.  Importantly, this had to be done without impacting existing hotel business phone services which are integrated into hotel property management software.” Previous attempts to replace guest room push button phones have for the most part failed.  Texting is used in a few hotels.  Hotel supplied hand-held devices are costly and disliked by guests who do not want to manage two separate cellular devices at the same time.  Sadly, some small independent motels have removed all guest room push button phones due to high cost and low usage.

A serious limitation of push button guest room phones is lack of mobility.  Guests must move to where the phone is located in order to place a call. They cannot take it with them to the restaurant, pool or anywhere off the hotel campus.  HOTEL PHONE APP ™ provides guest room phone service anywhere cellular service is available.

When asked what his predictions are for the future of hotel phone services Killion said, “I imagine it will evolve entirely to cellular and internet based functionality.  The backbone of hotel communication will be cloud-based hotel management software systems that connect to both employee and guest cell phones. Added to this will be greatly expanded use of voice recognition and AI.  Converting guest room push button phones to HOTEL PHONE APP ™ seems to be an inevitable step in the process, and it reduces hotel expenses.  It’s a win-win for both guests and hotels and finally creates a path forward that allows hotels to “cut the cord” with older analog wired phone systems.”