For Immediate Release                                   Monday, September 04, 2000

The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler was scheduled to receive their first guests March 17^th, 2000. On February 1^st, 2000, the brand new 419-room hotel, in Whistler B.C., was still a hardhat zone. The General Contractor was working on room construction. Each room required an extensive survey for deficiencies, prior to sign-off to the hotel management, and the Unit Owners.

The Westin hired an experienced Room Deficiency Surveyor, whose first step was to develop a spreadsheet based Room Deficiency checklist. The room deficiency checklist included 4 room types, and approximately 150 items. It took the Surveyor, approximately 1 hour to complete the checklist manually, per room. Once complete, the item deficiencies were then separately keyed into a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet, which was copied to the General Contractor.

The Contractor used this information to dispatch sub-trades to correct deficiencies. The General Contractor would then work on correcting the items listed, and report back, manually to the Westin Hotel Management team. This resulted additional visits by the Surveyor to rooms to review work.

This constant flow of information resulted in data management issues, missed items, and delays in moving room deficiency approval forward. This inefficient method of communication, and data management was time-intensive and error-prone. With the date for guest arrival confirmed and rapidly approaching, every minute counted.

What the Westin needed was an automated Mobile Data Collection process that would capture all Room Deficiency information, while a Surveyor was in the room, and capture in real-time, all deficiency and inventory items. Following a survey session, the data could be HotSynced, not keyboard entered, to a relational database for data tracking, and reporting.

The Room Deficiency Surveyor, thought about using a Palm Pilot, and reviewed the available solutions. They found none. They contacted J. Christopher Raymond & Associates, a local IT consulting firm, who reviewed their requirements, designed and developed a mobile data collection software solution, based upon the Palm OS Computing _R platform. The combination of Palm OS Computing _R device, Satellite Forms, and Microsoft Access provided them with a rapid solution, for collecting, managing, reporting, and building a history of Room Deficiency Items.

With this solution the Westin was able to complete Room Deficiency Surveys for their East Tower, 173 Rooms, on time to register arriving guests.

This innovative, solution made Room Deficiency Surveying easier, saved time, and improved efficiency. The Surveyor pre-loaded the Palm Vx, with Room Check-Lists, by room number. Numerous room checklists could be loaded, enabling the Surveyor to work through a floor of rooms, during a session. The software presented the checklist in a pre-defined format, which provided the surveyor with a guide for each room type. Using Pull-Down Menu’s, Pop-Up boxes, and a comment field, the Surveyor was able to complete a Room Report in as little as 15 minutes.

The Palm Vx portability was crucial, as the Surveyors were on the move. Back at the office, one touch of the HotSync R button synchronizes all the data, and appended the database tables.

The Westin management team discovered that this application is not only easy to use, but it is also an effective data management tool. This Palm Computing _R solution, improved information flow, and reduced time. The Westin is now working with J. Christopher Raymond and Associates, to move the use of MobileDataCollect – Hospitality forward to embrace additional daily hotel inspection, surveying and record keeping, activities.

This Palm Computing R platform enables the Surveyors to survey more rooms accurately, reduce paperwork, develop room data, and improve the management of deficiency details to and from the General Contractor. This MobileDataCollect – Hospitality solution reduced Room Deficiency Surveying costs.

For More Information, Contact:

Christopher Raymond, Principal, JCR & Associates, Whistler 604.938,1770

Sue Lawther, Owner Relations Manger, Westin Hotel & Spa, Whistler 604.905.5000

Victor Burt, General Manager, Westin Hotel & Spa, Whistler, 604.905.5000